The second longest river of the Iberian peninsula, the Ebro flows in a south-easterly direction in a broad basin between the Sistema Iberico and the Pyrenees mountain ranges, eventually forming a delta as it flows into the Mediterranean Sea between Barcelona and Valencia. Low rainfall and extremes of temperature create a demanding environment with a desert-like aspect in parts, and is often referred to as semi-desert, steppe or more accurately pseudo-steppe.
This depression has a scatter of relic ‘steppe’ habitats and ‘badlands’ land-forms in its vast compass. Characteristic species here include Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Little and Great Bustard, Dupont’s Lark, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, as well as more widespread dry, open country species like Eurasian Stone-curlew, Montagu’s Harrier.
Bardenas Reales, the reserves near Belchite, Los Monegros, and the arid farmland south of Lleida hold some of the best remaining habitat. With a good outpost to the south at Las Estepas de Blancas.
Recorded 17th May 2022
Aragon, Spain
My alarm was set for 5am local time, about 45 minutes before the dawn chorus had been starting up on recent mornings in the hills. But I hadn’t taken account of the full moon. Beware the power of the moon in a clear sky. When I switched on the recorder a few minutes later, this was what I heard: the larks all in full swing.
There are Calandra Larks, Lesser Short-toed Larks and the incomparable Dupont’s Lark here.
And later the same morning when some Pin-tailed Sandgrouse passed by.