the mountainous tour of Sierra Morena
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Woody hills
12 hours
Spain
Andalucía
Huelva and Seville
Trip through the woody hills in the west of Sierra Morena where the protected areas of Sierra de Aracena and Sierra Norte are located.
The land of the eagles
A paradise for the lovers of the birds of prey
Sierra Morena at the North of Andalucia is an excellent example of Mediterranean vegetation on a 400 Km mountain range; it is home to cork and holm oaks, and chestnut trees that form forests in the more humid areas. The fauna includes species such as the Iberian Lynx, Black Vulture, Black Stork and Griffon Vulture. The wood-pastures on the western side of these hills serve as grazing areas for the famous black pigs.
Possible birds for the checklist:
Residents: Golden & Spanish Imperial Eagles, Black & Griffon Vultures, Eagle Owl, Hoopoe, Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Green, Great & Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Firecrest.
Winter Birds: Golden Plover, Lapwing, Chiffchaff, Siskin, Bullfinch, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Song Thrush.
Summer Birds: Redstart, Quail, Black-eared Wheatear, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Bee-eater, Melodious Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black Stork, Spotted Flycatcher.
Migrants: Whinchat, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Rock Thrush, Northern Wheatear.
Route locations
Possibility of visiting two different areas:
- Sierra de Aracena is a walkers’ paradise and offers different birding trails for a relaxed day out enjoying birds and nature.
- Sierra Norte includes some wonderful spots for birdwatching and nature photography with an amazing concentration of raptors.
Duration time
The duration of the trip depends on the meeting point, the numbers of birds that come across and the interest in the special species.
In Sierra de Aracena, we spend 9-10 hours.
Sierra Norte involves a longer journey and the trip lasts around 12 hours.
Price
Sierra de Aracena – 70 Euro per person in an open group or 250 Euro for a private trip between 1 and 3 people.
Sierra Norte – 75 Euro per person in an open group or 290 Euro for a private trip between 1 and 3 people.
Availability
All year round although we recommend to visit the area at any time between the Autumn and the early Spring.
Please mind it can be extremely hot in the summer and very cold in the winter.
Multilingual
All our guides speak fluent English and the tour can be done in French, Portuguese or Catalan on demand.
Checklist available in different languages.
Logistics
Pickup can be arranged from any accommodation or any meeting point within the provinces of Huelva and Seville. For long distances, a fuel fee might be charged.
We use vehicles according to the group size. Usually a 9-seater minibus for up to 8 customers although larger groups can be taken in small coaches and buses.
