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3475 euro
Schedule
We depart in the morning so that we can check in at the hotel around noon. If timing allows, we’ll head out in the afternoon to visit the first hides.
Two days in specially designed hides for vultures and other birds. With Bearded Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture and others, we’re set for an unforgettable spectacle!
Early in the morning, we drive to Montgai for a session. You will be able to choose between different hides available there. Kites, woodchat shrikes, bee-eaters, little owls, Montagu’s harriers, and others are regular visitors.
Afterwards, we drive to Lécera, about a fifteen-minute drive from the steppes around Belchite. We will explore the area to prepare for the next day.
We dedicate two days to photo sessions in the sandgrouse hides. Each time, we’ll be sitting in groups of three near a watering hole, at two separate locations. The hides are sunken into the ground, providing a nice low shooting position.
Our targets are the black-bellied and white-bellied sandgrouse. Again, we use a rotation system. Around midday, we return to the hotel for lunch. Then we have a few free hours, followed by an evening backlight session from our hides.
After a final morning session, we depart around midday towards Barcelona. With an afternoon or evening flight to Brussels, Amsterdam (or another airport of your choice), we fly home after an unforgettable week of bird photography in Spain.
Partnership
A BIRDER’S WISHLIST
Based on experience, we’ve put a few species on the wishlist. In the mountains, the vultures are the stars: bearded vulture, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, and cinereous vulture. We’ll also see ravens, and the black and red kites will appear. In the hills around our hotel, we aim for the European turtle dove, golden oriole, nightingale, rock bunting, western black-eared wheatear, Provence, Orpheus and moustached warblers, alpine accentor, cirl and grey buntings.
STEPPES OF BELCHITE
During the second part of our trip—in the steppes of Belchite—the white-bellied and black-bellied sandgrouse steal the show. But rock pigeons, black starlings, and red-legged partridges also visit our hides. It’s a true lark festival with crested and calandra larks, and of course, the lesser and greater short-toed larks.
PHOTOGRAPHY HIDES
We spend at least part of every day in different photography hides. The locations of the hides are chosen to photograph particular target species as well as possible. For example, only three people fit into the bearded vulture and sandgrouse hides. Mobile single-person hides (usually for the songbirds) are often placed side by side, with the location chosen based on the best light and space for the birds. Comfortable tripod photography is guaranteed, and everyone has plenty of opportunities to spend time in almost every hide.
ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT
In Spain, we’ll travel comfortably by minibus and stay in welcoming accommodations.
We start in Cubells, staying in a local Spanish-style hotel. Then we move on to Lécera, where we’ll stay in a nature-themed hotel with spacious rooms, each with a private bathroom. The hotel has a garden and a covered pool. Meals are served in a cosy café-restaurant with authentic home-style Spanish food and a warm, local atmosphere.
Flights are not included (expect €300–€500 per person round trip, including baggage). You can fly from Amsterdam, Brussels, or another airport to Barcelona—book through Starling or independently. For guaranteed departure, we’ll help you find the best flights.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
In Spain, spring temperatures generally range between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Be prepared for chilly mornings or cool mountain temperatures. Layered clothing is always a good idea. A good waterproof jacket and sturdy hiking shoes are also useful.
We recommend wearing black or dark-colored clothing with long sleeves during the hide sessions to avoid reflections and remain completely unseen.
PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
In addition to a good and sharp zoom lens (for example, 16–85mm), we recommend bringing a telephoto lens with a minimum focal length of 400mm for this photography trip to Spain. Sometimes it’s useful to use a smaller (tele)zoom lens, for example when birds are nearby. If possible, bring a tripod and a bean bag, so you’ll have options on site.
