Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Best Places to See Spain's Vultures? (Or... Recommended Sites for Nature Enthusiasts?)

Posted by on

Hello all! I'm currently planning a trip from mid-May to late-June, to work on a project exploring vulture conservation. I'll primarily be focusing on the lammergeier, though I'd really love the chance to photograph each of the other three species.

I already have about ten days scheduled for the Pyrenees, where I'll be staying in Ainsa, and focusing on trails recommended by the Pyrenean Bird Center. I'm considering spending some time in towns to the east, where there are some more photo hides. Beyond that, though, I'm having trouble settling on where else I want to visit.

The areas that I've been considering are:
- Picos de Europa National Park
- Parque Nacional de Monfragüe
- Parque Nacional de Cabañeros
- Maestrazgo Region

Recently, Sierra de Guadarrama, Serrania de Cuenca, and Parc Natural de la Serra d'Espada were also suggested to me.

From what I understand, the Pyrenees are going to be my best bet overall, but I'd love to explore more of Spain! I'd love to hear about your experience at any of these locations, or others that you would recommend. While my goal is to photograph vultures, I'm also wanting to just generally have a good overall experience. I'll be going over to Spain with a grant, so I'm not sure when I'll be back!

Posted by
740 posts

Not Spain but we regularly see vulutures in the Cevenne National Park in southern France

Posted by
7157 posts

A quick search came up with Miradores de Revilla in the Pyrenees. A location that I’ve been to is the Foz de Lumbier. It’s a couple miles round trip walk through a gorge. We did see some some vultures. You need a vehicle to get to it. When we visited we were staying in Sos del Rey Católico.

One other location we saw them was in El Cañón del Río Lobos. A vehicle is needed to get to it too.

Posted by
4180 posts

Parque Nacional de Monfragüe is where you want to go for vultures and other birds of prey in Spain.

Parque Nacional de Doñana, south of Sevilla, is another excellent place for birding in Spain.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks for the help, everyone!

We've decided to take a few days after Ainsa to visit Foz de Lumbier, and have decided to spend at least five days in Monfragüe. I'm waiting to hear back from my advisor to see if its possible for to visit some of the other suggested locations!

Posted by
7157 posts

With the Foz de Lumbier there may have been a nominal charge for parking, but I’m not certain. There was a booth, but it wasn’t manned when we arrived. There was a rather rustic restroom, but there was no place to buy drinks. Ensure you have water. The short route along the gorge is only a couple miles. If you wanted to return by a different route, continue along the path after the gorge then cut up the steep hill. That path is mostly uphill all the way back to the parking area before a quick downhill. It is also further from the gorge with a lesser chance of seeing any vultures.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.