Tour Highlights
Small Group Experience
Egyptian Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Day by Day Journey
Day 1 – 11 June
Bilbao → Ría de Suances → Arenas de Cabrales
After an early start and a short flight, the UK visitors arrive from London to Bilbao airport and the adventure begins, leaving the Basque Country for another occasion. After a few kilometers we entered Cantabria where we made our first stop of the day, braving the storm and rain that gave us a nice window to observe interesting birds in the estuary of the Saja River.
With the high tide we did not see waders, but we did see a large number of ducks, with the most notable being the Gadwall and Shelduck. Other large birds such as Mute Swans, Greylag Geese and more interestingly a pair of Black-tailed Godwits and curiously a duck that we could not identify but that could be a Wood Duck from an escape.
Perhaps the bird that gave us the greatest spectacle was a Black-winged Warbler singing in front of us and on the opposite shore in the great distance a cloud of Black Kites and even a White Stork fluttering over the grass just cut by a tractor in the meadows above the marsh.
Day 2 – 12 June
Arenas → Poo → Vegas del Toro → Jitu → Sotres
Due to the confusion of the van we hiked out walking from the hotel for a couple of hours in a circular way from Arenas to the funny village called Poo de Cabrales. We were still contemplating the highest peak of Picos de Europa, Torrecerredo in the distance, when the song of the Red-backed Shrike sounded in the distance and we could quickly observe it on the tree dominating its territory.
We managed to get a ride in another van and arrived in Vegas del Toro after lunch, to fortunately locate an impressive Lizard Orchid and the birds that Pablo wanted, the brilliant Northern Wheatear with very distinct black and white patterns, as well as the elusive Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, which to our surprise captured a lizard in front of the group.
We crossed Sotres and enjoyed just before parking a large group of Griffon Vultures eating on the ground along with several Egyptian Vultures that also walked among the cattle looking for lamb droppings to feed their chicks with calcium.
Day 3 – 13 June
Lagos de Covadonga
Fortunately for the group Pablo got the permission to go up to the Covadonga Lakes with the van and we could comfortably reach the Ercina Lake. We walked to the top of the viewpoint located on the lateral moraine and we were able to satisfactorily enjoy the impressive views of the western massif captained by the imposing still snow-capped mountain of Santa María de Enol and the glacial lakes Enol and Ercina.
We waited there until the members of the Bearded Vulture Foundation arrived to feed the vultures. They took a long time to arrive, but when they did, they came all at once and even fought over the pieces of meat they were throwing. After a while two adult Egyptian Vultures arrived, but to our bad luck the Bearded Vultures did not appear yet.
We decided to go for a coffee and taste the traditional desserts called Corbatas, before visiting the famous Basilica of Covadonga next to the statue of King Don Pelayo and of course the interesting visit to the Cave of the Santina, the patron saint of Asturias.
Day 4 – 14 June
Cangas → Desfiladero Los Bellos → Riaño → Cosgaya
Due to the fact that the road of the Hermida Gorge is under road works and that rain was forecast on the north side of the mountains, we went to do a longer route but that takes place mainly on the south side of the Cantabrian Mountains and avoids traffic jams on the road.
After a pleasant lunch on the terrace, we continued to Llánaves de la Reina where we hiked through the wide and impressive Naranco Valley, surrounded by the mountains of San Glorio. I highlight the surprising observation of a Crested Tit in a willow on the banks of the stream where also appeared the endemic butterfly of the Cantabrian Mountains called Chapman Ringlet and the Meadow Saxifrage among others.
In this quiet valley we could observe the famous Cantabrian Chamois on top of the rocky cliffs and further down in the valleys the male Iberian red Deer with their growing antlers still velvet.
Day 5 – 15 June
Brez → Potes → Santo Toribio de Liébana
As soon as we start our walk in the morning we are delighted with the continuous appearance of a large number of really interesting birds such as the Cirl Bunting, the Common Redstart and two interesting birds such as the Wryneck and of course the star bird of Liébana, the Middle-Spotted Woodpecker.
So, we left the traditional livestock village of Brez to enter the forests of Pyrenean oaks in the direction of the Canal de las Arredondas. During the route we could see interesting Fragrant Orchids and of course two native botanical jewels, the endemic Small-flowered Foxglove and the Irish Heath.
During the time we stopped to have a snack in a rocky area we were able to enjoy the visit of a family of Rock Bunting feeding their chicks. Another great surprise we had was the good observation of a male Common Rock thrush and more specimens of Middle Spotted Woodpecker.
Day 6 – 16 June
Fuente Dé Cable Car → Pido
This was the desired day, the sun finally arrived and with very good judgment Pablo had already booked the tickets to climb the cable car for the first of the morning at ten o’clock. So, we were some of the first ones to go up and we were speechless watching the immense limestone walls of Peña Vieja and Peña Olvidada, in the heart of the central massif.
We walked in the vicinity of the Vueltona under the alpine massifs looking for the most interesting birds of which fortunately we could see the Snowfinch, the Water Pipit, the Alpine Accentor and the Alpine Chough and we could even briefly observe an elegant Bearded Vulture on the Aguja Ostoicoechea.
What we did see were interesting plants such as Alpine Gentian, Thyme-leaved Globe Daisy and Alpine Toadflax. And of course, the acrobatic Cantabrian Chamois galloping over the sharp rocks looking for the snowfields to refresh themselves during this sunny day.
Day 7 – 17 June
Cucayo → Ánimas → Tunnels of Dobres → Río Cubo
Because it was expected to be a very hot day, we went up to Cucayo where we made a horizontal crossing through the historic cattle village until we reached the Peña de las Animas where we turned around by the same pleasant path and surprisingly in the shade.
Undoubtedly the plant that most pleased us that morning was the Martagon Lily and especially because it had a beautiful background on the rocks of Dobres. Over these crags we also saw a large number of Griffon Vultures flying overhead and for the first time on the trip the Alpine Swifts mingling with the Common Swifts.
We continued the afternoon in the vicinity of the Hotel El Oso in Cosgaya ascending the bank of the Rio Cubo to some meadows where we decided to turn around after observing some nice Man Orchids and some nice Purple-edged Copper.
Day 8 – 18 June
Cosgaya → Bilbao
Very early in the morning we had to say goodbye to this magical place to cross the Hermida Gorge at night to Unquera where we enjoyed a tasty breakfast before our last flight to Bilbao airport where we arrived in time to take the plane back to the UK after spending eight fantastic days in Spain, in the Picos de Europa.
Beyond Birds
The Picos de Europa is home to incredible biodiversity including endemic butterflies, rare mammals, and stunning wildflower meadows.
Chapman’s Ringlet
Orange-tip Butterfly
Red Squirrel