Trip Details

João Jara will introduce you to the vivid mosaic of Iberian habitats—from the saline flats and reed beds of the Tagus and Sado estuaries, to dry, rolling steppes of Extremadura, and the rocky cliffs of the Mediterranean coast. With nearly forty years of field experience, he describes how each habitat supports its own suite of specialist birds—glossy ibis and flamingos in wetlands, Spanish imperial eagle and Bonelli’s eagle in open woodlands and mountains, sandgrouse and bustards in the grasslands. He weaves in the rhythms of migration, the pressures of conservation, and the importance of protected areas in preserving this rich diversity. Throughout, Jara emphasizes how Portugal and Spain, despite shared bird species, offer striking contrasts in landscape, climate, and conservation challenges, making the Iberian birding experience both rewarding and complex.