John's 2014 tour dates
John Muddeman
17/12/2013 12:30:09
The IWT site is now updated with most of my 2014 tour dates and this is to provide a quick preview of what and where I'll be visiting next year. Please feel free to take a browse around!
Posted in: Flora, Butterflies and Moths, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Other Invertebrates, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, Endangered Wildlife and Habitats | Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Extremadura, Madrid | Mainland Spain, Northern Spain, Southern Spain, Western Spain, Central Spain, Spanish Islands
John’s Spanish Wildlife Tours in 2014
Iberian Lynx© F.J. García
Spain: the search for the Iberian Lynx
01-05 February
A 5 day tour taking in the rich birdlife in the La Mancha lakes, as well as exploring the beautiful mammal and bird-rich Sierra de Andújar in Andalucía in our search for the rarest feline in the world, the critically endangered Iberian lynx.
Sunbird
Common Crane© John Muddeman
Extremadura : Winter Birding Bonanza! – Please enquire for more details!
16-22 February
A short trip to explore the bird-rich steppes, river valleys and mountains of extraordinary Extremadura! With around 80 thousand Common Cranes, Great & Little Bustards, Black-bellied & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Spanish Imperial & Bonelli’s Eagles, Black-winged Kites and Cinereous & Griffon Vultures amongst many other raptors, plus thousands of wintering ducks, geese, waders, larks, pipits, wagtails and finches, this is a real feast of birds to take you away from the gloomy winter days of the north!
SBNT
Golden Eagle© John Muddeman
Spanish Lynx Quest : Andújar & Coto Doñana - Just 5 spaces left!
01-07 March
A 7 day tour taking in the wealth of birdlife in the range of habitats in and around Doñana National Park, as well as exploring the beautiful mammal and bird-rich Sierra de Andújar in Andalucía in our quest for the rarest feline in the world, the critically endangered Iberian lynx
Travelling Naturalist
Red-legged Partridge© John Muddeman
Doñana & Extremadura : a wealth of birds and early spring wildlife!
15-21 March
Discover the varied and contrasting landscapes, rich variety of birds during the peak migration period, plus the spring butterflies and glorious displays of wild flowers of SW Andalucía and Extremadura, SW Spain
SBNT
Queen-of-S. Fritillary© John Muddeman
Doñana & Extremadura : a wealth of birds and early spring wildlife!
22-28 March
Discover the varied and contrasting landscapes, rich variety of birds during the peak migration period, plus the spring butterflies and glorious displays of wild flowers of SW Andalucía and Extremadura, SW Spain
SBNT
European Roller© John Muddeman
Extremadura : Birds, wildlife and other scenery galore!
05-11 April
Highly and justifiably ranked among the top birdwatching destinations in Europe, discover the extraordinary birds and landscapes, plus spring butterflies and other wildlife, orchids and sheets of wild flowers of Extremadura, W Spain in the company of the author of A Birdwatching Guide to Extremadura
SBNT
Citril Finch© Santiago VillaSpain - the Grand Tour! - Just 3 spaces left!
26 April - 08 May
Spain is one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe with an enviable array of wildlife in its astonishingly varied landscapes and habitats. Not surprisingly, its birdlife is correspondingly widely recognised as one of the very best, not just of the entire Mediterranean but in the continent as a whole and we travel right across from the Strait of Gibraltar to the mighty Pyrenees.
Sunbird
Spanish Ibex© John MuddemanExtremadura & Gredos : In the wild west of Spain! - Just 4 spaces left!
16-22 May
Widely recognised among the top birdwatching destinations in Europe, discover the extraordinary birds and landscapes, plus spring butterflies, flowers and other wildlife of Extremadura and also the contrastingly different Sierra de Gredos mountains in W Spain. From Great Bustards, Spanish Psammodromus and Western Dappled Whites on the steppes, to Bluethroat, Iberian Rock Lizard and Provence Orange-tips in the mountains, this is a trip for the wider naturalist
SBNT
Short-toed Eagle© John MuddemanSpanish Pyrenees : The High Aragón
24-31 May
The Spanish Pyrenees's combination of snow-capped peaks, wide river valleys, and jagged forested hills must make this, even after more than ten years of returning here, one of the most exhilarating places we visit! The area is one of the best in Europe for raptors. Red and Black Kites, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures and Booted Eagles soar overhead, Short-toed Eagles hover over the open hillsides, searching for reptiles, and Golden Eagles hunt amongst the highest peaks. The range of butterflies is enormous too, while late May is excellent for a range of flora including numerous orchids
Travelling Naturalist
Dupont's Lark© Martin GerberSpanish Pyrenees & Belchite - Just 2 spaces left!
09-15 June
From the highest peaks of the mighty Pyrenees to the hot steppes of the Ebro depression, there can be fewer such strong contrasts in a relatively short distance in Spain. Home to a fabulous variety of flora and fauna, the stunning mountain landscapes and arid lowland plains are home to a remarkable variety of Europe's most charismatic and also enigmatic birds. Naturally of course we will also look at whatever else we find on route, from the abundant butterflies and scarce mammals, to flowers and even an amphibian or reptile or two!
SBNT
Green Hooktail© John MuddemanExtremadura : Dragonflies & birds… plus butterflies!
21-27 June
From its hot lowlands to cool montane regions, the richly varied landscapes and habitats in Extremadura house around 55 of Spain's dragon- and damselflies and almost half of the country's butterfly species. The trip will concentrate on trying to see some of the more enigmatic species, particularly those mainly lowland dragonflies which just reach Europe from Africa, alongside the regional specialities, and in such a bird-rich area of course we always keep a keen eye open for anything else!
SBNT
Canary I. Stonechat© John MuddemanC & E Canary Islands : endemic birds and wildlife – Please enquire for more details!
19-26 July or 26 July - 02 August
Thanks to their isolation which has lead to high levels of endemism, the remarkable Canary Islands have long held a fascination for the travelling wildlife enthusiast. This tour concentrates on looking for the ‘classic’ species on the islands, such as Blue Chaffinch, Canary Island’s Stonechat and Bolle’s & Laurel Pigeons among the often spectacular and rugged mountainous and semi-desert landscapes of Tenerife, La Gomera and Fuerteventura. There will also be opportunities to look for seabirds and cetaceans on the various ferry crossings
Sunbird
Brown Bear cub© FOPBrown Bears, Birds and Butterflies in Somiedo and the Alto Sil
24 - 31 August - First minibus full! 7 spaces left
A week-long tour at two centres within the core area for breeding Brown Bears in N Spain, looking for these superb animals, other mammals and the late summer birds, butterflies and other wildlife in stunning surroundings. Run with the backing and in the field support of the Brown Bear Foundation, part of the tour fee is destined towards membership of the society for a year plus a donation towards one of their conservation projects
SBNT
NBanded Groundling© John MuddemanStrait of Gibraltar : bird migration and other local wildlife
13-19 September
Our autumn tour is timed to coincide with the peak numbers and variety of raptors and storks on active passage crossing the Strait as they head S into Africa. This is also an East-West bottleneck between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic for seabirds and cetaceans, while we also look for some of the rarer species, including butterflies and dragonflies, restricted to the southernmost tip of Europe
SBNT
Bonelli's Eagle© Santiago VillaMadrid + La Mancha : birds and culture
18-24 October
The mountains, arable fields and wetlands of Madrid and La Mancha house a remarkable variety of raptors, open ground steppic birds, wildfowl and Common Cranes amongst many other species during autumn and winter. A tour with a relaxed pace to show you a few of the largely hidden secrets of the heart of the Iberian Peninsula with a full day to relax in Madrid to enjoy its sights, culture and food!
SBNT
Mouflon© John MuddemanSpanish Lynx Quest : Andújar & Coto Doñana
25-31 October
A 7 day tour taking in the wealth of birdlife in the range of habitats in and around Doñana National Park, as well as exploring the beautiful mammal and bird-rich Sierra de Andújar in Andalucía in our quest for the rarest feline in the world, the critically endangered Iberian lynx
Travelling Naturalist
Wallcreeper© John MuddemanNorthern Spain : Wallcreepers and Cranes in Aragón
16-22 November
Join me for a late autumn break to the mountains, steppes and wetlands of Northern Spain, with wintering raptors and mountain birds in the Pyrenean foothills, the elusive Dupont's Lark plus sandgrouse on the steppes, and thousands of Common Cranes going to roost at the Laguna de Gallocanta. Plus an excellent chance of getting close to that stunning mountain sprite, Wallcreeper!
Travelling Naturalist
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