EUROPEAN BROWN BEARS, WILDCATS AND SEA-WATCHING

NORTH WEST SPAIN - 2nd – 7th SEPTEMBER 2016

TOUR OVERVIEW: Spain’s remote and beautiful Cantabrian Mountains in the Asturias

region of the very north-west of the country are home to two very rare and much sought after

mammals – the European Brown Bear Ursus arctos and the Wildcat Felis sylvestris. With the

help of a local guide we aim to see both these superb animals in their natural environment,

as well as a supporting cast of many Spanish birds amongst lovely mountain scenery. In

addition, our trip includes the coast line of adjacent Galicia where a number of promontories

jut out into the Bay of Biscay whose currents join there with those of the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The most well known promontory from a bird watching point of view is Estaca de Bares,

generally regarded as Spain’s top sea-watching spot. We will make a short visit timed to

connect with a number of passing sea birds and also no doubt encounter some fall migrants

at this time of year on the headland. The combination of the opportunity to see some rare

and exciting mammals as well as some terrific birding in the mountains and on the coast in a

little visited and stunning part of Spain, makes this a compelling tour to join.

TOUR DESCRIPTION: A five night trip based for three nights in a comfortable hotel in

Spain’s fabulous Cantabrian Mountains close to the best areas for both Brown Bears and

Wildcats. Then a single night near Estaca de Bares on the ruggedly beautiful Galician coast

and finally one night at Asturias to prepare for our departure on the final day.

PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES: We will allow plenty of time to secure good views of

the Brown Bears and Wildcats, so there should be good opportunities for some photographs.

Please note that Spain does not allow baited hides to be set up, unlike some other European

Fernando Pereiras de la Cal

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countries, so the views we hope to have are a totally ‘wild’ experience, and we must

maintain our safe distance from the animals which also minimises disturbance. Late summer

provides a narrow window of opportunity when the bears emerge from the forests onto the

scree covered slopes to browse on bilberries and other fruit before becoming more secretive

again later in the autumn. The mountains host much flora and fauna as well as superb

scenery so no doubt cameras will be clicking away. The seabird passage at Estaca can

brings birds close in, but we watch from high cliffs, similar to some top UK sea-watching

sites.

MAMMALS AND OTHER WILDLIFE: Brown Bear, Wildcat, Red Deer, Broom Hare

(endemic to these mountains!), Bottle-nosed Dolphin. For those with an interest in butterflies

hot weather is likely to produce a profusion with the likes of Camberwell Beauty, Swallowtail,

Mountain Argus, Cleopatra and Queen of Spain Fritillary all likely. Dragonflies are

represented by Common Goldenwing and Yellow-winged Darter (if you know what you are

looking for!) whilst an abundance of wild flowers, particularly upland and forest types should

keep the botanists happy. Finally there is always the chance of a reptile such as the endemic

Schreiber’s Green Lizard.

BIRD LIST: On land the following are likely: Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Honey Buzzard,

Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black

Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Wryneck, Crag Martin, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher,

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Dipper, Iberian Chiffchaff, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Zitting

Cisticola, Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Marsh and Crested Tits, Alpine and Red-billed

Choughs, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Serin plus an assortment of migrant land birds. Sea

birds of course depend very much upon wind conditions but likely are Cory’s, Great, Sooty,

Manx and Balearic Shearwaters, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Long-tailed

Skua, and possibly Sabine’s Gull.

hungry Griffon Vultures - Fernando Pereiras de la Cal

EASE AND PACE: There are no strenuous walks with most of our wildlife watching taking

place near to where we park our vehicles. We begin with a road journey of two hours from

the airport to our base in the mountains, and if we have an early start, then a midday rest

over lunch will be taken. The onward journey to the coast takes around three hours, but we

will break this journey with some birding, a meal and comfort stops. We will rise prior to

breakfast to look for bears and the wildcats, so we have at least two early starts in the field,

but with plenty of time during the rest of the day to relax.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: Our comfortable hotel in the mountains is located in the

village of Villablino. It is from this convenient base that we explore the Cantabrian

Mountains. Our hotel at the coast is not far from Estaca de Bares, whilst we spend the final

night at a hotel near Asturias airport, convenient for the flight home, where no doubt we shall

enjoy a typical Birding Abroad last evening meal and drink before our flight back to the UK.

WEATHER: Daytime weather is typically warm and sunny in early September, with

temperatures likely to reach 70 degrees plus, though the proximity of the mountains always

mean that clouds could gather and some rain is of course possible. At Estaca de Bares, the

influence of the Atlantic Ocean dictates a light but warm coat for sea watching is desirable.

PRICE: The price is £850 per person to include all travel in Spain, accommodation including

bed and breakfast, evening meal and light lunch (taken as a cafe snack or packed lunch).

Expect to pay £125 for the flights. Not included are your drinks during the day and those

accompanying your evening meals.

GROUP SIZE: the tour will proceed with five group members plus a Birding Abroad leader.

Maximum group size 12 including two leaders.

OUTLINE ITINERARY:

Day 1 – Morning flight from UK to Asturias, Spain. Transfer to our hotel in the Cantabrian

Mountains (a two hour drive with stops), lunch stop followed by a relaxing afternoon enjoying

local birding close to the village. For those with an interest in mammals Chamois inhabit the

rocky crags in the area, with Roe and Red Deer also being present, whilst Dippers and Grey

Wagtails inhabit the streams and Firecrest and Iberian Green Woodpeckers the wooded

hillsides where even a lingering Western Bonelli’s Warbler is possible.

Montagu’s Harrier can be expected at this time of year

Day 2 – We will spend this morning in the company of our local Spanish guide at a site

where Brown Bears make regular appearances. These amazing animals come out to graze

on the autumn berries of various mountain shrubs and we will be watching (rather excitedly

no doubt) from fairly close range, but in full safety as we are separated from the bear’s

hillside home by a deep ravine. Returning for lunch, we then enjoy an afternoon birding and

watching other wildlife in the picturesque and little visited Cantabrian Mountains. Birds in the

area include Black Woodpecker, Iberian Chiffchaff, both Golden and Booted Eagles, Honey

Buzzard, Crag Martins and Rock Bunting with notable reptiles being Bocage’s Wall and

Schreiber’s Green Lizards and amongst amphibians the Golden-striped Salamander is a

possibility.

Day 3 – Another exciting morning is in store, as we will sit patiently and wait for the

emergence of a Wildcat or two, once again escorted by our knowledgeable local guide.

Several of these much sought after carnivores live in the vicinity and our chances of seeing

them are extremely good.

Xoan Dieguez

Afterwards we can again relax and enjoy the rest of the day birding and looking for other

wildlife. Birds in this area include Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Short-toed Treecreeper,

Alpine and Red-billed Chough, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Rock Sparrow. The little

known and very rare Broom Hare, was only recently described in 1976 and is restricted to

these mountains. This threatened species inhabits the hills here, so we will keep our eyes

peeled for a sighting to add to our mammals list. Everyone loves butterflies and we may

encounter Common and Spanish Swallowtails and Pearl-bordered and Duke of Burgundy

Fritillaries.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Daniel Cazo Monesma

Day 4 – We reserve this morning for a further attempt to see bears or wildcat and mountain

birds as necessary. Around lunchtime we will begin the transfer from mountains to the coast

at Estaca de Bares (a three hour drive broken with birding, lunch and comfort stops),

checking into our hotel on arrival before a late afternoon spent sea watching in the scenic

area. Our journey through the stunning countryside coincides with some raptor passage in

this part of Spain, and in particular a few Honey Buzzards can be expected as well as

residents such as Goshawk and even Hen Harrier which breeds undisturbed in these

highlands.

Day 5 – Today we enjoy an early morning sea-watch and later a search for drift migrants on

the headland, the order dictated by the weather prevailing at the time. We will no doubt be in

the company of the dedicated and friendly group of Spanish sea-watchers who over the

years have seen some amazing birds from this headland. Of course we would have to

fortunate indeed in our brief time here to see any pterodroma petrels or South Polar Skuas

or such (all increasing in frequency here), but if the winds are right (anything of a decent

blow from the west) then there is a distinct possibility of all three skuas as well as Balearic,

Cory’s, Manx and Great Shearwaters, as well as terns and gulls. Even in becalmed

conditions there is always some sea bird activity here.

The headland also attracts numerous passerine migrants, species such as Wryneck and

Pied Flycatchers, reminiscent of the UK east coast in autumn, and more is now being found

each year, when the local birders can be persuaded to turn their optics around from the sea-

watching ledges to the bushes behind!. In the afternoon we transfer east along the coast,

with birding and comfort stops all along the way, staying overnight near Asturias.

Great Shearwater – always an exciting possibility at Estaca

Day 6 – Morning flight from Asturias to UK, arriving back into the UK late morning, meaning

we can all be home enjoying a cup of tea by mid afternoon.

Birding Abroad

lance.degnan@virgin.net

nickwhitehouse@btinternet.com

Honey Buzzard – regular on passage

Fernando Pereiras de la Cal