CIUDADELA PARK

The city’s largest park is also one of the best places for birds FRANCE particularly during the summer months when fun runs seem to be the order of the day. Nevertheless, there is still reasonable birding to be had despite the crowds. Look out for White Storks that breed throughout the area, a host of passerines including Kingfisher, Iberian Green and also Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. During the winter it is also worth searching for Dipper, these birds will be the black-bellied continental race. If you want to spice things up a tad, then a foray just outside of the city is to be recommended. One good place to visit is the Zolina Reservoir. Waterbirds are the obvious targets here with numerous Coot, dabbling ducks, such as Shoveler and, perhaps, the occasional Shelduck present. It is also a rarity hotspot and the heart rates of the local birders were sent racing recently with the appearance of a Red-necked Phalarope. The scrubby terrain that surrounds the reservoir is good for Spanish specialities, like Iberian Grey Shrike, Crested Lark, Dartford Warbler and, during the breeding season, Red-backed Shrike, Tawny Pipit and Bee-eater can be found. Look up and you may be rewarded with soaring raptors including Montagu’s Harrier and Booted Eagle during the summer and, more generally, Red Kite and Griffon Vulture. Finally, for an out-of-town treat, there is perhaps no more gorgeous a place to visit that the Lumbier Gorge area, with its spectacular rock formations. This picturesque nature reserve is a narrow gorge that has been forged by the River Irati. The reddish cliff faces are punctuated with cracks that are often populated by hanging stunted trees and bushes serving as perfect nesting sites. Choughs cry above the sound of the rushing water while Griffon Vultures nest on the ledges. If you walk the signposted path at the foot of the cliffs, that traces the course of the river, you should be able to find Cirl Bunting, Rock Thrush and also Dipper. A winter visit may reward you with a glimpse of a beautiful Wallcreeper that would have spent the previous summer high up in the Pyrenees.