Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain

Tour Code: ESP17

An 8-day winter break, looking first at the spectacle of Cranes and waterfowl at the Laguna de Gallocanta and for bustards, sandgrouse and the enigmatic Dupont's Lark in the steppes around Belchite, then for Wallcreepers, Lammergeiers and other birds of prey in the pre-Pyrenean Sierra de Guara (Europe's Wallcreeper capital).

8 days from
£1,895 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£1,695

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Highlights

Summary

This 2-centre birdwatching holiday offers the best of two magnificent regions in winter. First, at the Laguna de Gallocanta, south of Zaragoza, we stay in a small family-owned hotel, close to the lake, that offers warm hospitality and good food! The movements of Cranes at dawn and dusk are spectacular, and will be a highlight of the tour. By contrast, in the Sierra de Guara, we will be based in the magical fortress town of Alquézar, the impressive cliffs that surround it a haven for wintering Wallcreepers. From here we will explore the hills and gorges of the sierra, where Lammergeiers and other raptors will be amongst our target species, the former regularly joining numerous Griffons at a nearby vulture feeding station.

Large concentrations of wintering Common Cranes at Lake Gallocanta
First class steppe birding & possibility of Dupont's Lark at Belchite
Griffon Vultures, Lammergeiers & Wallcreepers in the Sierra de Guara
Magnificent winter vistas & light for photography
Guided by expert Naturetrek ornithologist leaders

Grading

Grade A. Optional short walks will be taken during the course of the holiday, but much of our time will be spent watching and enjoying the avian spectacles.

Laguna de Gallocanta is a giant saltpan, the largest natural lagoon in the Iberian peninsula. It lies in a vast, shallow depression surrounded by distant hills and, although its water levels are dependent on regular seasonal rainfall, at the time of our visit it is to be hoped that winter rains will have replenished them. Gallocanta attracts the greatest concentration of Common Cranes in western Europe. The largest numbers, 20,000-50,000, come through on passage, but increasing numbers are staying to winter here. Our February visit is timed to coincide with the more concentrated spring migration when the largest concentrations are generally to be found, prior to the Cranes’ northbound migration over the Pyrenees to their breeding grounds in northern Europe. Water levels permitting, Gallocanta can also sometimes host good numbers of wintering duck and other waterbirds. The area also supports a variety of wintering birds of prey, amongst them Hen and Marsh Harriers, Red Kites, Peregrines and Merlins. Great Bustards breed in this area and although the majority leave in winter, a few individuals are sometimes still present at the time of our visit.

The high páramo, or steppe, surrounding the lake is also attractive to birds. Here, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and such lark species as Calandra, Lesser Short-toed, Crested and Thekla Larks as well as many wintering Skylark may all be found. However, for the best steppe habitat we will spend some time during our transfer day around Belchite. Here, 40,000 hectares of steppe habitat — including within it the Sociedad Española de Ornitología’s (SEO) 645-hectare El Planerón nature reserve, part-funded by proceeds from the 1992 British Birdwatching Fair — present the best habitat of its type in northern Spain. This windswept, arid land of dusty, red, scrub-covered plains and eroded plateaux, more reminiscent of Morocco or Afghanistan than western Europe, holds large percentages of the Spanish populations of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Lesser Shorttoed Lark and the elusive and enigmatic Dupont’s Lark.

Just a few hours away, to the north of Zaragoza, lies a very different ‘avian hotspot’. As any map of Spain will indicate, the Sierra de Guara, protected as a parque natural since 1990, is one of the quietest of regions in the Spanish Pyrenees and its outlying foothills. On its rolling lower slopes, a pretty patchwork of oak woods, almond orchards, olive groves and small, irregular wheat fields, traditionally farmed, is to be found. Attractive, limestone villages and their splendid churches ride the flanks of the sierra; their populations, like virtually all in rural Spain, are dwindling today and allowing nature back in. Above them lies a rugged land, clothed in stunted oak forest and maquis scrub and noted for its numerous gorges and canyons, and spectacular cliffs, columns and pinnacles fashioned from limestone and conglomerate. In high summer the region attracts French ‘canyoners’; during the colder months this magnificent landscape becomes the winter capital of Spain’s Wallcreepers! It is also a land favoured by Lammergeiers, huge numbers of Griffon Vultures, Golden Eagles, and the occasional Bonelli’s Eagle, Hen Harrier or Peregrine.

This 2-centre holiday is designed to offer the best of these two magnificent regions. At the Laguna de Gallocanta, we stay in a hotel that commands magnificent views over the entire lake. The movements of Cranes at dawn and dusk are spectacular, and will be a highlight of the tour, but for the cultural buffs, so too will be a visit to the nearby 8th century walled town of Daroca. Then, in the Sierra de Guara, we will be based in or very close to the magical fortress town of Alquézar, built around a spectacular 8th century Moorish citadel which sits on a pinnacle above the gorge of the Río Vero. This quaint and ancient town, with its narrow streets, sits like an eagle’s eyrie on a shoulder of the Sierra, the impressive cliffs that surround it a haven for wintering Wallcreepers. From this base, we will explore the slopes of the Sierra, where Lammergeiers and Wallcreepers will be foremost amongst our target species, and we will visit the Embalse de la Sotonera, a reservoir that attracts thousands of Cranes each spring as they make a final stop to rest and feed before crossing the Pyrenees.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly Zaragoza and transfer Gallocanta

Day 2/4

Gallocanta and Belchite

Day 5/7

Sierra de Guara

Day 8

Fly London

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What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
A simple family run hotel in Gallocanta for 3 nights which offers an unrivalled location and views of the lake and its birdlife. In the Sierra de Guara for 4 nights, we use one of two very comfortable hotels in Alquézar or very nearby.
Food:
All included in the price.

Reviews

Last minute booking, which went smoothly and was dealt with in a friendly and very efficient manner. Our leaders went out of their way to show us everything of interest in this two centre holiday and indeed we had great experiences which were not in the itinerary. Our hosts at both hotels couldn’t have done more for us, providing the most delicious vegan meals. It lived up to expectation and more! We haven’t used Naturetrek before, but they did a very speedy and efficient job and any phone calls we made were answered and by a very friendly team, who did as they promised and made us feel that nothing was any problem to them. We would definitely use them again.
I.Y. North Ayrshire, Feb 23
Very well run in every respect. Excellent accommodation and food. Excellent tour leaders who went the extra mile, literally, when someone left their phone at one of the sites, to improve guest experience. Well organised itinerary, taking us to the best places to see the birds that we were interested in and most of all an excellent birding experience. Excellent website and booking process. Excellent pre-trip information. Helpful telephone advice from office when required.
M.W. Cheshire, Oct 21
Six days of fulfilling one hope after another and done in ideal company. Birding, in fact any type of nature hobby, has many uncertainties but the thoughtful approach adopted by Naturetrek reduces the disappointments while maintaining that sense of excitement critical to any nature adventure. Throughout the procedures of booking through to the holiday itself Naturetrek ensured we the travellers were kept up to date with all aspects of Covid19 rules and restrictions. Every aspect of the holiday was professionally addressed and it would have been hard to have found 2 more competent leaders to guide us from one location to another.
B.C. West Sussex, Oct 21

This was a great holiday in and around two excellent, contrasting birding locations in Aragon, Spain. The holiday was well-paced with many birding highlights (thousands of cranes, breathtakingly close views of vultures, Duponts larks singing before dawn.... I could go on), and the group members were good humoured and got along well. We really enjoyed both village hotels in their different ways - it was one of the things which attracted me to this holiday and we were not disappointed. The food was splendid too - copious delicious country cooking in Alquezar (sensational white bean soup!), and an altogether more refined and equally delicious approach from chef Vipul at Hotel Allucant in Gallocanta. Both hotels had bars providing the opportunity for some much-needed post-birding refreshment. We would happily have stayed longer in both places. I can't speak highly enough of the care and attention from both excellent leaders (Niki and Chris). In addition, both were very knowledgeable and great fun to be with. And the picnics were great. What more could one ask?
T.F. Nottinghamshire, Feb 20

The itinerary was outstanding. Each day had a special treat, and the trip provided remarkable variety: mountains, gorges, lakes, grassland, reed beds etc. Both tour guides, Niki and Chris, are experts at their job, quick to identify all the local bird species, helpful to everyone in the group, superb Spanish speakers, and constantly cheerful and good-humoured. I've been on quite a few birding trips, and this one ranks near the top!
RB, Surrey, Feb 20

First time to try this type of holiday and was very impressed with the variety of birds seen, the enthusiasm, expertise & professionalism of the guides. The standard of accommodation was about right with the better of the two at the end which was good. Food was excellent throughout and the high level of camaraderie and relaxed vibe amongst the group made the holiday. Suitable for the serious birder as well as the novice.
P.H. Ulster, Oct 19

Well organised natural history experience with exciting times, moments of real beauty and all away from the madding crowds. We saw everything we expected to see, Wallcreepers, Cranes in thousands, Lammageier and Griffon Vultures up close, beautiful spring flowers and the magnificent, flocculant almond blossom everywhere. We had time to stand and stare, take in the scenery and share knowledge. Accommodation and food fantastic!
D.S. Cornwall, Feb 19

Our first hotel (at Gallocanta) was excellent - position, helpful staff, nice atmosphere, excellent food (with choices) and interesting books for reference.
J.B. Gwynedd

A superb visit to fascinating areas. As a new trip to this area it went with surprisingly few hiccups, not that we noticed anyway! The birds exceeded my expectations! How about a longer trip, as there's so much to see? Thank you all.
A.B. Suffolk

The hotels were both gems. The rustic culinary style in the first hotel was interesting and the food at the second hotel was good and varied.
T.C. Herfordshire

A well organised start landing in Zaragoza arriving in Alquezar, here we searched the canyon walls for the elusive wallcreeper which proved easier than thought up to 4 sightings here and 2 others on nearby areas in the sierras and reservoir canyons. The weather was cold but fine every day except the last. Up close and personal with Griffon vultures was a unique experience a moment to be treasured as a Lammergeier flew over our heads adding a special moment as Quebrantaquesos the breaker of bones gave everybody fantastic views. The search for Duponts lark is hard at -5oc, just its call prior to dawn and a brief glimpse for some, this bird is always a difficult bird to see. However the cranes at Lagos de Gallocanta showed well at dawn as a hen harrier flew over a wild boar with sentinel like cranes in the early morning frost. An exciting extra was a European Wildcat in the hotel car park and Bonelli's eagle competing for territory with Golden. Finally the vistas at El Planeron ended an excellent tour.
S.C. Hertfordshire

We had 3 days at Alquezar, a picturesque Spanish town with a castle and surrounded by cliffs. In February the only inhabitants are the birds, including wallcreepers; there seem to be almost no people there! The best day was when we went to view the Griffon Vultures and Bearded Vultures being fed on the hillside. A golden eagle and a green hairstreak butterfly were welcome extras. Then we had 3 days at Lake Gallocanta, also a bleak and empty place, but very beautiful at dawn when we went to view the thousands of cranes sheltering there on their migration route. The highlight was the dawn singing of Dupont's larks, eerie and haunting, but they are impossible to see as they hide in the long grass. Sunny, bright weather in February - what more could you ask?
A.U. Worcestershire

The 'Wallcreepers and Cranes' of Northern Spain was a wildlife and landscape extravaganza in a less-publicised and quite remote part of Northern Aragon where river gorges, woodland, heath and steppe dominate the landscape and people are the minority presence. We spent 6 days exploring several of these gorges familiarising ourselves with upland birds, butterflies and flowers between October 25th and 28th before 'descending' south and east for the last 3 days to the a high plateau of steppe scrub land to continue the in the same vein. Almost every day was wall to wall sunshine, initially in temperatures reaching 26'c but descending to 18'/19/c before we left as northerly winds replaced the Sahar southerlies. We stayed in great & varied accommodation in Al Quezar and Gallocanta where hospitality and generosity were the dominant themes. There were chances to talk to local people and so get a feeling for the locality and its people. All in all a great break, a very interesting & rewarding holiday.
R.P. Leicestershire

Overall, a most enjoyable holiday - excellent leaders, hotels and birds! I appreciated the thoughtful driving - Jason's enthusiasm was infectious and delightful!
S.W. Lancashire

Our local guide was excellent. It is the first trip where we have had a local guide and she was an excellent addition giving us more insight to the locality and way of life in this unspoilt region. Thank you for another lovely holiday.
A.L. West Yorkshire

Good group size, two centres, high standard of hotels and, above all, the leaders, John and Jenny, were knowledgeable, patient and good fun. I cannot praise them too highly.
A.H. Yorkshire

Our primary objective was to see Wallcreepers and we were not disappointed. As always on Naturetrek holidays the company was excellent and the knowledge of the leaders first class.
R.A. Essex

This was our first trip with Naturetrek and we enjoyed it. I will definitely look for another trip in the future.
B.F. North Yorkshire

Rob and Kate created a very social and relaxed atmosphere within the group and always 'went the extra mile' to ensure our comfort and general well-being. A marvellous way to explore an unknown region - which we thoroughly enjoyed. Many thanks.
Mr and Mrs T. Hertfordshire

The trip leaders were excellent and organised the group very well. Their botanical expertise was great for me as a holidaymaker with an interest (but no great expertise) in the subject.
P.F. North Yorkshire

I enjoyed just about every aspect of this trip. Leadership was excellent, weather very good, scenery fantastic, birding excellent and saw all I wanted.
N.E. Buckinghamshire

The hotel in Alquezar was wonderful. The trip to see the vulture feeding was also a great experience. The highlight was seeing the first flight of a Black-winged Kite chick.
P.A. Hampshire

This was a lovely holiday with a relaxed feel. The birds were great – in particular, I’ll never forget the two Wallcreepers and the sheer number of Cranes – just what the brochure promised! Please convey my thanks to the leaders for making this trip so enjoyable.
A.W. Devon

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Tue 11th Feb – Tue 18th Feb 1 £1,895

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,695

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£195

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Chris Wilkinson

Tour Leader: Chris Wilkinson

Thu 23rd Oct – Thu 30th Oct SPACES £1,895

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,695

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£295

2026

Departures Availability Cost

Tue 10th Feb – Tue 17th Feb SPACES £1,895

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,695

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£240

Thu 22nd Oct – Thu 29th Oct SPACES £1,895

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,695

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£295

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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
All Birdwatching Tours
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Tour report - February 2020

Tour report - October 2019

Tour report - February 2019

Tour report - October 2018

Tour report - March 2018

Tour report - November 2017

Tour report - October 2017

Tour report - February 2017

Tour report - October 2016

Tour report - February 2016

Tour report - October 2015

Tour report - February 2015

Tour report - October 2014

Tour report - February 2014

Tour report - February 2013

Tour report - October 2012

Tour report - February 2012

Tour report - October 2011

Tour report - February 2011

Tour report - October 2010

Tour report - February 2010

Tour report - October 2009

Tour report - February 2009

Tour report - October 2008

Tour report - March 2008

Tour report - February 2008

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