ROUTES
ALTO GÁLLEGO AND TENA VALLEY
Alto Gállego et Vallée de Tena
ITINERARY
Access from the A23 in Sabiñánigo, from Zaragoza and Huesca to the south and from Pamplona to the west. From Sabiñánigo the N260 and the local A-136 take us to the north to the different points on the route, namely Biescas, Hoz de Jaca, Panticosa, Lanuza, Sallent, La Sarra and the frontier at Portalet.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT All year round, although special care should be taken during the winter months as adverse meteorological conditions at high altitude can cause the roads to Balneario de Panticosa and Portalet being closed because of snow.
HABITATS Mixed coniferous forests, riparian woodland, high mountain pastures, limestone cliffs and mountain peaks.
SPECIES
ALL YEAR ROUND Red Kite, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Ptarmigan, Grey Partridge, Black Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Alpine Accentor, Marsh Tit, Wallcreeper, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Snowfinch.
SUMMER Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Alpine Swift, Rock Thrush, Water and Tree Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Red-backed Shrike, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting.
ON MIGRATION Osprey, Common Crane, Black Stork.
OTHER SPECIES OF INTEREST
MAMMALS Izard, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Wild Boar, Gennet, Pine Marten, Stone Marten, Red Squirrel, European Edible Dormouse, Garden Dormouse, Wild Cat, Hare, Marmot.
AMPHIBIANS Pyrenean Newt, Pyrenean Frog, Spiny Toad, Midwife Toad.
REPTILES Western Aesculapian Snake, Western Whip Snake, Smooth Snake, Asp Viper, Pyrenean Rock Lizard.
FISH Brown Trout.
PLACES OF INTEREST
SABIÑÁNIGO AND SURROUNDING AREA
SABIÑÁNIGO BRIDGE
We start this birding route next to the town of Sabiñánigo, with the chance to visit the rural surroundings of this quiet neighbourhood, with a possible visit to the Angel Orensanz Museum of Art and Ethnography. There will be several species of urban birds, as well as waterside birds if we go down to the shores of the Gállego River.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: The Shepherd’s Route (Camino del Pastor) towards Sabiñánigo or Rapún, choosing the distance and height gained/lost to suit yourself.
SPECIES: House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Robin, Black Redstart, Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Common Raven, Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Wallcreeper, Yellowhammer, Red-backed Shrike, Common Whitethroat.
ON MIGRATION: Common Crane, Osprey, Black Kite, Black Stork, Crag Martin, Barn Swallow.
ROMANESQUE CHURCH OF SAN JUAN DE BUSA
We park next to the road at the point 42.564828923464894, -0.31291564272118055, having followed the signpost from the Las Margas urbanization. This is a different way of approaching the Tena Valley, with a chance to visit the Romanesque church of San Juan de Busa, along a minor secondary road that takes us along grassy fields and a farmland mosaic.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round. Please take care driving along this country lane. There isn’t much traffic, but it is in use.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Next to the church it is possible to visit the village of Oliván and to walk up to the uninhabited village of Susín. It is also possible to see the waterfall in Orós.
SPECIES: House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Robin, Black Redstart, Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Common Raven, Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Wallcreeper, Yellowhammer, Red-backed Shrike, Common Whitethroat.
ON MIGRATION: Common Crane, Osprey, Black Kite, Black Stork, Crag Martin, Barn Swallow.
BIESCAS AND SURROUNDINGS
DOLMEN AND CHAPEL OF SANTA ELENA
Continue north along the A136 and park on the right at 42.660408464251- 0.323507991390189 before continuing by foot to the Chapel of Santa Elena, following on along the dirt track that takes us to the defensive bunkers built during the period after the Spanish Civil War. On the way back we can take a minor detour to the Santa Elena Dolmen a short distance away from the carpark. There is a variety of habitats, from open meadows to closed forestry pinewoods along the Lasieso Valley, as well as the rocky outcrops of the Santa Elena Canyon itself.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round. Better in spring and summer with the chance to make the most of the different habitats on such a short route.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Dolmen and Chapel of Santa Elena, route to the Yew tree of Lasieso – about 4km with 160m height gained/lost.
SPECIES: Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan, Grey Partridge, Tengmalm’s Owl, Tawny Owl, Alpine Chough, Common Raven, Alpine Accentor, Eurasian Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Snowfinch, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill.
SUMMER: Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting.
HOZ DE JACA VIEWPOINT
Continue north along the A136 until Búbal where we go right to the village of Hoz de Jaca and park. From here we continue on foot to the viewing platform hanging over the Búbal Reservoir, from where there are spectacular views over to the massif of Peña Telera and a broad panorama of the whole valley.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round. This place is easily accessible and is a rewarding spot to spend time with telescope and binoculars, viewing raptors, birds in passage and the rock specialists.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: From Hoz de Jaca a path called the Tena Valley Camino de Santiago leads south to the chapel of Santa Helena, through damp mixed woodland.
SPECIES: Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Alpine Chough, Common Raven, Black Woodpecker, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Alpine Accentor, Common Bullfinch, Snowfinch, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, European Honey-buzzard, Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike.
PANTICOSA SPA
Continue north until we reach the village of Pueyo de Jaca, where we take the A2606 towards Panticosa, entry point to the Panticosa Spa, our next stop. From the resort 42.76149289375407, -0.23420341895378433 at 1600m above sea level, we start any of the mountain walking routes or birdwatching routes that we feel like. There are innumerable options around the lake, with more or less altitude gain or loss, but they are all in places where we can see high mountain species.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round, except during the winter months when the access road is sometimes closed due to the risk of avalanches.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Circular route of the resort’s waterfalls. 3km long with 180m height gained/lost going around the north-eastern part of the resort.
SPECIES: Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan, Grey Partridge, Tengmalm’s Owl, Tawny Owl, Alpine Chough, Common Raven, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Eurasian Treecreeper, Snowfinch, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Long-tailed Tit.
SUMMER: Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike.
AROUND SALLENT DE GÁLLEGO
LANUZA
Return to the A136 heading north to take a right turn over the Lanuza dam and continue up the left bank of the River Gállego until we reach the village of Lanuza on the shores of the reservoir 42.75541880617836, 0.3153228361419828. From the restored village of Lanuza there are several options around the lake which give spectacular views of the head of the Tena Valley as well as views of mountain and shore birds.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Circular route around the reservoir. 8kms 150m height gained/lost.
SPECIES: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Raven, Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Bullfinch, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Grey Wagtail, Dipper.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, European Bee-eater.
LASARRA RESERVOIR
After a wander through the unique streets of Sallent de Gállego, with their typical Argonese high mountain architecture, we continue north to the glacial valley of Lasarra, from which numerous excursions can be made. Here the combination of high mountain pastures, mixed woodland and rocky gullies make for a varied habitat for many species of birds.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: All year round, except the winter months when the road may be blocked due to heavy snowfall.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Peña Lana viewpoint. 5km and 280m of height gained/lost. Circular route La Sarra – Carlitos Royo Bridge, 2kms 30m height gained/lost.
SPECIES: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Raven, Red-billed Chough, Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Bullfinch, Citril Finch, Common Crossbill, Grey Wagtail, Dipper.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, and Red-backed Shrike.
PORTALET PASS
From Sallent de Gállego we continue along the ski resort access roads to the Petruso parking place, accessible all year round. Our chosen routes will take us through high mountain grazing pastures, alternating with rocky areas and beautiful panoramas of the different glacial cirques that form this landscape. There are innumerable options for comfortable, effortless walks that will take us to many spots ideal for observing mountain birds.
RECOMMENDED TIME TO VISIT: Once the snow has melted, generally in late spring until the start of autumn. During winter months it is imperative to use adequate winter equipment for getting around in the snow such as snowshoes.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES: Path to the old Sallent Pass, 4kms 100m height gained/lost up to the limit of the French National Park of the Pyrenees.
SPECIES: : Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan, Grey Partridge, Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Common Crossbill.
SUMMER: Whinchat, Egyptian Vulture, Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike and Alpine Swift.
