Destinations
Tailor-Made Wildlife & Birding Tours
With John Muddeman, you can design a bespoke nature journey that goes beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re dreaming of high mountain birding in the Picos de Europa, witnessing the majestic Iberian lynx in Andújar and Doñana, or exploring the volcanic landscapes and endemic species of the Canary Islands, John’s decades of experience and deep naturalist’s insights ensure a trip that is both rewarding and ethically grounded.
Custom Tour Examples
Here are several tailor-made wildlife and birding tour suggestions based on John’s previous experience. These are inspirational tried and tested itineraries which can be be adapted in duration and season depending on client focus.
Tour Name
Duration & Region
Recommended Season
What You Can See
Grand Spain Wildlife Tour
10 – 15 days
Strait of Gibraltar, Doñana, Extremadura, Gredos, Segovia, Picos de Europa or Pyrenees
Spring
A fabulous variety of well over 200 birds including migrant
raptors & soaring birds, seabirds, coastal and inland wetland, forest, steppic, páramo and mountain species. Up to 30 raptors including five vultures and five eagles, six woodpeckers, White-headed & Marbled Ducks, Northern Bald Ibis, Red-knobbed Coot, Audouin’s & Slender-billed Gulls, Common & Blue Rock Thrushes, Dupont’s Lark, Iberian Chiffchaff, Wallcreeper, plus Spanish Ibex, Southern Chamois, landscapes, wildflowers.
Strait of Gibraltar Migration Bottleneck
6–8 days
Early spring / Late summer-autumn
Outstanding views of migrating and resident raptors and soaring birds, e.g., Osprey, European Honey Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, Spanish imperial, Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed Snake Eagles, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, possible Eleonora’s Falcon, White & Black Storks and a wide range of seabirds, coastal wetland species and migrant small birds.
Quest for Iberian Lynx
7-8 days approx
Autumn / Winter / Early Spring
Search for the Iberian Lynx, plus Iberian Ibex, Eurasian Otter, Wild Boar and a variety of other large mammals, in addition to a multitude of birds of the Doñana wetlands and nearby coast, plus Andújar mountains, from tiny Zitting Cisticolas to mighty Cinereous Vultures.
Wild Picos de Europa
5–7 days
Spring / Summer
Alpine species in summer. Migration and flowersor in spring/autumn
Here we search for Bearded and Egyptian Vultures, Wallcreeper, Alpine Chough, Common Rock Thrush, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, White-winged Snowfinch and Southern Chamois on the highest mountain tops, Citril Finch, Yellowhammer and Tree Pipit on the passes, Middle Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Marsh Tit, iberiae European Pied Flycatcher and Eurasian Bullfinch in the forests, plus Eurasian Goshawk, Red-backed Shrike, Common Redstart and a range of commoner species in the valleys. All within a stunning limestone landscape of towering crags and remote valleys exceptionally rich in Alpine and Subalpine flowers.
North to South Spain
8–12 days
Spring / Autumn
An avian bonanza comparing the diverse bird communities of the mountains, woodland and steppes of Northern Spain with the southern and eastern Mediterranean habitats (inland and coastal wetlands, coast). Dupont’s Lark, raptors, passerines and steppe birds contrast with the seabirds, shorebirds and waders of the coastal areas.
Canary Islands Adventure
7–9 days
All year
Island endemics and sub-species in the desertic east and greener more mountainous central islands: Barolo Shearwater, Fuerteventura Stonechat, Houbara Bustard, Bolle’s & Laurel Pigeons, Plain Swift, Tenerife & Gran Canary Blue Chaffinches, Tenerife & Gran Canary Robins, Island Canary, Canary Island Chiffchaff, Canary Island Chaffinch, summering Eleonora’s Falcon, and more. Endemic reptiles (e.g., Tenerife Lizard), butterflies and volcanic landscapes simply add to the extraordinarily unique nature of the islands.
Armenia Wildlife & Birding Tour
~12–13 days
Armenia
Late Spring / Late Summer
A birdwatchers delight amongst stunning landscapes at this geographical crossroads between East and West, North and South. Taking in the internationally famous wetlands and arid semi-deserts of the Araks Valley, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters rub shoulders with White-tailed Lapwings and Pygmy Cormorants, while Menetries’s and Upcher’s Warblers sing from scrub beside Finsch’s Wheatears and White-throated Robins. Rocky gorges provide home to Bearded Vultures, tiny Red-fronted Serins, noisy Eastern Rock Nuthatches and rare Persian Wheatears, the central forests house a fine population of the dapper Semi-collared Flycatcher and the mountain meadows and montane steppe habitat up to the high tops house gems such as Caucasian Black Grouse, Asian Crimson-winged Finch, stunning magna Bluethroats and the shy Caspian Snowcock. One of the highest Alpine lakes in the world is home to an excellent population of Armenian Gull, while Demoiselle Cranes pass through on passage to their Asian breeding grounds.
Extremadura – the wild west of Spain
5-8 days
Autumn / Winter / Spring
A birdwatchers’ heaven! The low human population combined with vast areas of Western holm oak woodland and extensive open agri-steppe habitats are still home to important populations of some of Europe’s fastest declining birds, such as the mighty Great Bustard, territorial Little Bustards, flocks of Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, impressive numbers of Calandra Larks and Montagu’s Harriers sky-diving over their colonies in spring. Rocky ridges and mountains are the ideal home for huge numbers of Eurasian Griffons and Cinerous Vultures, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and a few pairs of the elusive White-rumped Swift, with the Wild Olive-flanked slopes ideal winter habitat for millions of small birds such as European Robin, Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff seeking shelter from the winter rigours of Northern and Eastern Europe. A smattering of lakes and reservoirs also provides excellent habitats for breeding Purple and Squacco Herons, Eurasian Spoonbill resident Little Bittern and Purple Swamphen, with Black-winged Kite regularly present nearby. Orchids in early spring give way to a festival of wildflowers later in the spring in a ‘watercolour landscape’ just adding to the delights of the region.
Tour Name
Grand Spain Wildlife Tour
Duration & Region
10 – 15 days
Strait of Gibraltar, Doñana, Extremadura, Gredos, Segovia, Picos de Europa or Pyrenees
Recommended Season
Spring
What You Can See
A fabulous variety of well over 200 birds including migrant
raptors & soaring birds, seabirds, coastal and inland wetland, forest, steppic, páramo and mountain species. Up to 30 raptors including five vultures and five eagles, six woodpeckers, White-headed & Marbled Ducks, Northern Bald Ibis, Red-knobbed Coot, Audouin’s & Slender-billed Gulls, Common & Blue Rock Thrushes, Dupont’s Lark, Iberian Chiffchaff, Wallcreeper, plus Spanish Ibex, Southern Chamois, landscapes, wildflowers.
Tour Name
Strait of Gibraltar Migration Bottleneck
Duration & Region
6–8 days
Recommended Season
Early spring / Late summer-autumn
What You Can See
Outstanding views of migrating and resident raptors and soaring birds, e.g., Osprey, European Honey Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, Spanish imperial, Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed Snake Eagles, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, possible Eleonora’s Falcon, White & Black Storks and a wide range of seabirds, coastal wetland species and migrant small birds.
Tour Name
Quest for Iberian Lynx
Duration & Region
7-8 days approx
Recommended Season
Autumn / Winter / Early Spring
What You Can See
Search for the Iberian Lynx, plus Iberian Ibex, Eurasian Otter, Wild Boar and a variety of other large mammals, in addition to a multitude of birds of the Doñana wetlands and nearby coast, plus Andújar mountains, from tiny Zitting Cisticolas to mighty Cinereous Vultures.
Tour Name
Wild Picos de Europa
Duration & Region
5–7 days
Recommended Season
Spring / Summer
Alpine species in summer. Migration and flowersor in spring/autumn
What You Can See
Here we search for Bearded and Egyptian Vultures, Wallcreeper, Alpine Chough, Common Rock Thrush, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, White-winged Snowfinch and Southern Chamois on the highest mountain tops, Citril Finch, Yellowhammer and Tree Pipit on the passes, Middle Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Marsh Tit, iberiae European Pied Flycatcher and Eurasian Bullfinch in the forests, plus Eurasian Goshawk, Red-backed Shrike, Common Redstart and a range of commoner species in the valleys. All within a stunning limestone landscape of towering crags and remote valleys exceptionally rich in Alpine and Subalpine flowers.
Tour Name
North to South Spain
Duration & Region
8–12 days
Recommended Season
Spring / Autumn
What You Can See
An avian bonanza comparing the diverse bird communities of the mountains, woodland and steppes of Northern Spain with the southern and eastern Mediterranean habitats (inland and coastal wetlands, coast). Dupont’s Lark, raptors, passerines and steppe birds contrast with the seabirds, shorebirds and waders of the coastal areas.
Tour Name
Canary Islands Adventure
Duration & Region
7–9 days
Recommended Season
All year
What You Can See
Island endemics and sub-species in the desertic east and greener more mountainous central islands: Barolo Shearwater, Fuerteventura Stonechat, Houbara Bustard, Bolle’s & Laurel Pigeons, Plain Swift, Tenerife & Gran Canary Blue Chaffinches, Tenerife & Gran Canary Robins, Island Canary, Canary Island Chiffchaff, Canary Island Chaffinch, summering Eleonora’s Falcon, and more. Endemic reptiles (e.g., Tenerife Lizard), butterflies and volcanic landscapes simply add to the extraordinarily unique nature of the islands.
Tour Name
Armenia Wildlife & Birding Tour
Duration & Region
~12–13 days
Armenia
Recommended Season
Late Spring / Late Summer
What You Can See
A birdwatchers delight amongst stunning landscapes at this geographical crossroads between East and West, North and South. Taking in the internationally famous wetlands and arid semi-deserts of the Araks Valley, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters rub shoulders with White-tailed Lapwings and Pygmy Cormorants, while Menetries’s and Upcher’s Warblers sing from scrub beside Finsch’s Wheatears and White-throated Robins. Rocky gorges provide home to Bearded Vultures, tiny Red-fronted Serins, noisy Eastern Rock Nuthatches and rare Persian Wheatears, the central forests house a fine population of the dapper Semi-collared Flycatcher and the mountain meadows and montane steppe habitat up to the high tops house gems such as Caucasian Black Grouse, Asian Crimson-winged Finch, stunning magna Bluethroats and the shy Caspian Snowcock. One of the highest Alpine lakes in the world is home to an excellent population of Armenian Gull, while Demoiselle Cranes pass through on passage to their Asian breeding grounds.
Tour Name
Extremadura – the wild west of Spain
Duration & Region
5-8 days
Recommended Season
Autumn / Winter / Spring
What You Can See
A birdwatchers’ heaven! The low human population combined with vast areas of Western holm oak woodland and extensive open agri-steppe habitats are still home to important populations of some of Europe’s fastest declining birds, such as the mighty Great Bustard, territorial Little Bustards, flocks of Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, impressive numbers of Calandra Larks and Montagu’s Harriers sky-diving over their colonies in spring. Rocky ridges and mountains are the ideal home for huge numbers of Eurasian Griffons and Cinerous Vultures, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and a few pairs of the elusive White-rumped Swift, with the Wild Olive-flanked slopes ideal winter habitat for millions of small birds such as European Robin, Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff seeking shelter from the winter rigours of Northern and Eastern Europe. A smattering of lakes and reservoirs also provides excellent habitats for breeding Purple and Squacco Herons, Eurasian Spoonbill resident Little Bittern and Purple Swamphen, with Black-winged Kite regularly present nearby. Orchids in early spring give way to a festival of wildflowers later in the spring in a ‘watercolour landscape’ just adding to the delights of the region.
Key Tour Features
- Expert guiding by John Muddeman
- Over 30 years of field experience guiding hundred of tours in more than 30 countries.
- Bespoke itineraries
- Everything is customizable — duration, region, focus (birds, mammals, botany, photography).
- Deep natural history knowledge
- Adapted for beginners and experts alike.
- Ethical wildlife watching
- Emphasis on minimal disturbance, respect for habitats and long-term conservation.
- Small groups or private guiding
-
Ideal for both independent travellers and specialist travel companies.
- International scope
- Although Spain is his core region, John also regularly leads abroad with experience in Armenia, Canada, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Senegal, South Africa, The Gambia and Trinidad & Tobago, in addition to 14 countries across Europe.
- Selected highlight species (in Spain)
- Balearic shearwater, Balearic warbler, Bolle’s pigeon, Canary Islands chiffchaff, Cantabrian brown bear, Chapman’s ringlet, Fuerteventura stonechat, Dupont’s lark, Gallotia lizards, Gran Canaria blue chaffinch, great bustard, houbara bustard, Iberian bluetail, Iberian green woodpecker, Iberian grey shrike, Iberian (grey) wolf, Iberian lynx, Iberian magpie, Iberian midwife toad, pronged clubtail, rock lizard species, Southern chamois, Spanish ibex, Spanish (imperial) eagle, Spanish fritillary, Spanish moon moth, splendid cruiser, Tenerife blue chaffinch, Western demoiselle, white-headed duck.
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Get in touch to design your custom trip
