Day Tours – Doñana, Odiel Marshes and Sierra Morena

Doñana and Huelva Province

The province of Huelva is always ready to create unforgettable memories: the flight of cranes at dawn, the music of a waterfall by a footpath, the mysticism of a Moorish fortress, the gliding of a giant black vulture over our heads, the last beam of sunlight of Andalusia, the announcement of the arrival of spring by bee-eaters, or the challenging look of a fighting bull are just a few examples of what Nature, in its many guises, offers us in the province of Huelva. 

Coto Doñana is located in South-western Spain between the provinces of Seville, Cadiz and Huelva, though most of its territory is in the latter. Its privileged nature has granted world renown to it. At present there are near 110.000 hectares protected between National Park and Nature Reserve. For thousands of years humans have been living in the area and have transformed the landscape, creating the current Doñana. The diversity of habitats gives cover to a varied community of wildlife,  including species that are seriously in danger of extinction worldwide: like the Spanish Imperial Eagle or the Iberian Lynx

Although the beach and the dunes, the woods, the lakes and creeks are some of the typical ecosystems here,  it is  marshland that forms the  most extensive part of Doñana National Park. In fact Doñana  is  considered to be one of the most important wetlands in Europe and therefore gives worldwide importance to this area.

Price details Birding Day – Tour:

Why choose a birding day trip with Andalucia Wildlife Guides?

For Bookings you can contact us or by telephone: +34 676 894 674 – Manu Mojarro 

Tour 1. Southern Doñana Area

Doñana is a vast area and at least 2 days are needed to visit the most interesting points. In the south we visit the Asperillo, a scrubland on old dunes to look for warblers. Then we go close to the river La Rocina which enters the “Marsh Mother” at El Rocio, an astonishing birding spot when it is wet. Nearby, there are several visitor´s centres with nice footpaths and hides where we can observe many varieties of waterfowl and aquatic birds.

The best places to watch birds in the Doñana Area are in the surroundings of the National Park. We get to the northern Doñana area by driving past farms, paddy fields and marshlands close to the mouth of the river Guadalquivir. There is a long way to Valverde´s Visitors Centre by unmetalled roads but it is worth it, especially in the wet season. Then we go to the “Dehesa de Abajo” near the rice fields where several species of waterfowl can be spotted, including Marbled and White-headed Ducks.

Tour 3. Odiel Marshes Nature Reserve

The Odiel Marshes Nature Reserve is the second largest wetland in Huelva province after Doñana and the most important tidal wetland in Spain. This area was created by the silt of the rivers Odiel and Tinto and in this estuary we can find a paradise for the birdlife. This is a day out to the “Kingdom of the Tide” to look for waders, seabirds and other aquatic birds. By the road that connects some of the islands on the Odiel Marshes we can get to Anastasio Senra´s Visitors’ Centre and continue to have interesting sightings on the mudflats going south. Finally we go to El Portil to enjoy observing the scenery and birds from a platform offering panoramic views.

 

 Tour 4. Andevalo and Sierra Pelada

This full day trip involves an ascent to the woody hills in the north of Huelva to watch raptors, insectivorous birds and other wildlife amongst the rocks, woods and scrubland. The main colony of Black Vulture in Andalusia is located in Sierra Pelada. On the way up we can look for Great and Little Bustards on the steppes as well as Great Spotted Cuckoo from the late Winter.