New Trip Report: Small Carnivores in Asturias and Leon, North West Spain
Here’s a remarkable report from Michel Gervais. Is Spain Europe’s finest mammalwatching destination?
Asturias and Leon, North West Spain, 2019: Michel Gervais, 1 week & 22 species including Pyrrenean Desman, Genet, 6 mustelids, Wild Cat, Bear and Wolf.
Jon
10 Comments
-
-
Mattia from Italy
Bernardo works for Wildwatchingspain https://www.wildwatchingspain.com/, a local agency based in Riano (south of Picos de Europa). In 2013 I went with them in the same areas that Michel visited, and in a week I saw 4 different packs of Wolves, including a rendez-vous site with social interactions for almost 2 hours. All thanks the huge work of Bernard and his colleagues. Than 3 different Wildcats.
In summer it’s the very best area in Europe (and maybe the world?) for Wolves.
Wolves are heavily hunted in Spain and the rest of Europe (legally and most often illegally), so the effort of Bernardo, Inaki and their team to create an ecotourism is very important.
Go with them in late July, August and September, and you will be not disappointed. Views are usually a bit distant, but to watch Wolves for long time interacting, and admire their natural behaviour is wonderful. A jump in the wild past of Europe.
-
Kelchtermans Jan
Wolves in Poland are very reliable too but Spain really is a very good and, during summer, indeed the best. While looking for wolves in Poland you come across different European flag species like European Bison, Wild Cat, Polecat, Otter and yes: Eurasian lynx.
-
-
-
Mattia from Italy
Poland (Bieszczady NP, where Jan goes with his tours) is not a good place for Eurasian Lynx, chances are quite low, as everywhere.
Belarus is even worst: to follow prints of Lynx is a very ineffective way to see the cat. Just a fleeting glimpse if you are extremely lucky.
A good and reliable place for Eurasian Lynx (more than 50% chances of good views in daylight in a week) has yet to be found. 🙁
-
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
kittykat23uk
Wow! What a haul! Would be a good place for a mammal watching get together! 🙂