Finca Bonelli's Eagles

A typical itinerary would be, depending on conditions and the time of year.

Day 1 - Arrive and collection at Alicante or Murcia airport, the rest of day birdwatching around Finca Bonellis Eagles, followed by evening meal.

Day 2 - An early breakfast and departure for a mornings birdwatching at El Hondo a large wetland area with vast surrounding reed beds and is one of the few places where Marble & White-headed Duck and Purple Gallinule breed, also usually present depending on the time of the year are Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Squacco & Purple Heron, Cattle and Little Egrets and occasionally Great White Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh, Hen & Montagues Harrier, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Collared Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Roller, Bluethroat, Cettis, Fan-tailed, Moustached, and Great Reed Warblers, Bearded & Penduline Tits. Large numbers of Greater Flamingos are usually present.

Lunch at Clot de Galvany a small wetland area surrounded by scrub and smaller amounts of reeds, birds usually present are White-headed Duck and Purple Gallinule and occasionally Marbled Duck, the scrub areas are ideal for Crested Lark and both Woodchat & Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Serin, Wryneck and large flocks of Spotless Starlings,. An excellent site for passage migrants, return to finca for evening meal.

Day 3 - Morning guided walk around Crevillente Mountains, lunch/dinner at finca with an evening visit to an Eagle Owl site or other nearby site (depending on time of year.)

Day 4 - Birdwatchers choice either Petrola or Sierra de Espuna and the Guardalentin valley

Option 1 - Petrola an excellent site approximately 90 mins drive for Bustards, Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra and Short-toed Lark and Rock Sparrow.

Option 2 - Sierra de Espuna high in the mountains near Totana for Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Chough, Raven, Crossbill, Cirl & Rock Bunting (also present are wild mountain Goats). Tapas lunch at a local bar where the wild Boar are fed, excellent scenery (remember to take your camera)

A steppe habitat in the Guardalentin valley will be visited to look for Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Roller, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra and Short-toed Lark.

Day 5 - Depart for Alicante or Murcia airport, calling at Hondo visitor centre or nearby sites if time permits.

All walks are at a leisurely pace with particular emphasis on identifying the various species seen.

Some of the walks will be along rough tracks, walking boots will be advisable.

For further details contact Jane & Colin at Camino Del Castillo,Viejo 26 Crevillente Alicante

Phone 0034690251699 or 0034661144858 or e- mail jane@fincabonelliseagle.es