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Montsec Natural Hotspot Holidays Gallery - Birding In Spain.com

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1. Birding on the shady side of Montsec de Rúbies. The Pyrenees dominate the northern skyline. 2. Walking on the shady side of Montsec de Rúbies, with wonderful views of the Terradets reservoir. 3. The Serra del Cadí, as seen when birding the northern side of Montsec de Rúbies. 4. Where shall we go birding today? Montsec, Boumort or the snow-capped Pyrenees? 5. The Montsec range reaches over 1,600m in altitude and offers unrivalled views over the Pyrenees and the plains. 6. The handsome Lammergeier is regularly seen patrolloing the Montsec range. 7. If you come on a birding trip early in the year you can see and smell the almond blossoms. 8. Misty mornings in winter have their own appeal when birding near Montsec. 9. Olives are also grown in the valleys. The local olive oil is excellent. 10. Montsec is a great exploring ground for plant lovers. Here a small group of fritillaries. 11. Mirror Orchids appear in early spring, but are very localized. Botanists take note. 12. A view southwards from the heights of Montsec d'Ares. 13. The steppes with their very special bird communities are nearby. 14. A flower with the name of a bird: the Woodcock Orchid. 15. Walking and enjoying nature and spectacular scenery on the sunny side of Montsec. 16. The Avellanes monastery. 17. The Mur castle has recently been restored to some of its former glory. 18. Morning has broken at the Mur castle. 19. Walking and birding, and watching your step, in the gorge (congost) of Mont-rebei. 20. That's me, the face behind Birdinginspain.com. 21. A winter birding excursion with the SEO-Lleida group. Looking for a Wallcreeper. 22. The Sant Llorenç reservoir. With Eagle Owls, Bonelli's Eagles and much more the surrounding area is a real birding hotspot. 23. Winter fog shrouds the valleys as the first sun's rays bathe Montsec. 24. Another view from the top of Montsec. Don't sit on that hedgehog broom. Ouch! 25. A sleepy village in a picturesque setting somewhere in Montsec. 26. Calandra Larks are abundant and noisy inhabitants of the nearby drylands. 27. Those vertical cliffs are really appreciated by Choughs, Peregrine Falcons, Griffon Vultures, Rock Sparrows, Rock Thrushes... 28. Wow! A Wallcreeper! A great bird, although it's no surprise – Wallcreepers are regular here in the winter. 29. The magnificent Eagle Owl needs no introduction. 30. There is always a new place waiting to be discovered in Montsec. 31. Red-billed Choughs love Montsec mostly for its abundance of inaccessible ledges. 32. Egyptian Vultures seem to be getting more common in the area. 33. There are excellent opportunities for bird photography. 34. Little Bitterns are here too, although they are difficult to spot. 35. Cytinus is a parasitic plant. Beautiful, but – well – parasitic. 36. Was this photograph of a fritillary butterfly really taken in Montsec? 37. Hoopoes are beautiful birds, but smelly according to popular sources. 39. Lesser Kestrels are making a comeback in Catalonia. 40. A Griffon Vulture is not a bird that can be ignored. 41. A Scops Owl after being told he has to migrate. 42 Bonelli's Eagles remain in Montsec throughout the year. 43. Short-toed Eagles are the commonest eagle in the region. 44. A suspension footbridge on the family way to the gorge of Mont-rebei. 45. April and May are the months for fields full of poppies. 46. The city of Lleida is a short distance to the south of Montsec. 47. The delicious colours of spring. 48. C'mon pink, brighten my day: more poppies. 49. This time the Ophrys orchid is the Sombre Bee Orchid. 50. The drylands explode with life in the spring. 51. When birding here there's so much that we don't know where to look! 52. Looking towards Sant Llorenç de Montgai. 53. A beautiful swallowtail butterfly. 54. Pallenis spinosa. 55. Another autumn view from Montsec de Rúbies. 56. Eagle eye views of the land to the north of Montsec. 57. Almond blossoms: can you smell them? 58. The blossoms on the almond trees are often the first visible signs of spring.