Day 1

Madrid – Gallocanta

The group of six visitors from England and Scotland arrived in Madrid, where they met up with Pablo Pérez, their nature guide. During the drive, we spotted a dark-phase Booted Eagle, and shortly before arriving at the first hotel, Allucant, in the village of Gallocanta, we found the first Little Owl of the trip perched on the remains of an old building — perfectly camouflaged.

The name Gallocanta means «the rooster that crows,» referring to the huge numbers of Common Cranes that gather in winter on its saline waters — the largest endorheic saltwater lagoon in Europe. We enjoyed Javier’s friendly welcome at the hotel and Bipul’s exotic cuisine.

Day 2

Gallocanta Lagoon

Before dawn we were already on the eastern shore of the lagoon to watch nearly three thousand cranes take flight and head to feed in the nearby fields — a breathtaking river of birds in perfect harmony as the first light illuminated them.

After breakfast at Allucant we visited the Barrueco Castle viewpoint with stunning views over the lagoon, enjoyed a pair of Woodlarks in courtship flight, and saw our first Iberian Ibex. The circular tour of the lagoon revealed Great Flamingos, ducks, and an elegant group of Ruffs in varied plumages.

In the afternoon we explored the historic walled city of Daroca — home to Iberian Ibex and Red-billed Choughs — visiting its church before returning to Allucant for our last night there.

Day 3

Gallocanta – Blancas – Lechago

A second dawn outing for the cranes, then on to the Aguanares observatory where strong winds were no deterrent for the large numbers of Hen Harriers hunting gracefully, the swift Merlins, and a welcome Snipe sighting.

We continued to the Blancas moorlands in search of steppe birds, rewarded with four Black-bellied Sandgrouse and our first Rock Sparrow. After exploring the historic village of Blancas we lunched in Calamocha on typical Aragonese food.

The afternoon brought excellent sightings at the Lechago reservoir: Common Kingfisher, the endemic Iberian Grey Shrike, Great Crested Grebe, and our first Red Fox of the trip.

Day 4

Las Torcas – Belchite – El Planeón – Bierge

Traveling along secondary roads we paused in a pine forest for Crested Tit and Coal Tit before reaching the dramatic vertical limestone walls of Las Torcas. There a Griffon Vulture was incubating an egg — an intimate sight — alongside a Dartford Warbler and a distant Golden Eagle.

Lunch in charming Belchite introduced us to the legendary Café Bombón. A nearby reservoir yielded superb close views of the Firecrest — one of Europe’s smallest birds. At Planeón nature reserve, an impressive Golden Eagle perched over the lagoons while Yellow-legged Gulls harassed it into moving on, and Black-bellied Sandgrouse appeared again, this time perched and giving clear views to distinguish male from female.

Despite showers, we reached the Hospedería de Guara in Bierge where Ana gave us a warm welcome.

Day 5

Alquézar – Mirador del Vero – Vadiello

A quieter morning in Alquézar — a historic village perched on a limestone cliff with over three thousand years of history. The Wallcreeper stayed hidden, but we enjoyed a Sardinian Warbler and a handsome Blue Rock Thrush before exploring its medieval streets.

The iconic viewpoint over the Vero River was breathtaking: Griffon Vultures soaring high above the canyon, glistening snow on the mountains, and the turquoise waters of the river hundreds of metres below — an unforgettable sense of freedom and scale.

After hot soup back at the hotel, we continued to the windswept Vadiello reservoir with its dramatic conglomerate walls before returning to Bierge for dinner.

Day 6

Morrano – Santa Cilia – Guara Reservoir – Riglos

From the Morrano Viewpoint in the Sierra de Guara we watched vultures lift into the morning sun. At the Guara Reservoir a Peregrine Falcon rested near vulture nests. Redirected by a local sporting event, we reached the iconic Roldán mountain ridge.

At the summit, with snow-capped Pyrenees ahead and hundreds of Griffon Vultures in the sky, the only Bearded Vulture of the trip appeared — its diamond-shaped tail and narrow wings unmistakable against the broader V-shaped silhouettes of the Griffons surrounding it.

After lunch near Monrrepos we walked through the village of Riglos beneath the towering Mallos — enormous conglomerate pillars beloved by climbers. The elusive Wallcreeper stayed hidden, but a Rock Bunting sang from the rocks. Dinner by the fireplace back in Bierge.

Day 7

Abiego – Montearagón Castle – La Sotonera

A sunny start at Abiego to see fossilised footprints of extinct animals, with a Cirl Bunting singing and a Thekla’s Lark heard. At the famous Montearagón Castle a Little Owl basked in the sun, and we had excellent views of an elegant pair of Black Wheatears — residents of one of the few remaining strongholds of this threatened species in Europe.

A circular walk around the castle — quickened by approaching rain — was followed by a warming chocolate con churros. Then on to the Sotonera lagoon, where migrating cranes from central and southern Spain lay gathered on the grass in impressive numbers alongside a Golden Eagle and a Hen Harrier.

We also enjoyed a beautiful comparison between Common Cranes and White Storks: the cranes’ longer silhouette and noticeably faster flight — driven by the urgency of migration — contrasted sharply with the unhurried Storks planning to breed in the nearby trees.

Day 8

Bierge – Barcelona

We left Bierge with full hearts after a tour rich in beautiful landscapes and experiences typical of authentic rural Aragón. Over the week we recorded around 90 bird species and discovered the fascinating contrasts between modern and traditional Spain — where nature demonstrates both its ability to adapt and, above all, its resilience to a week of truly powerful winds.

We arrived at Barcelona airport and said warm farewells to all six participants, with memories and photographs to last a lifetime.