Overview

Tour through the marshland in the north of the National Park of Doñana, a paradise for birders where you can spot many special species, including Marbled and White-headed Ducks.

Birds & Photos

A day out in one of Europe’s major wetlands

The best places to watch birds in Doñana are in the surroundings of the National Park. We get to the northern Doñana area by driving past farms, paddy fields and marshlands in the delta of the river Guadalquivir. There is a long way to Valverde’s Bird Centre by unpaved 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.

Northern Doñana is a paradise for birders and we have designed the best guided tour possible to get an extensive bird list and we have the possibility to focus on special species.

Possible birds for the checklist:

Residents: Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Flamingo, Squacco Heron, Red-crested Pochard, Hoopoe, Red-knobbed Coot, Stone Curlew, Spanish Sparrow, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. You may also catch a glimpse of the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle, White-headed Duck, Marbled Duck and Bittern.

Winter Birds: Greylag Goose, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Great Egret, Osprey, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Crane, Black-tailed Godwit, Black Stork.

Summer Birds: Short-toed Lark, Purple Heron, Bee-eater, Little Bittern, Gull-billed Tern, Short-toed Eagle, Black Tern, Collared Pratincole, Roller, Isabelline Warbler, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin.

Migrants: Garganey, Temminck’s Stint, Winchat, Redstart, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper.

Introduced: Common Waxbill, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Black-headed Weaver, Red Avadavat.

About Our Partner

Conservation Careers has teamed up with a progressive young company with several years of experience guiding and a vast local knowledge of the region of Andalusia. They love their land and love how wilderness, history and traditions come all together in this corner of Spain.

The fantastic collection of habitats in western Andalusia make this land rich in both wildlife and landscapes. The sea, golden sandy beaches and sand dunes, coastal cliffs, pinewoods, rivers, salt and freshwater marshes and lakes, steppes, countryside, woody hills and rocky mountains are home for large numbers of birds and wild flowers in one of the most bio-diverse areas in Europe.

Our partner has carefully selected the best areas to watch wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, flowers, etc.) and the most beautiful landscapes to walk through. The extension of wetlands is particularly remarkable in this part of the country as the estuaries of the rivers Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Odiel and Tinto have become the winter quarters for amazing concentration of migratory wildfowl and waders. Because of all that, the main migration route between Europe and Africa takes place here.

Our partner’s team of guides is formed by young people who are passionate about nature and carry out conservation projects as bird ringers/banders. They also participate actively in many local initiatives and conservation work as volunteers.

Additional sustainability achievements include:

  • Recycling the waste generated in their activities
  • Reducing the use of plastics
  • Reducing the use of vehicles
  • Developing educational work

If you register your interest below, we’ll put you in touch with our partner to take the booking and to plan your trip!

Explore all our Conservation Travel opportunities.

Route Location

We go through the area above the National Park of Doñana in between the provinces of Huelva and Seville in the west of Andalucia. Dehesa de Abajo Nature Reserve is located 30 minutes to the south-west of Seville City and one hour from Huelva City. The visit to Valverde’s Bird Centre involves a long journey on dirt roads that are exceptional for birding though.

Duration, Cost & Availability

The duration of the trip depends on the meeting point, the numbers of birds that come across and the interest in the special species. Normally we will spend between 8 and 9 hours although it take us 10 hours sometimes.

Private trip

1 to 3 people 220 Euro.

4 or more people 60 Euro per person.

Open-group trip

60 Euro per person.

This tour is available all year round although the area might be too dry in the summer as well as in periods of drought. Please be aware that it can be extremely hot in the summer and very cold in the winter.

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.

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.

COVID-19 Flexible Booking

You choose when to make your 50% deposit up to 30 days prior to the tour date. You choose when to cover the 50% balance before or even upon your arrival. Any payment will be refunded to you in case of cancellation due to force majeure, including any circumstances related to COVID-19. We do not refund any payment in case of cancellation by the client not attributable to COVID-19.

We reserve the right to cancel for any unforeseen circumstances such as third parties cancellations, accident, natural disaster, decease, political or social instability, etc. In that case, the company will refund the client for any amount satisfied in advance, less bank charges.

Reserve your place or ask a question