Serra del Cadí: Coll de Pal Itinerary

  1. Starting point: Bagà
  2. Time: about a day

From Bagà take the BV-4024 for Coll de Pal. After some 7kms there is a bridge crossing a stream and a track leading to a house on the left. Park here and continue on foot, following the course of the stream, inhabited by Dipper and Grey Wagtail. In the Scots pine woods look for Crested Tit and Firecrest, among other species.

After walking for approximately 1.5km leave the main path for a meadow visible on the left. From here there is a path that leads up to another meadow called the Camp del Teixó, which offers great views of the rock faces. Birds that can be seen from here include Lammergeier, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Red-billed Chough, Alpine Chough, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin and even Wallcreeper. Meanwhile, in the surrounding meadows and heathland, look for Tree Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting and Ortolan Bunting.

Return to the vehicle and continue the drive towards Coll de Pal. Another optional walk is to stop about 1km further, on a left-hand bend and to walk towards the Casa de Millares, crossing the Rovires stream. Here you can see birds of deciduous woodland such as Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Honey Buzzard and Wryneck.

Back in the vehicle follow the road to the Coll de Pal, at an altitude of 2,080m, paying particular attention to the area between the two mountain refuges. With patience and some luck you can see an excellent array of mountain birds in this area, including Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Lammergeier and Snowfinch (the latter in the winter months), as well as Citril Finch and Ring Ouzel around the treeline.