Birdwatching areas

in the Central Spanish Pyrenees

Jaca – Hecho area (La Jacetania)

One of the most outstanding places of ornithological importance in the Pyrenees are the valleys of Ansó and Hecho, and the mountain ranges of San Juan de la Peña and Oroel. The valley of the river Aragón, between Berdún and Jaca, is perhaps one of the best places to see raptors. They breed in the mountains but look for food in the lower valleys. There are also plenty of songbirds.  It is recommended to travel by car, but you should make short stops and walk around regularly. In the woods around Zuriza (Ansó), in the Selva de Oza (Hecho) and the surroundings of the New Monastery of San Juan de la Peña you could make longer trips. Foz de Biniés (valley of Ansó) is one of the better places to see rock-loving species. Park the car near one of the entrances to the pass and proceed on foot. If you want to climb the higher mountains in the area it is best to go to Zuriza, in the valley of Ansó, or to Oza, in the valley of Hecho. Leave the car and take a walk of at least several hours.

Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park

The three valleys of the park, those of Ordesa, Añisclo and Pineta, look as if they are being painted by the best landscape artist of the Pyrenees. Here you can easily find the Lammergeier as well as other typical high mountain species. The impressive valley walls house rock-climbing species like Wallcreepers, while in the valleys there are plenty of birds living in the woods. From the parking places you can take either short or long walks. A nice route, which takes a long day, is to go to the end of the valley of Ordesa to the Cola del Caballo and return via the Facha de Pelay. An other interesting walk is to go up to Cotatuero and return through the woods of las Hayas, or via the track below the Gallinero and return via Carriata (duration about five hours). Many species which habitually breed in a Mediterranean climate can be found near Añisclo and Escuaín. In this area you can make excursions of several hours.

The valley of Benasque

There are two interesting excursions to be made in this valley, during which you can either see birds of the high mountains or birds of the forest. You can either make it a whole day’s trip or a much shorter one. Close to the village of Benasque, on the right river bank, you will find the heavily forested Estós valley. After some three hours walking along the track through the forest you arrive at the refuge of Estós. You are allowed to spend the night here and it is a good place from which to make shorter or longer excursions. Practically all forest animals living in the province of Huesca can be found in this valley. The other trip goes high up into the mountains without any problems, as the road takes you all the way to the ski station of Cerler. The turn to Cerler is a few kilometres after Benasque. You can make shorter or longer excursions on the plains of Ampriu, where the ski pistes are situated, or go all the way up to the top of El Gallinero and see all the high mountain species.

Riglos

Riglos is one of the most famous places in the Spanish Pyrenees and well known for its high number of rock-living species, raptors and warblers. You can also find many high-mountain species that come down to spend the winter. Los Mallos are the high red rocks, made up from pre-Pyrenaican conglomerate, deposited on the demarcation line with the Ebro Depression. Visit the villages of Riglos and Aguëro and their mallos. Going out of the village of Riglos you will find a track leading several kilometres along the base of the high red rocks. In the high rocks at the end of the track Griffon Vultures nest. You can reach the Mirador of Riglos by car, leaving north from the village of Sarsamarcuello, although the last part has to be covered on foot. This village is situated opposite the wall where the vultures breed and it offers a scenic view on the high red rocks of Riglos.

In the neighbourhood of Riglos there is an other place worth visiting: the Castillo (castle) of Loarre.

Sierra de Guara

The Sierra the Guara lies between the road from Huesca to Sabiñánigo and the river Vero (Barbastro). It is part of the broad pre-Pyrenean mountain range, with high rocky cliffs and steep ravines. The dominant vegetation consists of bushes and Holm-Oaks. The Pico Guara reaches above 2,000 metres. There are loads of raptors and rock-loving birds, while in winter the local avifauna is augmented by high-mountain species. It is recommended to visit the southern part of the Sierra de Guara. Going south along the road from Huesca to Barbastro and taking small roads up to the sierra there are several interesting sites. You should take several walks on the mountain slopes, along the rivers and other places. The most interesting bird watching points are Salto de Roldan and Cienfuens, Vadiello, San Cosme, the area of Mascún (the villages of Rodellar and Otín) and along the river Vero (the villages of Alquezar andLecina).

Birdwatching areas

in the Monegros and the Ebro Valley

Sotonera and Gurrea

Close to the Pyrenees there are habitats very different from each other: a reservoir and a steppe, which can both be visited in a single day. The reservoir of Sotonera is a the large freshwater bodie. Thousands of ducks spend the winter here, while there are always many herons, egrets and harriers present. In spring some more than 50,000 cranes stop over during migration. The area is best visited by car. The best vantagepoints on a trip around the reservoir are near the dam (Tormos) and near the village of Montmesa. Between Gurrea de Gállego and Alcalá de Gurrea, in the Llanos de la Violada, there are numerous tracks from which there are opportunities to see steppe birds.

Huesca surroundings

Close to the city of Huesca there are ponds, reservoirs and

rivers with lush vegetation, all interesting from an ornithological point of view. Here you can see waterbirds, raptors, waders and small songbirds. You can visit Alberca and Soto de Cortés, near the village of Chimillas. Take the turn to Alberca de Loreto (to the right) or to Pantano de Valdabra (to the left), a few kilometres along the old road from Huesca to Zaragoza (near la Universidad Laboral).The best preserved riverine habitat is south of Huesca, close to Pompenillo, Tabernas de Isuela, Buñuales and Lascasas. Other interesting bird watching spots are the rice fields of Vicién and de castle of Montearagón.

Sariñena lake

Sariñena, in the north of the Monegros, is the largest natural fresh water lake in the Province of Huesca. You can find typical waterbirds like cormorants, herons, egrets, gulls and waders. Over 10,000 ducks spend the winter here. The lake can be considered natural, but has a controlled fresh water inlet and an artificially controlled water table. The lake is ornithologically interesting throughout the year. A track goes round the lake, from which you have excellent views.

The Monegros

The excellent steppe zone near the Pyrenees is that of the Monegro. It is the driest zone of the Ebro Depression, with cereal fields, remnants of pine forests and saline lakes. Go by car along the small roads and tracks and take several short or longer walks. The area is interesting enough to visit both in winter and summer (early in the morning!) and you may expect to see among others, Great and Little Bustards, larks and raptors. An interesting route goes along Lanaja to Castejón de Monegros and proceeds to Valfarta, to arrive in Bujaraloz. Here you can visit the lakes near Bujaraloz, proceed along the road into the direction of Sástago. Along the righthand river bank of the Cinca there are also excellent steppe areas between Ballobar, Ontiñena and Alcolea de Cinca.

Scops Owl.

Red Kite winter roost near Huesca.

Montearagon castle (Photo: Wil Luiijf).

Sierra de Guara - río Vero.

White Stork breeds in the Ebro Valley.