Special large mammals in northern Spain

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Special on large mammals in northern Spain

Spain offers nature lovers a multitude of opportunities to marvel. This trip takes us to areas of the country that aren't the most famous or well-known regions for naturalists, but which nevertheless harbor marvels in both wildlife and landscapes.

Holm oak forest Mte Buciero_Santoña_LFrechilla

Bear Trail_Teverga_Ubiñas La Mesa_LFrechilla

Description

We'll discover the northern provinces, between the sea and the mountains: Asturias and Cantabria. They are home to one of the wildest mountain ranges in Western Europe: the Cantabrian Mountains. The mountain traditions, little affected by tourism, give the landscapes an indefinable charm.

An ambitious nature conservation policy has preserved the entire Western European mountain ecosystem, home to iconic species such as the otter, large birds of prey, capercaillie, and the mysterious desman. The high density of prey species (wild boar, red deer, roe deer) and dense vegetation, along with a low human population density, provide ideal conditions for the proliferation of wolves and bears.

We can explore these fabulous landscapes, sometimes on foot, sometimes by car. It doesn't take much effort to immerse ourselves in this natural environment and observe rare and supposedly reserved species, but a good dose of patience, experience, and a little luck are the perfect combination.

The experience in detail

Program

Day 1

Meeting point in Santo Adriano (Asturias). An initial observation session will be held on the first night. From the lodge terrace, at dusk, it's common to see martens or stonechats coming to forage. Sometimes even genets!

Days 2 to 6

During these first six days, the main objective will be to try to observe bears and otters in the best possible conditions in the incomparable setting of the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park.

Day 7

Today we'll enjoy a change of scenery. We'll leave the hills and mountains behind to visit the Santoña, Noja, and Joyel Marshes Natural Park in Cantabria. We'll explore the coastline with its mix of coastal marshes, dunes, channels, intertidal flats, and rocky shores. This area is vitally important for the passage and wintering of a large number of aquatic birds: seabirds, diving and surface ducks, grebes and little grebes, and birds of prey.

Day 8

This time we'll head to the Cantabrian coast, by the sea, to discover a completely different natural environment. A very easy hike along the cliffs of Cape Peñas, about an hour's drive from our cottage. On the program: discovering nesting birds such as the European shag, yellow-legged gull, common raven, and peregrine falcon. At this time of year, many migratory birds still frequent the coastal grasslands, and we'll look for passerines and raptors in the coastal forest. We'll be on the beaches and coastal lagoons, where we'll keep an eye out for waders. Be aware that common dolphins and porpoises sometimes appear near the coast!

Day 9

We return to the mountains surrounding our lodge for one last day of observation. A final chance to see (or see again?) the Cantabrian bear and other mountain wildlife.

Day 10

Transfer to the airport and return trip.