Our house is located in the middle of dry farming fields which makes it an ideal and unique environment for birdwatching enthusiasts to observe especially steppe birds, such as the Bustard, the Carraca or the Alcaraván.
ORNITOLOGY
Enjoy the observation of steppe birds such as the Little Bustard, the Short-toed Lark, the Hawk and the Rattail in the Plan de Sió SPA.
The rural house El Abellerol is located in the middle of dry farming fields. This location makes it an ideal environment to enjoy bird watching tourism, especially steppe birds..
The house is located in the ZEPA of Plans de Sió (Code: ES0000478), which is part of the Xarax Natura 2000 and the network of PEIN areas of the Generalitat de Catalunya. We are therefore in an area of special protection at a European level.
Birdwatching can be done all year round, as several birds spend the winter in the ZEPA. However, it is in spring, with the arrival of summer migratory birds, that this area becomes an ideal place for bird watching.
Very close to the house (5km) you can discover the natural richness of the ecosystems of the drylands of Lleida in the interpretation centre that you will find in the Castle of Concabella. For more information you can go to the following link:
http://concabella.cat/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Centre-Interpretaci%C3%B3-Els-secans-de-Lleida.pdf
Other Observation Zones:
Another area where you can observe more than 100 different species of birds is in the Estany de Ivars i Vilassana, which is about 20 minutes by car from the rural house.
At the information point of the Estany d'Ivars i Vilassana you will find basic birding guides available. Or you can go directly to their website:
http://www.estanyivarsvilasana.cat/
Links of interest:
Most common species in Catalonia:
![Abejaruco](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-abejaruco-1.jpg)
Beehive
(Merops apiaster)
Order: Coracciformes
Family: Meropidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: M. Apiaster (monotypic)
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-lechuza-1.jpg)
Owl
(Tyto alba)
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: T. alba alba, T. alba guttata
![Cernícalo común](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-cernicalo-3.jpg)
Common Kestrel
(Falco tinnunculus)
Order: Falconiforms
Family: Falconidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: F. tinnunculus tinnunculus
![Alcaravan](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-alcaravan.jpg)
Alcaravan
(Burhinus oedicnemus)
Order: Caradriformes
Family: Burhinidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: B. Oedicnemus oedicnemus
![Aguila culebrera](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-aquila-culebrera.jpg)
Short-toed Eagle
(Circaetus gallicus)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. gallicus (monotypic)
![Terrera común](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-terrera-comun.jpg)
Common Lark
(Calandrella brachydactyla)
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. brachydactyla brachydactyla
![Mochuelo europeo](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-mochuelo-europeo.jpg)
European Owl
(Athene noctua)
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: A. noctua vidalii
![Chotacabras](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-chotacabras.jpg)
Chotacabras
(Caprimulgus europaeus)
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. europaeus europaeus, C. europaeus meridionalis
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-aguila-calzada.jpg)
Booted Eagle
(Hieraateus pennatus)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: H. pennatus (monotypic)
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-chotacabras-pardo.jpg)
Brown Chotacabra
(Caprimulgus ruficollis)
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. ruficollis ruficollis
![Alcotán europeo](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-alcotan-europeo.jpg)
European Houbara Bustard
(Falco subbuteo)
Order: Falconiforms
Family: Falconidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: F. subbuteo subbuteo
![Busardo ratonero](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-busardo-ratonero.jpg)
Buzzard
(Buteo buteo)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: B. buteo buteo
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-avion-comun.jpg)
Common plane
(Delichon urbicum)
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: D. urbicum urbicum
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-buitre-leonado.jpg)
Griffon vulture
(Gyps fulvus)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: G. fulvus fulvus Població Catalana: 1878-2230 individus madurs
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-golondrina-comun.jpg)
Barn Swallow
(Hirundo rustica)
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: H. rustica rustica
![Aguilucho lagunero](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-aguilucho-lagunero.jpg)
Marsh Harrier
(Circus aeruginosus)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. aeruginosus aeruginosus
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-perdiz-roja.jpg)
Red Partridge
(Alectoris rufa)
Order: Gal.liformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: A. rufa ssp.
![Aguila real](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-aguila-real.jpg)
Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: A. chrysaetos chrysaetos, A. chrysaetos homeyeri
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-calandria-comun.jpg)
Common lark
(Melanocorypha calandra)
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: M. calandra calandra
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-faisan-vulgar.jpg)
Common pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
Order: Gal.liformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: P. colchicus ssp.
![Carraca europea](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-carraca-europea.jpg)
European Ratchet
(Coracias garrulus)
Order: Coracciformes
Family: Coraciidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. garrulus garrulus
![Sisón común](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-sison-comun.jpg)
Little Bustard
(Tetrax tetrax)
Order: Gruïformes
Family: Otididae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: T. tetrax (monotypic)
![Upupidea](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-upupidae.jpg)
Upupidae
(Upupa epops)
Order: Bucerotiformes
Family: Upupidae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: U. epops epops
![](https://abellerolrural.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/especie-aguilucho-cenizo.jpg)
Montagu's Harrier
(Cyrcus pygarus)
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subspecies cited in Catalonia: C. pygargus (monotypic)