Birding in Santoña marshes

Two-Day Birding Tour in the Santoña Marshes

A two-day birdwatching trip to explore the birds of the Santoña Marshes through their countless observation points.

Target species:
Common Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Spoonbill, European Shag.

Best season: Winter.

Santoña Marshes

Santoña is a true ornithological paradise thanks to its vast wetland area and its exceptional variety of birdwatching sites.

It is the most important wetland for waterbirds in northern Iberia, especially during winter and migration periods. At this time of year, more than 130 bird species can be observed, often in remarkable numbers, with total wintering populations ranging between 15,000 and 20,000 birds.

Best period: October to May.

Birds we may see

Resident Species

Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Eider, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Common Starling, Spotless Starling, Common Blackbird, Black Redstart, House Sparrow, White Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch.

Wintering Species

Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Osprey, Western Marsh Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Common Kingfisher, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, European Robin, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit.

Summer species

Common Swift, Purple Heron, Black Kite, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Western Yellow Wagtail.

Migrant birds

Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Black-throated Diver, Pied Avocet, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear.

Occasional Species

Long-tailed Duck, Northern Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Red Phalarope, European Golden Plover.