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After two years of Covid delays my 60 year wait (ever since as a child reading about it in Sir Peter Scott’s ‘Wildlife in Danger’ Brooke Bond picture card Album), to visit the Donana National Park on a birding holiday became a reality. A two hour flight to Seville and easy passage through the airport found us in no time travelling southwest with my fellow birders and tour guide Byron. With stops to view the abundant birds en-route, we arrived at the incredible town of El Rocio. A town with a Wild West feel with sandy streets and horses rule. This isn’t just for the tourists, El Rocio is a town that has brought with it its 19th century customs and traditions. Our hotel, the Toruno, is traditionally Spanish. The restaurant is across the sandy road two minutes walk away and feel like you’re walking into a frontier Wild West saloon. Large wooden barrels, wooden tables and horse hitching posts further add to the scene. Food was traditional with a choice of three starters, three mains and dessert. Alcohol and soft drinks were part of tour package. The five day at tour with Naturetrek was an adventure. Byron immersed us into a cultural, natural, scenic and exciting exploration of this fantastic National Park. The starting point was the Flamingo laden lagoon on the hotel doorstep. From here daily tours took us deeper and deeper into some areas off limits to public access. Storks, kites, bee eaters, shrikes were just some of the never ending array of the avian kind. However, for those who wanted to experience more than that, this tour delivered some fabulous vistas, beautiful town squares, wine tasting and more. Don’t take my word for it, if you can, just do it! I found Naturetrek to be very clear and easy to correspond with. The website was straightforward enough and brochure inspiring. It felt like a personal service and I didn’t have to jump through hoops or listen to repetitive telephone music. During Covid cancellations there was a no quibble refund or credit note option. I’m glad I took the credit note, it was a wonderful experience and would I do it again? Yes certainly.
B.I. Leicestershire, Apr 22
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Spain - The Best of Coto Donana in Spring
Tour Code: ESP34A thorough 5-day exploration of the magnificent Coto Doñana National Park in search of the incredible birdlife of both its best and least-known corners, in the company of local conservationists.
£1,395 (Inc flights)
£1,245
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
In spring the marshes of the Coto Doñana attract an amazing variety of birds and offer one of the greatest ornithological spectacles on the continent. El Rocío, a delightful village with sandy streets that overlooks the lagoon, river and marshlands of the Doñana, provides a fine base as we explore in detail the wide range of habitats in the region: the mosaic of marshes, Stone Pine woodland, open grassland and heathland, freshwater pools and coastal sand dunes. On one day we will use 4x4 vehicles to explore the more inaccessible reaches of the park, and on another we'll explore the rice paddies and reedbeds north of the Guadalquivir River.
- Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Crested Coot & Spanish Imperial Eagle
- Iberian Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo & Red-necked Nightjar
- Collared Pratincole, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern & Lesser Short-toed Lark
- Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles & Nightingales add a splash of colour & song
- Mammals may include Red & Fallow Deer, Wild Boar & even Iberian Lynx!
- Comfortable, central base, just a stone's throw from all the action
- Expertly guided by a Naturetrek ornithologist
Grading
Grade A. Easy birdwatching walks.
In 1956 a team of distinguished ornithologists organised an expedition to explore the wilderness of marshes and woodland along the Guadalquivir River in southern Spain known as the Coto Doñana. At a time when foreign travel was still a remote dream for most people, the subsequent account of the expedition in Guy Mountfort’s classic book ‘Portrait of a Wilderness’ made exciting reading and inspired ambitions to visit this remarkable area. Nearly seven decades later, the Coto Doñana is still regarded as one of the best birdwatching sites in Europe but it owes its continued existence to the efforts of dedicated conservationists, who have fought against a myriad of threats, ranging from encroachment by farming and tourist developments, to a serious chemical pollution incident. Although the central core of the area was declared a national park in 1969, the conservation struggle continues, but each spring and autumn the marshes still attract an amazing variety of birds and offer one of the greatest ornithological spectacles on the continent.
We begin our holiday in Seville, famous for its oranges and Moorish architecture, from where we will drive south-west to the town of El Rocío, a delightful and elegant village that overlooks the lagoon, river and marshlands that lie within the Coto Doñana National Park. With its white-washed buildings (that include a magnificent church) and its unmetalled sandy streets, there is something of the American Wild West about this village! It also makes a fine base as we explore the wide range of habitats in the region: the mosaic of marshes, Stone Pine woodland, open grassland and heathland, freshwater pools and coastal sand dunes. Here we will enjoy the large numbers of birds of prey that are present in the park, together with numerous other migrants, including storks, herons, waders, ducks, gulls and terns. We will also look for some of the region’s specialities, amongst them Purple Gallinule, Marbled Teal, Crested Coot and the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle (seven pairs of which occur here). Additionally, in the drier habitats, we will search for such species as Iberian Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Tawny Pipit, Lesser Short-toed Lark and Red-necked Nightjar. A range of mammals may also be encountered in this part of the park, most notably the Iberian Lynx, of which a handful remain in this corner of Andalucia, together with Red and Fallow Deer, Hares and Rabbits all, potentially, to be found on the menu of this endangered cat!
For the latter half of our holiday we will focus on the marshes and paddy fields in the eastern part of the Doñana, where the birding is excellent. We will focus, in particular, on a vast area of 11,300 hectares at the heart of the Guadalquivir Marshes that is included within the Doñana Nature Reserve and comprises an extensive area of ‘naturally’ farmed fishponds, pastures for cattle grazing, and rice paddies — all areas being organically farmed with great awareness of, and provision for, the vast numbers of birds attracted to this avian paradise. Avocets, Collared Pratincoles, White Storks, Slenderbilled Gulls, Gull-billed Terns and many other wetland bird species all nest in good numbers, whilst in winter hundreds of thousands of ducks and waders thrive here. The site also supports large numbers of Greater Flamingoes and Purple Gallinules, as well as Marbled Teal and the occasional White-headed Duck. It is an experience which will undoubtedly provide one of the highlights of this holiday.
Both in spring and in winter one cannot help but be impressed by the sheer number of birds here. Pools are crowded with herons and egrets, flocks of terns swoop over the marshes, and the sky is filled with raptors. In spring, additionally, we will hear the melodic outpourings of Nightingales from almost every thicket, and the songs of Great Reed, Reed and Savi’s Warblers from the reedbeds, whilst Beeeaters and Golden Orioles add their liquid tones to the chorus. With practice, some of the less familiar songs may also be identified: the scratchy warbling of Subalpine and Spectacled Warblers in the scrub, or perhaps the persistent rattle of a Cirl Bunting. Chirping tree-frogs and crickets remind us that not all the sounds are produced by birds and the fragrance of a myriad of flowers ensure that the Doñana experience envelops all of our senses!
Raptor enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of birds of prey inhabiting the Doñana, amongst them Griffon Vultures, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Goshawks, harriers and both Red and Black Kites, but it will inevitably be the sights and sounds of the marismas that will leave the most indelible memory of our visit to this fragile Spanish wilderness.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable tourist hotel, all rooms with private facilities.
- Food:
All included in the price.
Reviews
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We were bird watching from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. The outstanding guides left no stone unturned to locate the birds we wanted to see. El Rocio was a very interesting village and the hotel room was comfortable with a balcony overlooking Madre de las Marismas so we could even watch birds from the our room. Picnics, breakfasts and evening meals were provided with examples of good local produce.
M.F. Hampshire -
This is the first time I have been birdwatching abroad and the first time I have been on an organized birding holiday so I was slightly apprehensive and wondered if I would be bored! I need not have been! I took a book to read just in case and did not even open it. The weather in Andalusia was fantastic - hotter than I expected, but luckily we were well prepared having been given a comprehensive packing list. The guides were outstanding and we saw far more than we expected to see.
R.W. Hampshire -
Sergio's local knowledge was excellent and he offered advice on what could be seen in various local areas. The hotel was very good and ideal for this trip, comfortable rooms overlooking the marismas and the restaurant served wonderful food.
D.F. Glamorgan -
Trip leader was everything a trip leader should be. Sergio was more than excellent!
C.R. Kent -
I wanted a trip focusing on birds and it met and exceeded my expectations. Very well organised.
G.G. Devon -
This was a really enjoyable and informative tour, we saw lots of birds, the airline flights, local transport and accommodation were excellent and usefully all the participants got on well with each other. The bird-finding and bird-identification skills of both Byron and Sergio were outstanding, and Byron's leadership and organisation were exemplary. Both guides showed the utmost consideration for all the participants. A really great and memorable tour.
R.B.
Dates & Prices
2025
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Among our programme is a significant range of short breaks, designed specially for those wishing to enjoy some of Europe’s top natural history highlights at the best time of year. All of these holidays have the bonus of being short-haul and supported by like-minded wildlife enthusiasts.
Naturetrek Short Break Wildlife Tours
Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular and in response to the high demand for this type of holiday we are continuing to increase our programme both within the UK and abroad. Most of our short breaks are within Europe, for convenience of travel.
For some of our mini-breaks there is an option to travel by plane or train, and we offer a choice of duration and type of break, from a weekend’s birdwatching in the Somerset Levels to a 6-day whale watching tour in the Azores.
A selection of our UK short breaks:
- A winter bird watching break in Norfolk
- An autumn holiday to enjoy the Red Deer rut in Ardnamurchan, Scotland
- A wildlife weekend in the New Forest
A selection of our overseas short breaks:
- In Spain we look for the world’s rarest cat, the Iberian Lynx
- Wolves on the plains in rural northern Spain
- An exploration of La Brenne’s exceptionally rich butterfly-life in northern France
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer two superb short breaks to the lovely island of Madeira in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds. It’s hard to beat our Just Brown Bears trip for families, while if you fancy something off the beaten track, try Estonia in Early Spring for some excellent spring birdwatching."
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
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...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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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.
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
