Spain: The Ebro Delta
Delta, Els Ports and Zaragoza Plains
For the all-round naturalist, the Catalan region of Spain in the early summer is a must. Within a relatively small area there is a wide range of landscapes and habitats resulting in a wealth of birds, flowers, amphibians and insects from Griffon Vultures to dragonflies!
The Ebro Delta is unique in Mediterranean Spain: its size, characteristics and the natural systems it harbours have ensured that its importance is internationally recognized. One of the most fragile of all Spanish ecosystems, the influence of man through the cultivation of rice has been a major influence and remains of signficant importance. Here the birds are the stars of the show with attractive species such as Flamingo and Red-crested Pochard vying for attention with Collared Pratincole and Audouin's Gull, the Delta being home to more than 85% of Spain's population of this species. We'll spend several days exploring the lagoons and dunes of the delta before moving up to the mountains.
The mountains which form a backdrop to the Ebro Delta rise abruptly from a typical Mediterranean landscape of olive and almond groves mixed in with thick evergreen oak forest with the highest peak, Mount Caro, being only 30 km from the sea. As well as being scenically dramatic, the Els Ports are home to an incredibly diverse flora attracting a wealth of butterflies. Having said that, there will be plenty of time to look up as well - Griffon Vultures soar on the thermals and Bonelli's Eagles are regularly seen. We'll visit woodland habitats alongside streams and an excellent nature reserve on the banks of the Ebro river where White Storks have been re-introduced and where there is an excellence chance of observing Penduline Tits.
We'll visit traditional old towns and villages, all of which speak of the importance the river had way back in history and even pre-historically, as demonstrated by cave paintings. We'll learn how Picasso was inspired by the area and we'll visit the wonderful Zaragoz plalins where we'll be hoping to see both Great and Little Bustards as well as unusual species such as Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Dupont's Lark.
This is a holiday of many parts. Based in just two centres - one in the Delta right beside the BirdLife International reserve, and the other outside the pretty hilltop village of Horta St Joan where we have chosen a hotel to die for - we'll slip into the leisurely pace at which life is lived in this extraordinarily beautiful and fascinating part of Spain.
