There are a few places in the world where the mountain meets the sea. Asturias is one of them.

Not surprisingly, eastern Asturias in northern Spain offers birders unparalleled birding experiences thanks to its great diversity of birds all the year round that live in areas of breathtaking natural beauty.

Truly, this is one of the few places in the world where, within less than 40 kms, one can find an astonishing range of habitats, from the high mountainous peaks of the Picos de Europa National Park, to the deciduous forests on its lower slopes to the rivers, coastal cliffs and estuaries dotting the protected coastline.

The griffon vulture, golden eagle, bearded vulture and other big raptors dominate the skies, while the alpine accentor, wallcreeper and snowfinch inhabit the alpine areas and woodpeckers, warblers, buntings and other passerines pose challenges for experienced birders.

This is a great area to visit all the year round. The confluence of the high mountain and coastal climate means there is always somewhere to go birding, no matter what the weather. When the clouds roll in over the coast the higher peaks are usually bathed in bright sunshine and vice versa, reducing the risk of aborting a birdwatching excursion.

There is easy access to these areas due to excellent road connections, flights and ferries to Santander at less than an hour’s drive.