The Rio Aliso Rural Apartments are situated close to the National park of Picos de Europa, one of the first Special Protection Areas for Birds declared in Spain. Some of the hightest peaks of the North of Spain are located here and much of the pastures are more than 1.000 m. above the sea.
Pastures at 1.300 m. above de sea level. In the distance Peña Santa Peak
This environment is suitable for the wintering and breeding of various species of alpine birds like alpine accentor, alpine sparrow, wallcreeper, red-billed chough, alpine chough and much more.
The habitat of the Alpine birds in the National Park of Picos de EuropaAll of them can be watched just with a simple walk to the upland areas, especially arround Covadonga Lakes and the access to the mountain retreats of Ario and Vegarredonda.
TOUR DESCRIPTION. Given the characteristics of this route and because of the trip by car will be arround 1 hour, we propose the full-day mode.
The itinerary will begin with travelling by car from the apartments to the Covadonga Lakes. From there we will ascend on foot to the mountain retreat of Vegarredonda in a journey that will last approximately 2 hours.
The track to the Vegaredonda mountain retreatThe Covadonga lakes are located 1.000 m. above the sea level and 1.460 at Vegarredonda mountain retreat. On this route is easy to see red-billed chough and alpine chough. Moreover, griffon vultures, aegyptian vultures, and other species especially raptors and passeriformes can be observed. It´s also possible to hear the singing of the Black Woodpecker.
From Vegarredonda to the Ordiales lookout (aproximately 1 hour), we placed in the territory of alpine birds like alpine accentor and alpine sparrow. This viewpoint is approximately 1.800 m. above the sea level. Furthermore and in addition to this trip is likely to observe any herd or lonely Cantabrian Chamois.
Cantabrian Chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica in the National Park of Picos de EuropaOTHER SPECIES. As already indicated, other species like predators susch as the griffon vulture, aegyptian vulture, golden eagle, booted eagle, common buzzard, ravens, crows and a great variety of little passeriformes can be observed.
