GARRAF NATURAL PARK
SPAIN
CATALONIA (La Pleta)
00o00´/00o00´
Anytime ()
Birding Site Guide
The massif lies just 30km to the south-west of Barcelona and is an area of eroded limestone mountains. In the NE it is heavily covered with Aleppo Pine Pinus halepensis forest. There is no surface water due to the porous limestone and many plants are xerophytic (retain water often in swollen fleshy leaves with waxy coatings). Holly Oak Quercus coccifera dominates elsewhere. Higher up and in coastal areas dense Mediterranean maquis scrub is present. This is a heath of xerophytic shrubs and herbs, which are often aromatic, unique to the region.
For comprehensive selection of tours try Catalan Bird Tours
The list gives only the main species to look for here there are many commoner species not included.
Cory's Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Shag, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Turtle Dove, Monk Parakeet, Scops Owl, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, White Wagtail, Ring Ouzel, Nightingale, Black Redstart, Redstart, Black-eared Wheatear, Black Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Bonelli's Warbler, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Raven, Spotless Starling, Rock Sparrow, Serin, Hawfinch, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting.
Mammals include Wild Boar, Red Fox, Genet and Beech Marten.
Reptiles include Horseshoe Whipsnake and Snub-nosed Viper.
Plants typical of the area include Viburnum Viburnum tinus, Gorse Ulex europaeus, RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo, Butcher's Broom Ruscus aculeatus, Dwarf Fan Palm Chamaerops humilis, Mediterranean Honeysuckle Lonicera implexa, Prickly IvySmilax aspera, North African coast grass Ampelodesmos mauritanica).
Author: BSG
www.birdingsiteguide.com
