Full-day birdwatching trip focused on observing high-mountain bird species. We will visit the different areas of Fontalba, reaching an altitude of about 2,000 meters, where we will be able to observe the breeding species typical of alpine meadows, such as Water Pipits, Northern Wheatears, Citril Finches, and Ring Ouzels. We will also have the chance to see large birds of prey, including the Bearded Vulture and the Golden Eagle, as well as other characteristic species of the valley, such as Red-billed and Alpine Choughs.
The track accessible by car will allow us to comfortably observe other birds as we descend to lower elevations, eventually returning to the village of Queralbs. This will be a good opportunity to explore the surroundings of the La Farga river section, where Dippers or Bullfinchs are often seen.
On the way back, and weather permitting, we will visit the nearby heronry close to Sant Hipòlit de Voltregà — a truly spectacular natural sight!
We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the designated meeting point in the Queralbs rack railway parking area, right at this location: 42.352422, 2.166949. Once organized, we will begin the ascent in our vehicles along the track that leads up to Fontalba.
At the top, we will walk around the alpine meadows at the foot of Puigmal, where we will already encounter the first high-mountain bird species, such as Water Pipit, Citril Finch, Dunnock, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Red-billed Chough, Alpine Chough, and also the first large birds of prey, including Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, and Peregrine Falcon.
The descent back to Queralbs will offer us an increasing variety of species depending on altitude, such as Crossbill, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, or Goldcrest, until we reach the lower areas where other birds are more common, including Nuthatch, Common Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Dipper, and many others.
Once back, and if time allows, we will make a brief final stop at a breeding colony on the Ter River near Sant Hipòlit de Voltregà, where dozens of pairs of Night Heron, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, and Little Egret gather. Here the outing will come to an end.
Only the most relevant species:
Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Woodlark (Lullula arborea), Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris), Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina), Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella), Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia).
Professional guiding by Icaro Birding Experience (Ferran López)
20×60 spotting scope
Personal insurance
Shared species list on eBird
Please make sure not to arrive late to our meeting point at the Queralbs rack railway parking area (42.352422, 2.166949), and plan to get there a little early.
It is also important not to forget warm clothing, especially for the early morning when we will be ascending to 2,000 meters, as well as appropriate footwear for walking on rocky terrain.
Lastly, everyone should bring their own sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, as well as water to drink. We will provide a spotting scope to ensure the best possible observations.
Aparcament estació cremallera de Queralbs
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