Best day trip by bird group
If you do not know which one to choose, you can simply follow your preferred bird species.
Sea birds: To see the very best sea birds you can choose between Southern Doñana, Western Doñana and the Strait of Gibraltar which is the best place to observe these species.
Waders: Southern Doñana supports a wide diversity and variety of species, although Northern Doñana and Brazo del Este can also be excellent in some seasons.
Raptors: The best day trips are Sierra Norte of Seville, Grazalema and Ronda mountains and the Strait of Gibraltar. Sierra Norte of Seville is of interest for the opportunity to see the Spanish Eagle and Eurasian Black Vulture. On the other side Grazalema and Ronda stand out for its cliff nesting raptors and the Strait of Gibraltar is the best place to enjoy their migration, here you can also see some of the rarest species in Spain.
Steppeland birds: the most suitable day trip for this group is Seville Countryside.
Mediterranean passerines: Sierra Norte of Seville and Grazalema and Ronda mountains offer a wide range of mediterranean passerines.
Most remarkable birds on each day trip
The most important features of each route:
Northern Doñana: To see the greatest diversity of birds and habitats that Doñana offers, this route is the best for you. The most interesting species of this zone are birds as threatened as the Red-knobbed Coot, Marbled Duck and Spanish Eagle. If we are lucky we can also observe Ferruginous Duck, White- headed Duck and the Great Bittern. Important concentrations of waterfowl exist in Doñana throughout the year. One very special feature are the flocks of Greylag Geese in winter time.
Southern Doñana:This route is the best place in Doñana to observe two of the most threatened species: Marbled Duck and White-headed Duck.It is also an excellent place to watch waders and sea birds, among them Balearic Shearwater. One outstanding sight is the presence of one of the rare European colonies of Little Swift and some pairs of Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.
Western Doñana:This is the best area of Doñana for forest birds such as the Iberian Chiffchaff and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Depending on water levels and time of year, it is also excellent for waterfowl such as the Red-knobbed Coot. A while observing the sea can bring species such as the Balearic Shearwater. In addition, in the nearby vineyards we can find Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin.
Sierra Norte of Seville: This is one of the few places where the three biggest Spanish eagles can be observed: Spanish Eagle, Golden Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagle. The list of birds of prey can be completed with the Eurasian Black Vulture and Griffon Vulture and, if we are lucky, with the Black-shouldered Kite and Egyptian Vulture. Other interesting species are the Iberian Chiffchaff, White-rumped Swift and Little Swift.
Seville Countryside: The place offers a very rich diversity of birds, gathering typical birds from steppe with some other waterfowl in close proximity. Some of the most distinguished species are Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black Shouldered Kite, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, European Roller and the White-headed Duck.
Strait of Gibraltar: It is the natural bridge between Europe and Africa and one of the best worldsite to observe raptors on migration. It can be overflown in one day by hundreds or thousands of European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Egyptian Vulture… It is an excellent place to observe sea birds, migrant passerines and the threatened Northern Bald Ibis.
Grazalema and Ronda mountains: This area supports a remarkable population of cliff nesting birds: Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Griffon Vulture (it hosts one of the greatest European colonies). It is also an excellent place for scrubland birds and Mediterranean forest birds such as Iberian Chiffchaff and some Sylvia Warbler ’s species. We can also list mountain birds like Red-billed Cough, Black Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Trush and the Alpine Accentor.
Brazo del Este: This place is sometimes even better than Doñana. It has the advantage of keeping water in the summer season, when the marsh drains, collecting together a fantastic amount of birds. Species of special note here include the Marbled Duck, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Western Olivaceous Warbler and sometimes we may also observe Great Bittern, Red-knobbed Coot or White-headed Duck. This is a prime site for Purple Swamphen and Glossy Ibis.
Still hesitant? Would you like to see which are the best options to observe a specific species in a certain season? Check the next link or ask us.