Galicia Birding
Galicia has privileged areas for bird watching: on the coast, in rivers and wetlands, in the mountains and
countryside, even in cities. In these places we can observe birds of all kinds (raptors, passerines,
ducks, waders, rupicols …), both native and migratory species.
In 
https://www.turismo.gal/que-facer/birding-in-galicia you will be able to expand information related to bird watching in
our autonomous community. From Galicia Emotion we want to value this experience.
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WETLANDS OF A TERRA CHÁ
Cospeito Lagoon, Caque Lagoon, A Espiñeira, A Veiga do Pumar
In this vast region north of the city of Lugo, crossed by the Miño River, there are several lagoons of different sizes, such as the Caque lagoon (or Bardancos) or the Cospeito lagoon, where there are several observatories enabled for the observation of waterfowl, especially in winter.
The landscape, in many points, is dominated by wide meadows and open spaces that allow one to easily contemplate typical species of these habitats, such as A Espiñeira or A Veiga de Pumar.
Some species that we can contemplate depending on the time of year are: teals, gray herons, grebes, coots, European lapwing, little busts, Montagu’s harriers, merlin, European alcotanes or lesser kestrels, within a wide variety of birds.
RIAS DE RIBADEO AND FOZ
Eo River Estuary, As Catedrais Beach, Pancha Island
These two estuaries in the north of Galicia, if in autumn and winter the weather is cold in northern and central Europe, the birds can be counted in the thousands, due to the large number of species in migration and wintering.
They stand out for their large expanses of intertidal mud that can feed a large number and variety of birds. And between the two you will find a very jagged coastline in which beaches and cliffs alternate in a continuous succession, highlighting the famous As Catedrais Beach.
These are some of the species that we can observe: kingfisher, tailed duck, common and bastard pochard, osprey, black goose, great loon, common kestrel, vulture cysticola, etc.
RIA DE ORTIGUEIRA AND CARIÑO AND ESTACA DE BARES
Serra da Capelada, Stake of Bars, Port of Espasante, Fornos beach
Without a doubt one of the most popular spaces among bird watchers. The reason for this is largely to find ourselves in Estaca de Bares, with winds from the north or northwest, between the end of August and the beginning of December to see thousands of seabirds passing by.
We can observe birds in four clearly differentiated areas: the Serra da Capelada (with its steep profile and high cliffs (Garita da Herbeira), the Ría de Ortigueira and Cariño, Estaca de Bares and the sea in front of this entire area.
Among the wide range of species that we can find are: guillemots, great and arctic loon, Atlantic gabion, blue mallard, curlew and whimbrel, dark and light archibebe, grebes, blacks, Atlantic gannet, white-capped blackbirds, snow bunting, and a long etcetera. .
A Costa da Morte
Malpica Cliffs, Illas Sisargas, Mar de Fóra, Rostro Beach, Nemiña Beach, Traba Lagoon, Lires, Ensenada de A Insua
Between Malpica de Bergantiños and Cape Fisterra we find the most diverse habitats: cliffs, beaches (some with boulders, called coidos) and dunes, lagoons, marshes, heaths, farm plots ..
Migrant and wintering birds number in the thousands. In fact, the list of birds registered on the Costa da Morte is around 300 species, including rare birds, especially American but also Asian and even African.
To indicate just some of the multiple species that we can find are: Atlantic gannet, common blackbird, Balearic shearwater, Eurasian oystercatcher, terns, guillemots, red-billed chough, coastal and arboreal pipit, pipit, Greenlandic gull, marsh harrier or peregrine falcon.
OS ACARES AND CERVANTES MOUNTAINS
Piornedo, Abeixido, Navia de Suarna, Rao River Canyon
Between Lugo and León there is a mountainous area, with a soft relief, where the forest and the scrub are the protagonists, and in the most inhabited areas the meadows provide a new dimension to the whole.
They are appropriate routes to stop in multiple places such as valleys, hills, rocks, where you can enjoy the diversity of the environment.
Among the variety of species present in this area we can find: pale harrier, booted harrier, lesser kestrel, peregrine falcon, partridge woodcock, black woodpecker, nuthatch, common swallow, alpine pipit, red-backed shrike, gray wagtail, solitary rocker, etc. .
Serra da Enciña da Lastra
Penedos de Oulego, Galir River
The diversity of our land has in this mountain range a clear exponent of atypical flora (for Galicia), where holm oaks, strawberry trees, olive trees, lavender or rockrose converge in this spectacular setting. Another significant aspect of the Serra da Enciña da Lastra are its impressive formations with large rocky cliffs that host a special flora and fauna.
As far as bird watching is concerned, we can find here -among others- the following species: griffon vultures, peregrine falcons, Egyptian vultures, eagles (like the royal one or the road), black kites, goshawks, Eurasian wrynecks, redstarts , European orioles, nightingales, etc.
OIMBRA MONTERREI AND VERÍN
Serra de O Larouco, Areneras de San Cibrao, the “magic triangle of Verín”
The Támega river valley, in the south of the province of Ourense, is the place chosen by up to 142 species of birds, many of them difficult to find in other parts of Galicia. Its diverse landscapes (from pine groves to sandbanks, riverside forests …) are a propitious place to carry out highly attractive ornithological expeditions.
Within the wide range of bird species that we can observe, we highlight: eagle owl, red rocker, crossbills, European bee-buzzard, European short-toed, common elanio, European criolo, warblers of various types (carrasqueña, black-headed, tomillera, long-tailed harrier), harrier. and ashen, Iberian mosquito and papialbo, cogujada, minor beak, screech sparrow, etc.
SIL CANYON
Any of the multiple viewpoints
The Sil river, between the provinces of Lugo and Ourense, leaves behind one of the most emblematic landscapes in the interior of Galicia. Amongst rocky areas, large rocky walls and forests, for their uniqueness and beauty, vineyards cultivated on terraces stand out, with sometimes almost impossible accesses between the rocks.
An extensive network of viewpoints allows us to enjoy amazing views of the river and the abundant vegetation that frames it: oak groves, chestnut groves, cork oaks … they coexist harmoniously with small villages surrounded by crops and pastures: a favorable setting for bird watching.
Among the species we can mention: rocker plane, dáuric swallow, solitary rocker, goshawk, European short-toed, and with luck eagle owl or golden eagle; but also great cormorant, gray heron, hoopoe, aul nuthatch or bullfinch.
A Limia
SEPA zone in Xinzo de Limia, Sandiás and Vilar de Santos
A Limia, located in the heart of the province of Ourense, offers us a landscape with large areas dedicated to crops. It is a flat area, partially flooded. Until the middle of the last century, the so-called Antela lagoon existed in this area. Currently, it is in the aggregate farms where part of the ornithological wealth that that wetland treasured can be concentrated. To this we will add willows, oaks, or agropastoral areas that offer shelter to a great variety of species, protected under the figure of ZEPA (Special Protection Area for Birds).
Here we will have the opportunity to observe species such as: the little bustard, the stone curlew, the wild bunting or the soteño, the kingfisher and the European water blackbird, the European lapwing, birds of prey such as the Montagu’s harrier, bittern, the great crested grebe, the plover boy, the sapper plane, the polyglot czar, etc.
Serra do Xurés
Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park
In the south of Ourense is the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park, brother of the Peneda-Gerês National Park in Portugal, considered as a whole the Gerês-Xurés Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve. It is a large granite massif of great natural interest, with a diversity of spaces for birds: large rocks, deep valleys, crops, small forests … crossed by the Limia River.
Among all the species that we can enjoy observing, the golden eagle stands out, the object of a program to reinforce the population that has its epicenter in the Xurés. But we can also find: European short-toes, scavengers such as griffon and black vultures, small birds such as the common crossbill or the soteño bunting, common shrike, little plovers. and even yellow-legged gulls
A GUARDA AND ESTEIRO DO MIÑO
Juncal de Salcidos, A Canosa, A Guarda
Between Galicia and Portugal, in the southwest corner, we find the mouth of the river Miño in the Atlantic Ocean, an estuary of great natural wealth. It is a wetland with privileged characteristics for ornithological observation, with a great sedimentary load.
We will find beaches, rocky stretches, river islands (like La Canosa) and even a port area where bird watching is a unique experience. There are several ornithological observatories that will allow you to enjoy the observation properly.
Some species that we will be able to identify are: great cormorants, gray herons, Eurasian oystercatchers, curlews and warblers, railroad rails, black-headed gulls and tridactyl sandpipers.
ILLAS ATLANTICAS AND RIA DE AROUSA
Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada Islands. O Vao Cove. Graves of Rouxique
In the area of the Rías Baixas, made up of those of Vigo, Pontevedra and Arousa, we find one of the key points for bird watching in Galicia. Its great attraction lies in its adequate balance of habitats: cliffs, marshes, beaches, dunes, farmlands … both on the famous Atlantic islands and on the literal continental, where we highlight the intertidal cove of O Vao.
We will be able to see thousands of birds of a wide variety of species, especially marine ones, such as some of those that we indicate: light and common archibebe, black-headed and yellow-legged gull, Eurasian oystercatcher, black-tailed marlin, fat eagle, curlew and warbler, frieze mallard, cormorant tufted, the spectacular spoonbill, or small birds such as the stone stone.