Winter Bird and Wildlife Photography Northern Spain and Picos De Europa
Our Photo Workshop in Northern Spain will focus on various Winter Bird and Wildlife as well as the estrus period of the Cantabrian Chamois in the high but accessible mountains of the Picos de Europa National Park
TRAVEL DATES: November 28 – December 5, 2023
TOUR BASED ON 8-12 GUESTS
Price per Person Double Room: $2,995.00
Single Room Supplement: $450.00
DESTINATION: A small mountain village located in the province of León in the North of Spain.
HIGHLIGHTS: Wildlife photography from hides, including one excursion for Chamois photography in high mountain.
The price includes – 7 Days – 6 Nights:
- Accommodation
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- 6 days of activity, photography workshop
- Cabin ticket to access the high mountain areas of Picos de Europa in Fuente De
- English-speaking photography guide throughout the tour
- Transport from the accommodation place to the hides and transport for the excursion
- Mandatory activity insurance
Price does not include:
- Transfers from and to the airport. We can arrange this for you upon request.
- Accompanying guide in the transfers mentioned above
- Personal travel insurance
- Any service not specified in the section “the price includes”
This Workshop in Northern Spain tour can be adapted for the intermediate and advanced photographer with no workshop. Contact us to arrange an Advanced Winter Bird and Wildlife Photography Tour of Northern Spain.
WINTER BIRD AND WILDLIFE PHOTO WORKSHOP ITINERARY
PROGRAM:
Our Wildlife Photo Workshop in Northern Spain will focus on Winter birds and the estrus period of the Cantabrian Chamois in high (but accessible) mountain areas of the Picos de Europa National Park (North of Spain). This village provides a permanent set of hides for mountain and forest birds which, in Autumn-Winter season, means raptors such as Griffon Vulture, Common Buzzard, Red Kite and the possible visit of the Golden Eagle, corvids (Raven, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Eurasian Jay), several woodpecker species (Middle Spotted, Great Spotted and Iberian Green), and great passerines such as the Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Cirl and Rock Buntings, all the tits in Spain (Marsh, Coal, Crested, Blue and Great), Nuthatch, different thrushes (Blackbird, Song, Mistle, possibility of Redwing and Fieldfare) and finches (Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling).
November and December is also the time for the endemic species to be in heat, the Cantabrian Chamois. In this season, males dispute the female herds and concentrate in high and scenic mountain areas. We will travel to these places using 4×4 vehicles to reach areas above 2000 m, where alpine birds such as the Alpine Chough and the Alpine Accentor can be photographed along with the chamois. These mammals allow close approach in this period providing fantastic photography opportunities.
Besides the diversity of wildlife available for photography during the trip, Autumn colors and weather will add mood and atmosphere to the pictures. Snowstorms can occur in this season, which is great for photography too.
The daily schedule consists of an early breakfast between 7:00 and 7:30 am to depart to the hides with the first light. Morning photo session will last until midday when we stop for a picnic or a quick lunch at the restaurant, before going to a second afternoon hide until dusk. As evenings are long during this part of the year, we will have time to check the results of the day, identify birds, share pictures by other photographers and develop a list of the species shot during the day.
HIDES
All the hides are wide and comfortable structures for 2 people (3 in the case of the scavengers hide). They are, in general, small wooden and well-insolated constructions built with high-quality glass window for photography. All of them have been in operation several years in different locations around the village between 950 and 1050 m of altitude. The scene for photography is a feeder integrated in the environment, so you have the feeling of watching a completely natural scene. Feeders are located at 4-5 m from the hide in most of the sites, except in the raptor hide, where distance to the feeding place is a bit longer, between 8 and 14 m. It is important to note that all the hides are prepared for activity even under rain and snow, so weather will be not an important factor affecting the results of the trip.
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT
The best results are achieved with a full frame camera and a 500 mm lens or an APS-C camera and a 100-400 mm zoom. Tripod is useful for better results but also to support the camera during long stays inside the hide. During the trip there will also be some oportunties for landscape photography.
CLOTHES
Although the hides are well insolated, in Autumn-Winter a good jacket and warm clothing are necessary for a comfortable stay inside the hides. Warm socks and trekking boots are especially important, both for the hides but also for the mountain excursion for chamois photography.
NOTES
This team will work to guarantee the participants get the best possible photography results from the trip. The guides will make final decisions on any matter during the trip, including those affecting safety and security in mountain excursions.
The schedule of the trip may be altered to adjust to weather conditions during the trip.