Five Natural Places to See Birds in Spain

The Iberian Peninsula has ideal spots to get lost in nature, close your eyes, listen to the birds singing, and isolate yourself from everything for a moment. If you are someone who travels with your eyes to the sky, glued to your binoculars and with your telephoto lens always ready, you are probably one of the thousands of enthusiasts of birdwatching. If so, you should know that Spain has life beyond its most emblematic national parks, among which are Monfragüe in Cáceres, Doñana in Huelva, and Cabañeros in Ciudad Real.

This area, declared a Natural Monument by the Junta de Extremadura in February 1996 and considered the best corner of Spain by the Repsol Guide, is located 14 kilometers from Cáceres, in the municipality of Malpartida. The cliffs and rocky outcrops on which the town sits have become a true refuge for the white stork, which has established one of the most important colonies in Europe here. But they are not the only birds that inhabit the area, as various species of raptors such as the short-toed eagle, snake eagle, red kite, and black kite can be observed during a tour of the site.

Located south of the province of Huelva, at the confluence of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, lies the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Natural Area of the Odiel Marshes. Part of its ecological wealth lies in the opportunity it offers visitors to observe the daily lives of hundreds of birds including flamingos, ducks, and herons.

Between Zaragoza and Teruel, the Gallocanta Lagoons are the largest saline wetland in the Iberian Peninsula and the best-preserved in Western Europe. Declared a natural reserve in 2006, this area spans 7.5 kilometers in length and 2.5 kilometers in width, with a maximum depth of two meters. Undoubtedly, one of the most distinctive living elements of the lagoon are the birds, especially the striking flocks of cranes that stop here year after year during their migratory journeys.

The Natural Park of the Río Lobos Canyon is a deep limestone canyon of 9,580 hectares formed by ancient and intense fluvial erosion. Approximately a quarter of its surface is in the province of Burgos, with three-quarters in Soria. Its walls and ledges have become a unique refuge for birds, such as vultures, peregrine falcons, Eurasian eagle-owls, and barn owls.

The Ebro Delta, the most important wetland of Western Mediterranean, is the prime place for birdwatching in Spain. Here alone, 325 species of birds have been identified out of approximately 600 existing in Europe. If you love birds, you can enjoy a wide range of ornithological activities here, including banding, identification, and protection of the most vulnerable species.