Young Bearded Vultures

Some days ago in Picos de Europa National Park, we were lucky to observe these two incredible young Bearded Vultures, eating bones.

(Click the image to view the video)

Their names are Cares (male green and green wing marks) and Vitorina (Female Red and Red wing marks). 

Look Cares, which it is perched on the rock on the right, eating a bone. As you can see, they are able to eat bones of up to about 25 cm. long.

They both belong to the Reintruduction Program leaded by the Bearded Vulture Foundation.

Would you like to enjoy them? Get in touch with us and we will arrange everything for an unforgetable birdwatching experience in Picos de Europa National Park

Birding Picos de Europa

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Birds and Butterflies in Picos de Europa National Park

As you know, in our birdwatching walks, we always try to enjoy butterflies and moths.

Last week, we were in a subalpine place in Picos de Europa National Park. We could find a large group of passerines: Eurasian Wheatear, Black Redstar, Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Yellow Hammer, and surprisingly a young and marvellous 3 years old Bearded Vulture.

Water Pipit

Rock Bunting

Young Bearded Vulture

Young Bearded Vulture

But furthermore, we enjoyed some good observations of  typical butterflies of Picos de Europa National Park: Hipparchia Alcyone (Rock Grayling), Apatura Iris (Purple Emperator), Pyrgus malvoides (Souhtern Grizzled Skipper), Collias croceus (Common Clouded Yellow), Argynnis paphia (Silver Washed Fritilary)...etc

Apatura Iris (Purple Emperator)

Hipparchia Alcyone (Rock Grayling)

Collias croceus (Common Clouded Yellow)

 Pyrgus malvoides (Souhtern Grizzled Skipper)

Argynnis paphia (Silver Washed Fritilary)

A nice wildlifewatching day with birds and butterflies.

DOÑANA BIRDFAIR

Ya estamos ultimando los últimos detalles para partir con nuestro stand de Turismo Ornitológico hacia la Doñana Birdfair. 

Esperamos conocer a mucha gente interesada en el mundo de las aves, del turismo ornitológico y de la Naturaleza, y por supuesto haremos lo que esté en nuestra mano para dejar al Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa en el lugar que se merece.

Nos vemos a la vuelta.

Paseos Ornitológicos Semana Santa 2016

Esta es nuestra propuesta de paseos para observar aves en la Semana Santa de 2016.

(Haz click para ver en grande)

Jueves 24 de Marzo. Ruta por la Ría de Ribadesella. 

Horario: 11:00

Trataremos de observar la mayor parte de las aves migradoras que en este momento llegan a la ría para proseguir su viaje a sus zonas de reproducción en el Norte de Europa, así como aquellas que también eligieron esta ría para pasar el invierno y ya están a punto de emprender el viaje al norte.

Garceta Común

Es especialmente interesante pues estos días, son el momento adecuado para ver a estas aves con sus plumajes de verano, radiantes y listos para la parada nupcial. 

Viernes 25 de Marzo. Ruta por la costa de Llanes. 

Horario: Jornada doble. 11:00 y 16:30

Se trata de un itinerario muy sencillo entre la villa de Llanes y Poo. En él, además de poner atención a las aves que utilizan los acantilados e islas cercanas para reproducirse, prestaremos especial atención a las  pequeñas aves de la campiña, que en estos momentos ya están en plena época de reproducción y son por ello muy vistosas, especialmente aquellas que defienden sus territorios de nidificación con mayor énfasis.

Cormorán Moñudo

Acentor Común

Sábado 26 de Marzo. Ruta por la ría de Tinamayor en Bustio (Ribadedeva). 

Horario: 11:00

La ría de Tinamayor combina de manera extraordinaria la posibilidad de observar las aves de la ría y marisma con las de los prados y matorrales del entorno. En ella, la cofradía de pescadores de Bustio ha rehabilitado parte de la lonja para la construcción de un centro de interpretación y observación de aves, que podremos visitar al inicio de la actividad.

Tarabilla Común

Ánades Reales

Como siempre, las rutas son de nivel de iniciación y aptas para todas las edades, siempre por caminos muy fáciles de transitar. Para quien no disponga de prismáticos nosotros disponemos de ellos para prestar sin coste adicional, así como de guías de campo y telescopio para compartir.

Los precios de estas actividades serán de 10 € por persona. Menores de 7 años: Gratis (Siempre acompañados por un adulto)

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No lo dudes!!!!!. 

Ven a disfrutar de algo diferente, en pleno contacto con la naturaleza e iníciate con nosotros en la fantástica actividad de la Observación de Aves. Seguro que no te defraudará.

¡¡Haz ya tu reserva!!. Son plazas limitadas.

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Red-Backed Shrike

Red-Backed Shrike is probably one of the most amazing passerines in our birdwatching summer walks trough the cantabrian campaign.

Summer visitor and extremely territorial, is not difficult to find them in open fields and also in low altitude mountains, most of the times perched on branches trying to catch big insects and even small mouses. To spear some of their preys on bush thorns is a typical behaviour of this beautiful bird.

Young Golden Eagles

These amazing young golden eagles were interacting last week in the boundary of Picos de Europa National Park.

In my opinion they were a male and a female (bigger than the male) a bit older.

After 20 min. interacting they flew and disappeared  together. What were they doing?. I don`t really know. Maybe they only found and each one tried to protect a small territory.

Meanwhile a crow didn´t stop swooping down and disturbing all the time.

OUR THREE SCAVENGER RAPTORS

A historic photo made on September 2014

The three scavenger raptors in Picos de Europa National Park

This is probably the first time that our three scavenger raptors could be pictured all together in Picos de Europa National Park, thanks to the return of the Bearded Bulture to these mountains.

The Bearded Vulture, that is in the centre, is named Biziele and belongs to the Reintroduction Project lead by the Lammergeier Foundation.

Biziele

If you want to enjoy these fantastic birds in Picos de Europa National Park, keep in touch with us. We can provide you all you need: Accommodation, guide services, National Park permisions...etc

Birding Picos de Europa

www.birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

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Twitter: @birdingspain

Young Bearded Vultures and Golden Eagles

One of the greatest threats to young Bearded Vultures are the territorial attacks of  Golden Eagles. Last year, in Picos de Europa National Park, an extremely aggressive young Golden Eagle swooped and killed a young male Bearded Vulture called Güeña, belonged to the reintroduction project leaded by the Bearded Vulture Foundation.

Güeña, a young male Bearded Vulture in August last year.

This year, in Picos de Europa National Park, two new females are suffering also the attacks of an adult female, maybe because they are flying near of one of her nests.

Quebrantina, one of the new young females of Bearded Vulture (marked with red and yellow flags) 

and the Golden Eagle in early November.

 Fortunately, at the moment they are only common territorial displays and not direct attacks.

It is time to go for young Golden Eagles

These days, in Picos de Europa National Park, the young Golden Eagles begin to leave the territories when they was born. It is a hard moment for them and frequently their parents must convince them aggressively.

A male adult Golden Eagle tries to kick out  the young one from his territory, while 

adult female observes from above

But sometimes, the young eagles come back again, often looking for easy food, and parents patiently  wait to go back again

The young Golden Eagle came back few days after

This time, the adult female only waited

All these displays and behaviours can be observed in Picos de Europa National Park.  ¿Would you like to enjoy it? Keep in touch with us and, from our cottages, we will arrange everything for you.

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info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

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Twitter: @birdingspain

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Alpine Birds. Environment and Movements

This is the environment where the alpine birds breed in Picos de Europa National Park, usually more than 1.900 m. above the sea level. 

Now, in autumn, they are moving to the valleys and even (like the Wallcreeper) to the cliffs of the coast, but at the beginning of spring, most of them, specially Alpine Accentors and Snow-Finches will be grouped in flocks and will start again the migratory movements from the valleys.

In winter it is completely snowed and practically inaccessible. To enjoy them, we need to wait at least until May. The best months, are May, June and July.

If you want to enjoy them, and this breathtaken scenery, keep in touch with us. We will arrange everything for you. 

Birding Picos de Europa

www.birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

@birdingspain

www.facebook.com/birdingpicosdeeuropa

0034 620239210

Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor

Some days ago,  we could enjoy this amazing birds nearly 2.000 m. above the sea level in the National Park of Picos de Europa.

Wallcreeper Trchodroma muraria

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

A sunny and enjoyable day in the alpine zone of the the National Park of Picos de Europa

¿Would you like to try it? Get in touch with us and we will arrange everything for you.

Birding Picos de Europa

info@birdingpicosdeeuropa.com

www.facebook.com/birdingpicosdeeuropa

@birdingspain

00 34 620239210

Whales, Dolphins and Birdwatching in Picos de Europa National Park

Last June we share two birdwatching days with 28 english birdwatchers. It was  a five days activity with Whales, Dolphins and Birdwatching in Picos de Europa National Park, organized by Wesex Continental , In Picos de Europa, we did two birdwatching routes, focused in alpine birds and raptors.

First day, we tried to find alpine birds. The day was cloudy with a very low visibility. However, we could enjoy some of them: Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, Yellow and Red Billed Chough, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear and also some Cantabrian Chamois.

Alpine Accentor

The second day, the weather was almost sunny, and we had good sightings of raptors, specially a young Bearded Vulture called Biziele and belonged to the reintroduction project. Furthermore we saw Egyptian Vulture, Short Toed Eagle, Common Krestel and a great number of Grifon Vultures.

Birdwatchers enjoying with a Bearded Vulture.

Two amazing and excited days in Picos de Europa National Park