SPAIN - The Tom Gullick Experience
PYRENEES SPRING 2008

THE HIGH PYRENEES & EBRO STEPPES SPRING 2008

These short birding breaks to see the special Pyrenean birds are based at the very comfortable 3 star Hotel Bielsa overlooking the Rio Cinca at Bielsa in the high Pyrenees.  The Bielsa family own and run this special hotel and offer Tom’s guests a wide choice of dishes at dinner.  Spacious bedrooms have baths, w.c., balconies and telephone.  Tom’s guests have stayed here during the last eighteen years, Tom has now run more than ninety trips in this area.  As usual wine and soft drinks are included in the price and served at all meals.

Itinerary

Day 1  Early morning flight from London (Luton) to Barcelona (depart approx 0705) where Tom meets you and drives to the steppe country near Lerida soon after mid-day. Heading north through the steppes, Little Bustard, Lesser Grey Shrike, Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black bellied and Pintailed Sandgrouse plus Black Wheatear should all be seen as well as the first Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Golden, Booted and Short-toed Eagles and Hobby.   Arrive at your hotel in Bielsa for dinner.

Days 2 & 3  In these two days we will visit the breeding sites of the special Pyrenean birds in Spain and France – Wallcreeper, Lammergeier, Black Woodpecker, Citril Finch, Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor and Alpine Chough.   Other birds should include Ring Ouzel, Red- tailed Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Crossbill and many more. Lunches in the field at Lammergeier sites.  Dinners and nights at Bielsa.

Day 4 An early start for sub-montane birds on the way back south.  Ortolan, Cirl and Rock Buntings, Orphean, Sub-alpine, Melodious and Western Bonelli Warblers, Wryneck, Tawny Pipit and Penduline Tit. In the late afternoon we visit a coastal cliff site where there are breeding Blue Rock Thrush, Pallid Swift, Peregrine and Sardinian Warblers. Evening flight back to London, Luton arriving approx 2355.

 Expected species: approx 150

Prices includes: Economy class flights including prepaid taxes, all birding by Land Cruiser, accommodation in rooms with private bath, WC, and all meals with wine etc and tips. Bird checklist. Single room available for £40 (4 days) .

Price excludes: Travel insurance (available from £13.59), other drinks and items of a personal nature. Deduct £60 per person if joining in Barcelona.

NB. If there are three people booking together, you may elect to have a ‘private trip’ with Tom, a supplement of £200 per person will apply.

Deposit: £100

THE HIGH PYRENEES, EBRO STEPPES & DELTA SPRING 2008  NEW!

Combine Tom’s classic Pyrenees itinerary with a day on the huge Ebro Delta adding breeding wetland and shore birds plus Red-necked Nightjar.

Itinerary

Day 1:Early morning flight from London (Luton) to Barcelona (depart approx 0705) where Tom meets you and drives south down the coastal motorway to the vast rice fields, marshes and saltings of the delta. Birds abound; Audouin and Slender-billed Gulls, five species of tern, herons (including Squacco and Night), egrets (including Great White) and Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Collared Pratincole, other waders and warblers such as Great Reed and Savi’s. After dinner on the terrace of our hotel looking the Mediterranean Sea we will visit a local site for Common and Red-necked Nightjars plus Scop’s Owl at dusk.  

Day 2:Early morning drive back through the Delta then following the Ebro River valley past breeding sites of Bonelli’s Eagles and Hobby. On northwards with Tom at the wheel, Roller, Black-bellied and Pintailed Sandgrouse and Black Wheatear should all be seen as well as the first Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Golden, Booted and Short-toed Eagles. Arrive at our hotel in Bielsa , in the heart of the Pyrenees, for dinner.

Days 3 & 4: In these two days we will visit the breeding sites of the special Pyrenean birds of Spain and France – Wallcreeper, Lammergeier, Black Woodpecker, Citril and Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor and Alpine Chough. Other birds should include Ring Ouzel, Red-tailed Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Crossbill and many more. Lunches in the field at Lammergeier sites. Dinners and nights at Bielsa.

Day 5: Early start for sub-montane birds on the way south. Ortolan, Cirl and Rock Buntings, Orphean, Subalpine, Melodius and Western Bonelli’s Warblers, Wryneck, Tawny Pipit, Little Bustard, Lesser Grey Shrike and Penduline Tit. In the late afternoon we visit a coastal cliff site where there are breeding Blue Rock Thrush, Pallid Swift, Peregrine and Sardinian Warblers. Return to the airport for your flight home to London Luton landing at approx 2355.

Expected species 170

Prices includes: Economy class flights including prepaid taxes, all birding by Land Cruiser, accommodation in rooms with private bath, WC, and all meals with wine etc and tips. Bird checklist. Single room available for £50 (5 days) .

Price excludes: Travel insurance (available from £14.49), other drinks and items of a personal nature. Deduct £60 per person if joining in Barcelona.

NB. If there are three people booking together, you may elect to have a ‘private trip’ with Tom, a supplement of £200 per person will apply.

Deposit: £100