Birdwatching in the surrounding areas of the Tierra de Campos is truly amazing, the diverse habitat and number of species seen is remarkable. A visit to this area is a must for the more experienced and casual birdwatcher and with our guides’ local knowledge we aim to ensure that we will have some fantastic birding experiences.
SEA ELEMENT.
We will be crossing the English Channel and through the Bay of Biscay. In the English Channel we hope to see Common dolphin, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale and the next day in the Bay of Biscay we will be looking for Common dolphins, Stripped dolphins and Cuviers beaked whale. Although the Bay has seen declines in cetacean numbers in recent years we can still hope for a few surprises along the way. Manx shearwater, Gannets and Kittiwake are some of the species frequently seen at this time of the year.
We will be crossing the English Channel and through the Bay of Biscay. In the English Channel we hope to see Common dolphin, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale and the next day in the Bay of Biscay we will be looking for Common dolphins, Stripped dolphins and Cuviers beaked whale. Although the Bay has seen declines in cetacean numbers in recent years we can still hope for a few surprises along the way. Manx shearwater, Gannets and Kittiwake are some of the species frequently seen at this time of the year.
On Wednesday – Meet at the Plymouth Ferryport where we catch the 1645 sailing to Spain. A 2-berth cabin is provided and upgrades are available as detailed in Essentail Information. Our Guide,Paul Burley, will meet you in the Terminal Building at Plymouth Ferryport.
We will be setting off from Plymouth and crossing the English Channel towards the Ushant on the north western tip of France. We will be hoping to see Great skua, Manx shearwater, Kittiwake, Gannets and more. We will also be looking for Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Harbour porpoise and Minke whale as these animals are frequently seen in these waters throughout the year.
The next morning we are in the Bay of Biscay where we resume looking for pelagic seabirds and cetaceans in Europe.
On Thursday – On arrival in Santander at 1300 we drive southwards to Ampudia where we check into our quirky Hotel Casa del Abad for four nights with buffet breakfast and dinner with wine . It’s situated in a very old village rated as one of the nicest in Spain
Our local Guide, Fernando Jubete visits to the hotel before dinner and explanation of the itineraries and species to be observed over the next three days.
On Friday: Ampudia-Villafáfila (Zamora) (an hour and a quarter by bus). The Villafáfila shallow lakes, located in the province of Zamora, are one of the most important wetlands in north-western Spain. This natural area, protected as a Nature Reserve, is home to a wealth of ecological and scenic diversity. It stands out as a key refuge for waterfowl and migratory birds, especially the Great Bustard, an emblematic species of the area, which has its largest population in the world in this natural space. The wetlands change appearance throughout the different seasons, transforming from vast mirrors of water in winter to salt flats in summer. Steppe birds will be the main target species: Little Bustards, Great Bustards, Montagu’s Harriers, Black-bellied Sandgroudse, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark and Short-toed lark.
On Saturday: We visit the región of El Cerrato. This region is located in the southeast of the province of Palencia and is notable for its rolling landscapes and eminently rural character. It is a land of contrasts, combining wide cereal plains with agricultural valleys, hillsides covered with holm oaks and portuguese oaks, and interesting gypsum habitats. The main target of the day will be the observation of the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Others target bird species for the day: Booted Eagle, Black Kite, European Bee-eater, Eurasian hoopoe, Iberian magpie, Western black-eared whetear, Thekla’s lark, Spectacled Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Tawny Pipit, Spanish Sparrow, Ortolan Bunting, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Montagu’s Harrier, etc.
You can also observe some species of butterflies such as: Swallowtail, Spanish festoon, Cleopatra, Western dappled white, Clouded yellow, Orange tip, Green hairstreak, Provence hairstreak, etc.
On Sunday: Tierra de Campos palentina and La Nava wetland. The Nava-Campos Special Protection Area for Birds is located in the south-west of the province of Palencia and covers a large area of Tierra de Campos characterised by open countryside, gently rolling hills and wide plains of cereal crops. This area is part of the Natura 2000 network and is notable for its great importance for the conservation of steppe and aquatic species. Agricultural crops are home to large populations of steppe birds such as Great Bustards, Montagu’s Harriers, Little Bustards, Short-eared Owls, Calandra Larks, Crested Larks and Short-toed Larks.
La Nava is one of the most emblematic wetlands in northern Spain. Known as ‘the Sea of Campos’, it was drained in the 20th century for agricultural use and later restored, thus recovering its ecological and landscape value. In its shallow waters, you can enjoy breeding species such as the Purple Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Gull billed Tern, Marsh Harrier and Penduline Tit.
On Monday we leave the hotel and travel to Reinosa where we’ll stop for refreshment before travelling by the side of the Ebro Dam until we reach the Escudo Pass where we begin the descent along the Pas Valley to the charming spa village of Puente Viesgo. Located here are the prehistoric caves of El Castillo. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the area and take refreshment before we resume our journey to Santander where there will be a little time for sightseeing before we catch the 1815 sailing to England. Once again, during the crossing, Paul Burley will be on hand to assist and explain the situation at sea.
We reach Plymouth at 1500 on Tuesday.
Cost includes: ferry crossing with cabin;all coach travel in Spain; four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner(with wine);local Spanish Guide in Spain, British Guide on ocean crossing.
Pick up point; Plymouth Ferryport
Departure Date: May 6th 2026
Cost: £915
Single Supplement: £180
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