Xabier Vázquez Pumariño is a biologist, an ornithologist and an environmental consultant in Spain and Latin America. He started birding in his childhood, walking for birding in the countryside and mountains of Galicia. He has published many papers and books about birds, mostly from Galicia and León. Besides, he is active in the environmental movement and he writes about nature conservation and other environmental issues in different journals and magazines. His company developed the birding policy for the tourism authority of Galicia. Birding guide since 2010.
BIRDWATCHING
ORNITHOLOGICAL TOURISMQuinta de San Amaro offers you to discover the world of ornithological tourism in our region by the renowned biologist, ornithologist and environmental consultant, Xabier Vázquez Pumariño. If you are a bird lover and you are planning a trip to the region of O Salnés and / or to any corner of Galicia, we tell you which are the best places for observation or bird watching, and contemplate them in their natural habitat.
OUR MAIN TRIPS
by Xabier Vázquez PumariñoBIRDING
Birding Galicia (birding.gal) specialise in birdwatching tours in Galicia and to different areas in the North West of Spain. Led by Xabier Vázquez Pumariño, biologist, ornithologist and environmental consultant he has published many papers and books about birds, mostly from Galicia and León in Spain.
Birding.gal likes designing tailor-made birdwatching tours for their customers according to their birding and nature desires, available time and the season.
NW of Spain is one of the most unknown areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Legendary for its culture, traditions, gastronomy and unique wines, it is also an excellent area for birding and hiking. Its variety of landscapes and wildlife make it perfect to visit. In a very short time you can reach from the best point for the observation of migratory seabirds – the Cape of Estaca de Bares – to some of the most unknown mountainous areas of the Iberian Peninsula, or enjoy the seabirds aboard the boat Chasula on a pelagic trip, or travel deep river gorges.
Birding.gal knows this area perfectly and can provide you great birdwatching tours, observation of mammals and other wildlife through tailor made trips to any of its multiple destinations in the area. Just tell us what you want to watch and we will draw up the best trip to get it.
Birding.gal is involved in conservation projects and in conservationist causes years ago. Their activities are absolutely respectful and ethical with the environment. They do not carry out activities that could compromise the survival and welfare of birds and other wildlife. Their treatment is personal and close; they seek to help local communities through the birding and the tourism of nature.
BIRDING IN THE CHASULA.
One of the most amazing birding activities in Galicia is to sail offshore during the postnupctial migration of seabirds in front of the Galician coast, mainly from July to November. We offer specials birding trips on board the Chasula, a traditional fishing boat used to special activities in the sea. Thousands of seabirds of several species can be spotted and photographed, some o them are less common species like the Sabine´s Gull or the Willson Strom-Petrel. Common Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin are spotted regularly and, exceptionally, different whales species.
In winter, trips are made inside the Arousa estuary where we can observe hundreds of wintering aquatic birds such as gulls, wildfowl, herons, waders, etc.
For this trip there must be a minimum number of people and it is done according to the weather conditions. Chasula boat is placed in O Grove harbour, very close to the Quinta de San Amaro.
RIVER CANYONS
Some of the most stunning landscapes are located in the inner of Galicia: deep canyons where splendid and anciet vineyards join wild forest and cliffs. The best ones are A Ribeira Sacra and the Bibei Canyon.
They are some of the best places to enjoy forest birds and raptors. One-day or two-day trip are perfect for birding especially in spring.
MONTAINS OF GALICIA
In Galicia we find several mountainous areas; some of them are the extreme west of the Cantabrian Mountains. Mountain ranges such as the Ancares, Courel or the Macizo Central are excellent places to walk and watch birds and other fauna.
They are especially attractive during spring and summer, because in autumn and winter due to the harshness of the weather conditions bird sightings are reduced. Even so, they are excellent places for winter excursions.
The species that we will find are mostly forest areas, scrubland as well as many birds of prey.
The excursions can last from one to three days. We can visit one or more areas as our clients wish.
No far from the Quinta de San Amaro, we can travel in an hour drive to the Suído mountain range, Brañas de Xestoso and another mountain places in the inner of Pontevedra county where we can watch several interesting birds as the melanic Montagu´s Harrier. Best moments for birding here are spring and summer.
CONSERVATION
Birding.gal and its main company (Habitaq SL) are involved in several conservation subjects in the NW of Spain. But the main issue that occupies the most of their time and efforts in the spring is the monitoring of the Montangu’s harrier populations. In less than a decade this species has suffered a great decline of its populations due to many different reasons.
In Galicia, Birding.gal try to figure out the causes and to alert to the local authorities by monitoring the breeding pairs and the habitat changes. This initiative is born and maintained without public funding and people of Birding.gal lead it. Results have been explained in different ornithological meetings across Spain.
COAST
The Galician coast stretches for more than 1200 kilometres. There we can find a lot of the “rías” (estuaries), cliffs and rocky areas, wetlands, beaches and lots of different ecosystems. Along the year but summer, there are a lot of birds in these places. In winter we can find wildfowl, seagulls, waders… in autumn and sprig migrant waders highlight. In addition we can visit the Atlantic Islands National Park where lots of seabirds breed in a fascinating environment.
In the central area of the Galician coast we highlight A Costa da Morte (the Coast of the Death), a fascinating and remote area full of dramatic landscapes with cliffs, coves, wild beaches and wetlands. We recommend a two days birding trip.
From the Quinta de San Amaro we can reach one of the best wetland in the North of Spain: O Grove area, one of the best wetlands in the North of Iberian Peninsula and the best in Galicia. It is plenty of birds during the autumn and the winter. We recommend a one-day birding trip
In the south we also recommend to visit the Corrubedo Natural Park and, in the most southern area A Guarda where we can visit the Miño Estuary, the natural border with the north of Portugal.
The northernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, the cape of Estaca de Bares deserves a special mention. From August to November, especially, it is the most important migrating seabird observation point in Europe. Thousands of birds pass every day in front of the cape, although the figures may vary depending on the direction of the winds. We recommend to stay in the Cape one at least one half day and it cans be combined with visits to nearby wetlands such as the estuary of Ortigueira.
MEDITERRANEAN AREAS
The most part of Galicia has an atlantic climate but in the southwest o Galicia climate is mediterranean. So in these areas we can find lots of interesting birds as the European Bee-Eater, several Wrablers and raptors. We can travel, for example, the remote countryside nearby to Verín in the Southwest or the Serra de Enciña da Lastra Natural Park with dramatic cliffs.
Spring is the better moment of the year to find lots of birds and butterflies. We can offer one single day trip to any of these areas or a two or even three days trip for a full Mediterranean experience.
OTHERS SPANISH BIRDING PLACES.
We do not limit ourselves to watch birds only in Galicia. The communications are very good and in a short time we can reach places of great interest such as the Cordillera Cantábrica, Picos de Europa and other points of León to observe high mountain birds. We also found some of the most interesting wetlands and steppe areas in Europe in Zamora and Palencia a few hours away.
Further south, Extremadura is famous throughout the world for its truly amazing set of Iberian birds; the best-known place is the Monfragüe National Park but there are many more that we can access. In southern Spain, in Andalusia, some of the best birding areas in Europe are located with the famous Doñana National Park as the main attraction as well the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the hottest spots in the world to watch thousands of migrating birds crossing between Europe and Africa.
In Central Spain, the Sierra de Gredos offers some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes that can be combined with observation of steppe and aquatic birds in a short journey.
OTHER WILDLIFE
In the NW many other species can be observed. If we talk about birds, the number of seabirds species is really stunning, whether from the Chasula Boat or from the cape Estaca de Bares. Coastal wetlands harbour loads of wildfowl, waders or charismatics species like Eurasian Spoonbill or Osprey. Also, amphibians, like the endemic Gold-striped salamander, and reptiles reach a grand diversity in the region. Brown bear, wolves, Iberian ibex and chamois also can be spotted.
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