There are different options to do a birding trip in and around Madrid City. It´s possible to book a tour in the Madrid province (all not further of 60 km from the city center)
- MADRID TOUR 1: El Pardo Natural Reserve - Plains - EAST Marshes
- MADRID TOUR 2: Mountains, lakes, El Pardo, madrilean riverside
- MADRID TOUR 3: Western Mediterranean forest, lake and El Pardo
- MADRID TOUR 4: Private tour depending on requests
- WEEKEND TRIP/ OTHERS clic here
MADRID, apart from being a well known city for interesting nigth-life city and culture offers, it is one of the best places for birdwatching in Spain. Why go further, it´s possible to do some amazing trips with spectacular birds and sites.
In a Northern European birdwatching context, Spain in general, and Madrid in particular, offers a large variety of the typically classified "Spanish species", relatively abundant and of great interest for birdwatchers and twichers.
In a Northern European birdwatching context, Spain in general, and Madrid in particular, offers a large variety of the typically classified "Spanish species", relatively abundant and of great interest for birdwatchers and twichers.
Some of these targets are:
- Spanish Imperial Eagle
- Black Stork
- Great and Little Bustards
- Black-bellied Sandgrouse and other steppe - plain birds as Stone curlew...
- Black Vulture and Griffon Vulture
- Purple Swamphen and others as Black-shouldered Kite, Bluethroat, Azure-winged Magpie, Black wheatear...
As it is situated in CENTRAL SPAIN, Madrid is surounded by countryside which has many posibilities for birdwatching, for example taking a longer stay in EXTREMADURA, Sierra de Gredos or La Mancha (to observe the Great Flamingo and the White-headed Duck).
BIRDWATCHING FIELD TRIP
general terms
- duration of trips:
- half day trip (5 h)
- full day trip (8-10 hours).
- more days previous arrangement.
- guides: English-speaking Spanish guides. Biologist, birds lovers.
- food / transport: food provided for us if arranged (picnic-lunch and water)
- prices: depending on duration and number of persons / different prices. Usually based on 2 persons
- travel insurance: please note that travel insurance is not included in the prices so it´s strongly suggested that you arrange your own insurance.
- recommendations: confortable and casual clothes from march - october; winter clothes in winter. Mountain boots. Information about birding sites, accomodation and local food will be provided if required, after booking.
e - mail: booking@birdwatchingmadrid.com
mobile phone : (+34) 620.15.18.14
mobile phone : (+34) 620.15.18.14
Some testimonials
John Swales, University of Michigan, USA: I have been out birding twice on day trips around Madrid with Aitor. Both were excellent, transport, company, picnic lunch, birds found, all excellent. Indeed, on the second day, Aitor, My companion and I found a grand total of 14 raptor species in a single day, a total that I have never approached before, nor would hope to equal again (except with Aitor!) If anybody wants further information, I can be most easily reached at jmswales@umich.edu. Professor Emeritus of Linguistics.
David Broughton, Canada: My wife and I went on a one day birding tour from Madrid which was ably guided by Aitor. We had a great time, as Aitor knows the best areas to see lots of raptors and such local specialties as Great Bustard. Aitor was very helpful in assisting us to identify the local birds and in making a special effort to find the species of interest to us. I would recommend Aitor’s services for anyone who is looking to do some birding in and around Madrid.
Rose Robert, London: We had a wonderful day with Aitor. Aitor was very knowledgable indeed about the birds and you took us to three (or was it four?) different places where we saw lots of birds - very impressive. It was very interesting and informative.
Dr. Hank Webster, Pennylvania: The birding trip that Aitor arranged met our expectations and provided us an excellent introduction to the birds in the Madrid region. An added bonus was the oportunity to explore the surrounding landscapes and land uses which are quite different from northwestern pennylvania. the timing of our trip permitted us observe a number of raptors, with views of the Spanish Eagles being exceptional. our day was well organised and efficiently conducted. My students and myself added signicantly to our life lists. Thank you!!Barbara Kelley, Bishop, California: On a hot July afternoon Aitor took me birding to two sites near Madrid. With my brief visit to the area it was the only time we could go. despite the heat and time of day. I would say it was a very "birdly" afternoon and evening! We saw 50 especies, almost all of them new for me. Aitor was an excellent guide. He is careful with his identification, to me an important aspect of birding. He was focused and we waste no time. Also,he is very friendly and considerable! I would not hesitate to go with him again, and highly recommend him! Feel free to contact me at: bikelleynoise@gmail.com if you like.
Margaret, Anchorage, Alaska: On January, I had the opportunity to take a full day birdwatching tour with Aitor around Madrid. In only eight hours, I saw 38 new species of birds, even though I have birded in Europe before. Aitor was a wonderful guide! He picked me up from my hotel and drove us out to several different habitat types around the countryside about Madrid. He knew just where it was best to see certain species of birds and was very good at stalking and listening for birds so that we could get close enough to see them well and observe their behavior. We saw about 50 species of birds, including everything from small forest birds to huge soaring raptors. One highlight for me was when we saw about seventy great bustards in two different flocks and even watched them soar into view from up and over a hill to settle in a plowed field to feed. Another highlight was watching Spanish Imperial eagles, then seeing them joined by handsome griffon vultures and an enormous black vulture, all soaring right around us and over us! Amazing! This was one of the happiest birding trips I have ever been on. Thank you, Aitor!
James & Gill, UK: Having read the good reports on birding with Aitor, i decided to do a full day tour of various sites around Madrid. This not disappoint me, we had a fantastic time with him, and we got to see most of the birds described on his webpage as he will go that little bit further to make sure your trip exceeds expectations no matter the weather. At the end of the day, if you are staying in central Madrid what better way unwinding after a great day birding than a great meal over a glass of wine and recap of what you have just experienced.
Sean Grace, USA: We booked a day's birdwatching with Aitor when we visited Madrid for a long weekend last year. My mate has been 'twitching' in the UK before and we wanted to see something of the countryside around Madrid and I was a birdwatching novice. We spotted lots of different species, including Raptors, Buzzards, amazing flocks of goldfinches turning gold and brown as they went one way then the other in flight, azure-winged magpies, and then the bird everyone wants to see - the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Incredible! Aitor was very informative and really knows his birds. He speaks English, is a really friendly and even bought us a beer to round the day off! (though I can't promise that's part of the tour!). A great day and really good value for money and we would definitely do it again. I'd recommend it to anyone - whether you are a twticher or a novice, and it was so great to get a feel for the wildlife and countryside around Madrid on a citybreak.
Rebecca Buck, NJ: I was in Madrid, Spain for a brief courier trip, and I contacted Aitor to see if he could accompany me on a birding trip on October. He agreed, and despite the bad weather of a rainy day, we set out to look for birds at sites off the M50 near Madrid. It was a wonderful day, with Azure Magpies, Great Bustards, raptors and the beautiful Blue Rockthrush. We stayed fairly near the city and yet saw a good variety of habitats and birds. He knows his stuff, and can find the good birds!
Margaret, Anchorage, Alaska: On January, I had the opportunity to take a full day birdwatching tour with Aitor around Madrid. In only eight hours, I saw 38 new species of birds, even though I have birded in Europe before. Aitor was a wonderful guide! He picked me up from my hotel and drove us out to several different habitat types around the countryside about Madrid. He knew just where it was best to see certain species of birds and was very good at stalking and listening for birds so that we could get close enough to see them well and observe their behavior. We saw about 50 species of birds, including everything from small forest birds to huge soaring raptors. One highlight for me was when we saw about seventy great bustards in two different flocks and even watched them soar into view from up and over a hill to settle in a plowed field to feed. Another highlight was watching Spanish Imperial eagles, then seeing them joined by handsome griffon vultures and an enormous black vulture, all soaring right around us and over us! Amazing! This was one of the happiest birding trips I have ever been on. Thank you, Aitor!
James & Gill, UK: Having read the good reports on birding with Aitor, i decided to do a full day tour of various sites around Madrid. This not disappoint me, we had a fantastic time with him, and we got to see most of the birds described on his webpage as he will go that little bit further to make sure your trip exceeds expectations no matter the weather. At the end of the day, if you are staying in central Madrid what better way unwinding after a great day birding than a great meal over a glass of wine and recap of what you have just experienced.
Sean Grace, USA: We booked a day's birdwatching with Aitor when we visited Madrid for a long weekend last year. My mate has been 'twitching' in the UK before and we wanted to see something of the countryside around Madrid and I was a birdwatching novice. We spotted lots of different species, including Raptors, Buzzards, amazing flocks of goldfinches turning gold and brown as they went one way then the other in flight, azure-winged magpies, and then the bird everyone wants to see - the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Incredible! Aitor was very informative and really knows his birds. He speaks English, is a really friendly and even bought us a beer to round the day off! (though I can't promise that's part of the tour!). A great day and really good value for money and we would definitely do it again. I'd recommend it to anyone - whether you are a twticher or a novice, and it was so great to get a feel for the wildlife and countryside around Madrid on a citybreak.
Rebecca Buck, NJ: I was in Madrid, Spain for a brief courier trip, and I contacted Aitor to see if he could accompany me on a birding trip on October. He agreed, and despite the bad weather of a rainy day, we set out to look for birds at sites off the M50 near Madrid. It was a wonderful day, with Azure Magpies, Great Bustards, raptors and the beautiful Blue Rockthrush. We stayed fairly near the city and yet saw a good variety of habitats and birds. He knows his stuff, and can find the good birds!Debra Oberbeck, Montana, US
: Our experience with Aitor was terrific. It was our first trip to Spain and we only dared to hope for the big 3, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Eurasian Black Vulture and the Griffon Vulture, but Aitor had all three in our sights in one afternoon! In addition, Aitor reported an uncommon for the area Lesser Spotted Woodpecker had been seen at El Pardo and again, we were fortunate enough to see that as well.
We were impressed with Aitor's English skills which included knowing the birds by their English names as well. We appreciated that he had a car and could pick us up and return us to our hotel. We spent a delightful afternoon with him.
M. Mottesheard, Houston, Texas: In March, I engaged the services of Aitor as a bird guide. Aitor is equal to the best bird guides I have had during my travels throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. He birds not only by sight but also by ear, thus ensuring that you won’t miss any birds that are around. We birded in the areas surrounding Madrid, and in the three short hours we were together we saw 40 species of birds. I have been birding for 15 years and am an avid birder. My native language is English and Aitor’s English was more than adequate. If you are looking for a highly trained, engaging bird guide, Ican’t recommend Aitor highly enough!
M. Mottesheard, Houston, Texas: In March, I engaged the services of Aitor as a bird guide. Aitor is equal to the best bird guides I have had during my travels throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. He birds not only by sight but also by ear, thus ensuring that you won’t miss any birds that are around. We birded in the areas surrounding Madrid, and in the three short hours we were together we saw 40 species of birds. I have been birding for 15 years and am an avid birder. My native language is English and Aitor’s English was more than adequate. If you are looking for a highly trained, engaging bird guide, Ican’t recommend Aitor highly enough!