Birdwatching in Álava marshes
With a professional birding & wildlife guide
Salburua
Mendixur,
ornithological park.
Ullibarri – Gamboa
Salburua
- Salburua is a wetland area comprised of several lagoons surrounded by wet meadows, poplar groves, and a small oak forest.
- Its waters originate from aquifers in the Ebro River basin.
Located just outside the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, it was drained long ago to convert the area into farmland. Restoration efforts begun in 1994 have reversed this situation, and Salburua is now one of the most valuable wetlands in the Basque Country.
A walk along the Arcaute pond allows visitors to discover the rich birdlife of this park. - You can also enjoy the unique sight of the herd of deer that inhabits it.
Salburua is also home to species such as the European mink and the agile frog.
Western Marsh Harrier
Northern_Pintail
Norther Shoveler
Little Egret
Salburua
Salburua wetland
Location:
In Álava, just 10 minutes from Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Season:
Autumn, spring, and winter.
Duration:
Half day (4 hours) / Full day (8 hours).
Price per person: (minimum 2 people)
- Half day (4 hours): €50
- Full day (8 hours): €100
Included:
- Nature guide.
- Telescope.
- Adjustment to the group’s level.
- Relaxed pace and time to enjoy.
Not included:
- Meals, drinks, and accommodation.
- Transportation (additional cost).
Languages:
Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Mendixur Ornithological Park
- More tranquil and wild.
- The southern end of the Ullibarri-Gamboa reservoir, originally a small valley between the villages of Mendixur and Urizar, is a shallow area of water covering approximately 70 hectares. This area has undergone a remarkable process of naturalization, both in terms of flora and fauna.
- It currently serves as a nesting, wintering, and resting ground during migration for a large number of birds, especially waterfowl. More than two hundred species have been recorded, including the great crested grebe, little egret, grey heron, greylag goose, mallard and other ducks, coot, sandpiper, and numerous passerine species.
- This wetland is included in the Ramsar List, which recognizes the most important wetlands internationally. It is also part of the Natura 2000 network and is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
- Mendixur is a more secluded and naturalized wetland, surrounded by countryside and with less visitor pressure. Here, observation is more leisurely and the sense of tranquility is greater.
Western Marsh Harrier
Norther Shoveler
Common Pochard
Common Moorhen
Common Kingfisher
Gadwall
Litlle Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Mendixur Observatory
Mendixur Ornithological Park
Location:
Next to Mendixur, just 20 minutes from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava.
Season:
Autumn, spring, and winter.
Duration:
Half day (4 hours) / Full day (8 hours).
Price per person: (minimum 2 people)
- Half day (4 hours): €50
- Full day (8 hours): €100
Included:
- Nature guide.
- Telescope.
- Adjustment to the group’s level.
- Relaxed pace and time to enjoy.
Not included:
- Meals, drinks, and accommodation.
- Transportation (additional cost).
Languages:
Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Ullibarri – Gamboa
Ullíbarri-Ganboa es un embalse, rodeado praderas y bosques, crea un mosaico de hábitats que lo convierte en un punto clave para la observación de aves. Aquí conviven especies acuáticas, limícolas y forestales, entre otras.
Pasear en su entorno da la sensación de amplitud y calma.
La observación de aves desde las orillas del embalse de Ullibarri-Gamboa se puede hacer cómodamente gracias a la ruta verde perimetral de 45 kilómetros, eligiéndomelo para ello ciertos puntos estrategicos donde observar mayor número de aves.
Western Marsh Harrier
Norther Shoveler
Common Pochard
Common Moorhen
Common Kingfisher
Gadwall
Litlle Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Ullibarri
Ullibarri Gamboa
Ullibarri village
Ullibarri Gamboa village surrounded by zadorra reservoir. Alava, Basque Country, Spain
Location:
In Álava. 20 minutes from Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Season:
Autumn, spring, and winter.
Duration:
Half day (4 hours) / Full day (8 hours).
Price per person: (minimum 2 people)
- Half day (4 hours): €50
- Full day (8 hours): €100
Included:
- Nature guide.
- Telescope.
- Adjustment to the group’s level.
- Relaxed pace and time to enjoy.
Not included:
- Meals, drinks, and accommodation.
- Transportation (additional cost).
Languages:
Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Birds we may see:
Resident Birds:
Greylag Goose, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, White Stork, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Firecrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, Peregrine Falcon, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, European Serin, Cirl Bunting.
Wintering Birds:
Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Mediterranean Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, Red Kite, Common Chiffchaff, Redwing, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Hawfinch, Common Reed Bunting.
Summer Birds:
Common Swift, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Melodious Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Iberian Chiffchaff, Subalpine Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Nightingale, Western Yellow Wagtail.
Complementary Basque Cultural Experiences
