Belchite (Zaragoza) - Loporzano (pre-Pyrenees) - Hecho Valley (high Pyrenees)
A self-guided two-week trip to the pre- and high-Pyrenees as well as areas of steppe. Accommodation was booked through Boletas Birdwatching Centre, Loporzano, Aragon:
UK agent: Andy Howes 0116 2889318 andyhowes@hotmail.com
Spain: Josele Saiz, Boletas Birdwatching Centre, www.boletas.org Josele@boletas.org
Both Andy and Josele provided a great deal of information on the areas we planned to visit; Josele also loaned us walking route maps for sites in the pre-Pyrenees around Boletas Birdwatching Centre at Loporzano.
ACCOMMODATON
All accommodation was good, very comfortable and clean. The food was excellent, lots of it and a wide choice at every meal. The Boletas team (Josele Saiz and Esther Diago) work closely with hotels and guest houses to ensure breakfast and evening meals are tailored for British birders (mostly local-style food but timed to suit our strange ways rather than Spanish custom). More importantly, a packed lunch is provided each day as a matter of course - essential most days as there are very few shops or places to get coffee or meals in the rural areas at this time of year. It made life very easy for us; our Spanish is inadequate, to say the least, and these arrangements meant there were no misunderstandings or wasted time trying to arrange an early breakfast or dinner.
The first two nights were at Lécera, a few kms south of Belchite. The Hotel Rincón del Cierzo is a new venture targeting birdwatchers and, although a 30-minute drive to the steppe area (La Planerón) it’s a better option than accommodation currently available in Belchite. We spent the next 6 nights at the home of Esther and Josele, Casa Boletas; a really enjoyable stay with fabulous home-cooking (thanks, Esther). From this base we explored the pre-Pyrenees. Our base in the high Pyrenees was the Hecho Valley, staying at Castillo d'Acher in Siresa, just north of Hecho village. Another comfortable place, famed for its food; we ate rather too well here, even requesting a reduction in the size of our packed lunch!
WEATHER
We had a great trip, despite the rotten weather! The first thing Josele said on our arrival was “I’m sorry about this weather”. It was chilly to very cold everywhere, we had rain, sleet or snow for at least part, if not all, of every day. Visibility, even in the lower valleys, was often poor. It even rained for several hours on 2 days at Belchite, making the tracks around the steppes very slippery, some becoming impassable. Even when the cloud broke, the strong, cold wind was relentless. In the pre-Pyrenees it was wet, dull and windy much of the time with only short bright spells. The high Pyrenees peaks were mostly covered in cloud, with rain, drizzle, sleet or snow each day. The usual ploy of descending lower down the valleys didn’t work; admittedly there was less cloud but the wind remained very cold and it often rained. Just one day was clear throughout - our last full day – and we were able to see the top of Canfranc valley at Astún (east of Hecho).
MAP
A very useful map, which just about includes the Belchite steppes as well as all other areas we visited, is Mapa Provincial Series, 1:200,000 scale, entitled HUESCA, If it's difficult to find, try the Map Shop at Upton on Severn, (tel 0800 0 85 40 80). Mention Andy Howes when ordering as they stock them for Boletas enquiries.
ITINERARY
13th May Morning flight to Barcelona. Drive to Lécera. Late afternoon/evening La Planerón, Belchite steppe. Hotel Rincón del Cierzo
14th May Early visit to Belchite steppes. Mid-morning Belchite town ruins before another visit to steppes and nearby farmland and orchards.
15th May To Loporzano then east/north-east from Loporzano/Bandaliés to Los Molinos.Casa Boletas
16th May a.m. Loporzano village to edge of Flúmen river. p.m. Vadiello and the dam
17th May a.m. Piraces and southeast to Sariñena
18th May a.m. Santa Cilia. p.m. Salto de Roldán
19th May a.m. Salto de Roldán. p.m. Vadiello area
20th May Alcanadre river at Ontiñena and Ontiñena steppes
21th May Hecho Valleys and Gabardito. Castillo d'Acher
22th May Puerto Valley to Lizara
23th May Hecho Valley and Gabardit
24th May a.m. Higher Hecho Valley and Oza forest. p.m. lower Ansó and Fago Valleys
25th May a.m. Gabardito and higher Hecho Valley. p.m. high and low Ansó Valley
26th May a.m. Canfranc Valley/French border via Jaca. p.m. areas NW of Loporzano.Casa Boletas
27th May Drive to Barcelona airport
PLACES VISITED
Ansó Valley: West of Hecho valley, from Berdún on the N-240 to the French border. High Pyrenees
Bandaliés: Small village along route from Loporzano to Los Molinos and St.Celia. Pre-Pyrenees
Belchite town: South of Zaragoza on the A-222, SW of Codo and La Planerón. Belchite steppe
Canfranc valley: From Jaca on the N-240 to Astún Valley at French border.High Pyrenees
Codo: Village SW side of Belchite steppes. Belchite steppe
Fago: The western-most valley in Aragon, west of Ansó valley. High Pyrenees
Gabardito: Eastwards off Hecho valley north of Hecho & Siresa villages. High Pyrenees
Hecho valley: From Puente la Reina de Jaca on N-240 up to French border.High Pyrenees
High Pyrenees: Based at Siresa, main areas visited: Hecho Valley/Gabardito/Lizara/Urdues, Ansó and Fago Valleys plus Canfranc Valley (north of Jaca). High Pyrenees
La Planerón: Protected area of Belchite steppes. Belchite steppe
Lécera: South of Belchite on A-222, SW of Codo and the Belchite steppes. Belchite steppe
Lizara: Head of Puerto Valley, east of Hecho. High Pyrenees
Loporzano: Village East of Huesca; location of Boletas Birdwatching Centre. Pre-Pyrenees
Los Molinos: East from Loporzano, beyond Bandaliés. Pre-Pyrenees
Montearagon dam: North west of Loporzano. Pre-Pyrenees
Ontiñena: Between Sariñena and Fraga on A-131, SE out of Huesca. Bridge crosses the Alcanadre river at Ontiñena river. East of Zaragoza
Ontiñena steppe: Steppe and cultivations, half-way between Ontiñena-Candasnos. E.of Zaragoza
Oza Forest: Beech and Silver Fir forest in upper Hecho Valley. High Pyrenees
Piraces: Sandstone cliffs and valley SE of Huesca. South of Huesca
Pre-Pyrenees: Based at Loporzano, main areas visited were Salto de Roldán, Montearagon-Apiés, Vadiello and Bandaliés-Santa Celia. Pre-Pyrenees
Puerto Valley: East from Hecho Valley- Aragües del Puerto - towards Lizara.High Pyrenees
Salto de Roldán: NW of Loporzano. Pre-Pyrenees
Sariñena: On the A-131, SE out of Huesca
Sena: On the A-131 between Sariñena and Ontiñena. SE of Huesca
Siresa village: Hecho Valley, north of Hecho village. High Pyrenees
St.Cilia: NE of Loporzano Pre-Pyrenees
Vadiello: NE of Loporzano in Natural Park of La Sierra y los Cañones de Guara. Pre-Pyrenees
BELCHITE STEPPES
We arrived at La Planerón late afternoon on our first day. Although early morning and late evening are the best times for seeing steppe birds, luck was on our side. Huge numbers of Lesser and a few Greater Short-toed Larks, hundreds of Calandras and some Theklas. A group of four Pin-tailed Sandgrouse dropped in and a Stone Curlew flew past. Then we heard a Dupont’s Lark and suddenly it appeared very close to the track on top of a tiny clump of vegetation - a brief but very clear view before it hopped down to the ground and disappeared. One of only two target species for this trip already in the bag! Early next morning we heard three Dupont’s singing but failed to see them. It had rained heavily during the night and it was then changeable with some sun, lots of showers and quite windy. The dirt tracks became very slippery so we explored other areas - farmland, groves and roadsides. We spent some time around the once-splendid but now ruined buildings at Belchite (a stark reminder of the Spanish Civil War) and found Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart. Four Honey Buzzards flew steadily northwards, quite low. Our evening visit to the steppes was cut short by heavy rain but not before we'd seen Red-billed Chough, Red-backed Shrike, Turtle Dove and plenty of Black-eared and Northern Wheatears.
PRE-PYRENEES
Around Loporzano. Boletas Birdwatching Centre provides accommodation, meals and information for independent travellers as well as organising guided tours. At Casa Boletas, in the small village of Loporzano, we could listen to Nightingales in the garden all night. There’s plenty of routes to explore from this base – St.Cilia, Salto de Roldán, Riglos, Vadiello dam. It was often wet and always cold but we saw a good range of species; plenty of raptors, Bee Eaters, Hoopoes, Woodchat Shrikes, Red-billed Chough, Nightingales. Plants were interesting, including a variety of orchids and wild tulips, but were often difficult to photogrph in strong, blustery wind and rain.
South from Loporzano. 45 minutes south from Loporzano is Piraces, a fascinating area of sandstone cliffs and a wide rugged "valley" in the middle of nowhere. Eagle Owl can be found here, but we visited during the day. Lots of Griffons and a few Egyptian Vultures; we also saw Tawny Pipit, Rock Sparrow, Thekla Lark and a Montagu's Harrier. Further south, we checked around the Flúmen river at Ontiñena (Cirl Bunting and a roosting Black-crowned Night Heron). Continuing south, we spent the afternoon around Ontiñena steppes (between Ontiñena and Candasnos). Of note were 5 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, 3 Great Spotted Cuckoos, 4 Rollers and a male Little Bustard flushed by a Marsh Harrier. During sunny spells there were quite a lot of butterflies: Western Marbled Whites were often seen in some parts and occasional Clouded Yellows and Adonis Blues.
HIGH PYRENEES
Based at Siresa village, we spent most of our days here in Hecho Valley, finding Gabardito and Lizara routes the most productive. The long stretch of open meadow at the top of the Hecho valley, beyond Refugio Mino/Barranco Arguas Tuertas, is no doubt spectacular but each time we visited it was either covered in thick mist, raining heavily or snowing and visibility was very poor. At Gabardito we saw Citril Finch, Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle and Alpine Chough. At Lizara, Rock Bunting and a huge flock of about 200 Alpine Choughs were of note. However, birds were often few and far between and we spent a lot of time photographing frozen or very wet plants - including a good range of orchids, hyacinths, wild daffodils and hellebores.
In the hope of finding better weather, we tried the Ansó and Fago valleys west of Hecho. Both very productive but the weather was just the same. We reached the top of Ansó valley but in poor weather; lower down it was dry with long clearer spells but still with a strong, cold wind frustrating many attempts at photographing plants. These valleys were good for raptors, with Honey Buzzard, Bearded Vulture, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, and large numbers of both species of Chough. Again, plants were varied and interesting, but often wet and soggy!
SUMMARY
If this trip had been specifically for birds, it may have been disappointing as we often struggled to find good numbers of even common birds, probably due to the weather. We managed a total of 123 bird species, the only obvious one that eluded us was Wallcreeper; maybe if we’d braved the snow showers for longer we’d have succeeded but there was a nagging doubt that they might not yet be on their breeding grounds, deterred by the weather, like the gatherings of species like Northern Wheatear (19 males and 1 female feeding together) and Black Redstarts (5 males together on a roadside verge). Insects were mostly conspicuous by their absence (we found some tucked up under plants and rocks, out of the wet and cold) but plants were rewarding, even though most were sodden or being blown about by the wind. We were not surprised to hear on our return home that on the French side of the high Pyrenees ski resorts were re-opening from 1st June to take advantage of further late snowfall.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa
Fairly common around Belchite and Ontiñena steppe, and pre-Pyrenees.
COMMON QUAIL Coturnix coturnix
Often heard in pre-Pyrenees and farmland around the steppes.
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Uncommon. 5-6 seen around Belchite-Lécera and 1 on flooded rice field at Sena village near Sariñena.
WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia
Common. Nests in many villages in pre-Pyrenees; 100+ at Huesca rubbish tip; large breeding colonies on pylons in lowlands.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
Nycticorax nycticorax
1 adult roosting in thicket by Alcanadre river, Ontiñena.
GREY HERON
Ardea cinerea
1 on Zaragoza-Huesca route; 1 on rice field at Sena village near Sariñena.
BEARDED VULTURE Gypaetus barbatus
1 by Vadiello Dam; 2 together in higher Hecho Valley 23rd; 2 together in lower Ansó valley plus 1 picking at bones on ground in lower Fago valley on 24th; 1 at Gabardito/Hecho and 1 near Zaina/Ansó on 25th.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus
Common, seen in good numbers most days, all areas. Up to 8 together.
HONEY BUZZARD Pernis apivorus
4 flying northwards over Belchite town a.m. and 2 northwards over Codo p.m. on 14th; 1 by Los Molinos East of Loporzano on 15th; 3 singles in Hecho Valley on 23rd; 2 singles on 24th in Ansó and Fago lower valleys; 1 in higher Ansó valley on 25th; 1 over higher Canfranc Valley on 26th.
GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvous
Very common almost everywhere, including 6 soaring over Ontiñena steppe, although none around Belchite-Lécera . Groups of 20+ frequent and 100+ around Huesca rubbish tip.
SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus
1-2 singles on 8 days, around pre-Pyrenees, along lower stretches of Ansó, Fago and Canfranc valleys, and Ontiñena steppe.
BOOTED EAGLE Hieraaetus pennatus
1 near Loporzano; 2 together over Huesca rubbish tip; 1 near Sariñena; 1 in lower Ansó valley and 1 in lower Fago valley (this last one was dark-phase, all others pale).
GOLDEN EAGLE Aquila chrysaetos
1 subadult north of Belchite; 1 subadult near St.Celia/Loporzano; 2 adults circling low over Ontiñena steppe; 2 s/a at Lizara; 1 ad at Gabardito.
SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus
2 singles on 25th near Gabardito.
NORTHERN GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis
1 near Loporzano on 26th.
WESTERN MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Common around farmland in pre-Pyrenees and at Ontiñena steppe where min. 3 adult males.
MONTAGU'S HARRIER Circus pygargus
1 ringtail near Piraces; 1 Ontiñena steppe.
RED KITE Milvus milvus
Common. Seen most days, usually singles/2s, throughout except higher areas.
BLACK KITE Milvus migrans
Common throughout, usually singles/2s, except higher areas. 50+ around Huesca rubbish tip.
COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Common, 1-3 seen most days.
LESSER KESTREL Falco naumanni
Mating pair on derelict barn at La Planerón, seen two days.
COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
Common most areas, seen on 8 days.
HOBBY Falco subbuteo
2 near Loporzano.
PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
Surprisingly few sightings. 1 near Gabardito and 1 at Lizara.
LITTLE BUSTARD Tetrax tetrax
1 male on Ontiñena steppes (flushed by Marsh Harrier)
MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus
1 only, on a small pool between Codo and La Planerón steppes
STONE CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus
2 at La Planerón/Belchite steppes; heard only at Ontiñena steppes
BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus
2 on pool between Codo and La Planerón; 1 at roadside pool west of Barcelona
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus cachinnans
1-2 at Vadiello Dam on each visit; 6+ at Huesca rubbish tip.
PIN-TAILED SANDGROUSE Pterocles alchata
4 at La Planerón, Belchite
BLACK-BELLIED SANDGROUSE Pterocles orientalis
5 at Ontiñena steppes
ROCK DOVE / FERAL PIGEON Columba livia
Wild birds (presumably) fairly common in higher mountain areas.
WOODPIGEON Columba palumbus
Common in very small numbers (singles/2s/3s), seen most days.
TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur
Fairly common. Seen or heard on 7 days; min.6 at La Planerón/Belchite steppes.
COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto
Common in small numbers (2s/4s).
MONK PARAKEET
Myiopsitta monachus
Single flyovers on outskirts of Barcelona on 13th and again on 27th.
GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO Clemator glandarius
4 at Ontiñena steppes (3 together + single)
CUCKOO Cuculus canorus
3 singles seen; often heard.
ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba
2 near Loporzano on 15th; 3 at St.Celia on 18th
COMMON SWIFT Apus apus
Common, seen most days. Usually small numbers, up to 7 together.
EUROPEAN ROLLER Coracias garrulus
2 at Ontiñena steppes; 2 near Ontiñena town.
EUROPEAN BEE EATER Merops apiaster
Common in suitable habitat. Seen most days, usually 2s/4s.
HOOPOE Upupa epops
Common in suitable habitat, especially around steppes.
WRYNECK Jynx torquilla
Common, frequently heard in all suitable areas. At least 10 on 18th between Loporzano and Salto de Roldán.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major
4 singles: 2 near Loporzano; 1 by Alcanadre river at Ontineno bridge; 1 at Gabardito.
BLACK WOODPECKER Dryocopus martius
1 heard several times on west side of upper Hecho Valley on 22nd.
GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
1 seen briefly by Gabardito Refugio on 23rd; 1 heard near Gabardito on 25th.
RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio
1 male at La Planerón/Belchite; 2 single males on route to Lizara; single males near Siresa and below Gabardito; pair at Candanchi, Canfranc Valley.
WOODCHAT SHRIKE Lanius senator
Common, several sightings most days in suitable habitat.
GOLDEN ORIOLE Oriolus oriolus
Fairly common in suitable wooded areas. Up to 5 sightings per day; more often heard.
JAY Garrulus glandarius
Uncommon. 1 east of Loporzano; 4-5 in forest below Gabardito; 3 in lower and 2 along upper Ansó Valley; 2 Fago Valley; 1 at Astún at top of Canfranc Valley.
MAGPIE Pica pica
Very common in all lower areas.
RED-BILLED CHOUGH Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Common, seen every day. Frequent sightings around La Planerón and the Belchite-Lécera-Codo villages, usually pairs but 10 on ruins at Belchite; 6 at Ontiñena steppes; 10 near Los Molinos (Loporzano). Min.50 at Salto de Roldán; Common in Hecho Valley, sometimes in single-species flocks up to 50 birds but often with Alpine P.graculus.
ALPINE CHOUGH Pyrrhocorax graculus
Common in higher valleys. A huge flock of c.200 around Lizara on 22nd and again beyond Refugio de la Mina (Hecho) on 23rd; 60+ at Gabardito and c.150 in higher Ansó Valley on 25th; 60+ at Astún, Canfranc Valley on 26th. Often with Red-billed P. pyrrhocorax.
WESTERN JACKDAW Corvus monedula
Uncommon. 5 at petrol station near Lleida; small numbers along route Zaragoza to Huesca.
CARRION CROW Corvus corone
Occasional sightings of 2s around Belchite and Ontiñena steppes; common along high Pyrenean valleys but not noted in pre-Pyrenees/Loporzano areas.
NORTHERN RAVEN Corvus corax
Common around pre-Pyrenees/Loporzano areas, with 40 at Huesca rubbish tip. Only occasional sightings of singles/2s in high Pyrenean valleys.
COAL TIT Parus ater
Common in pine forest of high Pyrenees, frequently heard but only 2 seen.
CRESTED TIT Parus cristatus
1 seen at Vadiello dam and occasionally heard around Gabardito and along Ansó Valley.
GREAT TIT Parus major
Occasional sightings, more often heard, on most days.
BLUE TIT Parus caeruleus
Occasional sightings, less frequent than Great Tit.
CALANDRA LARK Melanocorypha calandra
Abundant on Belchite and Ontiñena steppes.
GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella brachydactyla
Frequent sightings in small numbers around Belchite/La Planerón. None found at Ontiñena steppes.
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella rufescens
Very common, in good numbers, around Belchite/La Planerón and Ontiñena steppes.
DUPONT’S LARK Chersophilus duponti
1 seen at La Planerón and three others heard.
CRESTED LARK Galerida cristata
Common in all suitable habitat. A few larks on the edge of La Planerón/Belchite appeared to be this sp.
THEKLA LARK Galerida theklae
c.6 identified as this sp. at La Planerón and at Ontiñena steppes; many others at these sites were probably also this sp.; 2 seen well in Piraces canyon; several seen in bare, rocky areas around Salto de Roldán were probably this sp.
WOODLARK Lullula arborea
2 seen near Loporzano and several more heard.
SKYLARK Alauda arvensis
1 seen well near Loporzano on 15th.
BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
Common but only in small numbers of 4-6.
CRAG MARTIN Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Common in suitable habitat.
HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
Common throughout.
CETTI’S WARBLER Cettia cetti
2 by Alcanadre river at Ontiñena bridge.
LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus
6 by Alcanadre river at Ontiñena bridge.
CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Occasional singles, more often heard, around Loporzano/pre-Pyrenees; occasionally heard in high Pyrenees.
WESTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER Phylloscopus bonelli
Common. Frequently heard in suitable areas but only 4 seen.
EURASIAN REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus
2 by Alcanadre river at Ontiñena.
MELODIOUS WARBLER Hippolais polyglotta
1 by Coda village (Belchite); 3 seen, others heard, around Loporzano.
ZITTING CISTICOLA Cisticola juncidis
4 around village of Coda near Belchite.
BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Common, although heard much more often than seen.
WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia hortensis
Pair + second male near Coda (Belchite); 1 north of Loporzano; occasionally heard elsewhere.
DARTFORD WARBLER Sylvia undata
1 seen near Montearagon
SPECTACLED WARBLER Sylvia conspicullata
Male on edge of Ontiñena steppe.
SUBALPINE WARBLER Sylvia cantillans
Fairly common. 7 singles seen and others often heard in suitable habitat.
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
1 heard near St.Celia on 18th; 2 heard near Lizara on 22nd.
WREN Troglodytes troglodytes
Singles seen in Hecho and Fago valleys; occasionally heard elsewhere in high Pyrenees.
NUTHATCH Sitta europaea
1 at Gabardito.
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER Certhia brachydactyla
1 at Gabardito.
SPOTLESS STARLING Sturnus unicolor
Common, small parties seen most days.
BLACKBIRD Turdus merula
Common.
SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos
2 near Loporzano on 15th; more frequent in high Pyrenees where seen and heard daily.
MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus
Several around Belchite and Lécera almond and olive groves. Fairly common in high Pyrenees.
ROBIN Erithacus rubecula
Common only in higher Pyrenean forest.
NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos
Common. Frequently heard and often seen.
BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
1 male on ruins in Belchite town; 1 male at Piraces; common in high Pyrenees, some probably on passage as frequent sightings of up to 5 males together.
COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Pair NE of Loporzano (Calcon river)
EUROPEAN STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Widespread in small numbers.
NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
2 males La Planerón/Belchite and 6 Ontiñena steppes; 1 female Piraces; numerous in high Pyrenees, e.g. 19 males and 1 female on small meadow by Gabardito Refugio on 21st; frequent sightings of 4-6 from 21st to 25th.
BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR
Oenanthe hispanica
3 on La Planerón/Belchite and 6 on Ontiñena steppes; occasional sightings of singles/pairs in pre-Pyrenees.
BLACK WHEATEAR
Oenanthe leucura
1 male near Vadiello dam.
COMMON ROCK THRUSH Monticola saxatilis
Prolonged view of female at La Almunia del Romeral (NE of Loporzano) on 17th; 1 male at Astún in high Canfranc Valley on 26th; 1 male at Loporzano cemetery on 26th.
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Monticola solitaries
2 males on ruins at Belchite town; pair by Vadiello dam.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata
Widespread in small numbers in all suitable habitat.
PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca
Male in hotel garden at Lécera on 13th, female there on 15th; pair near St.Cilia in pre-Pyrenees on 18th.
DIPPER Cinclus cinclus
2 singles in higher Hecho Valley.
HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus
Common.
ROCK SPARROW Petronia petronia
4 near Loporzano on 16th; distant views of 2-3 at Piraces.
ALPINE ACCENTOR Prunella collaris
2 at Astún, higher Canfranc Valley.
DUNNOCK Prunella modularis
1 at Astún, higher Canfranc Valley.
GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Frequent sightings along Hecho Valley; 2 Canfranc Valley; 2 at Montearagon dam.
WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
Widespread in small numbers.
TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris
1 at Piraces canyon.
WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
5 in higher Hecho valley; 3 at Astún, higher Canfranc valley.
CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
Common.
GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Uncommon. 1 near Belchite town; 5-6 Alcanadre river/Ontiñena bridge; occasional sightings of 2s/3s in lower Hecho valley.
LINNET Carduelis cannabina
Common in all suitable habitat.
GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis
Common in all suitable habitat.
CITRIL FINCH Serinus citrinella
8 by Gabardito Refugio on 21st, 3 there 23rd and again on 25th; 4 higher in Hecho Valley on 23rd.
SERIN Serinus serinus
Common in suitable habitat.
CORN BUNTING Miliaria calandra
Common in all farmland as well as areas of sparse, rough scrub.
YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citronella
Fairly common around Hecho and Siresa villages (6 on 24th); 1 male near Candanch in Canfranc valley.
ROCK BUNTING Emberiza cia
1 near Loporzano on 18th; 1 near Lizara on 22nd.
CIRL BUNTING Emberiza cirlus
1 male near Alcanadre river at Ontiñena; 1 male Loporzano.
INSECTS
Painted Lady
Common Blue
Adonis Blue
Panoptes Blue
Wall Brown
Dingy Skipper
Scarce Swallowtail
Red-underwing Skipper
Bath White
Orange-tip
Silver Y Moth
Lattice Heath Moth
Emperor Dragonfly
Black-tailed Skimmer
Red-veined Darter
Egyptian Grasshopper
Ascalaphid sp.
MAMMALS
Roe Deer European Hare
Wild Boar Red Squirrel
Red Fox (road casualty)
Chamois
REPTILES
Large Psammadromus
Spanish Psammadromus
Slow Worm
? Montpelier Snake (caught and carried away by Short-toed Eagle)
We have a long list of plants seen but we are not botanists and have probably misidentified many, so they are not listed here.