This 8 day holiday based at Ainsa , a medieval village close to ORDDESA NATIONAL PARK in the beautiful Spansih Pyrenees will give the artist an opportunity to draw and paint some of the natural life found in the area Lammergier, Griffon,Eagles, , many passerines and the possibility of the much sought after Wallcreeper in our visit to the high peaks with many Alpine flowers in spectacular scenery. We will explore a variety of habitats from high, peaks , alpine meadows rocky cliffs and will have a flexible programme of drawing, painting, walking and birdwatching.
Your hosts will be Begoña & Laurence who run " Casa Carpintero" ( a similar accommodation as Boletas Birdwatching Centre). They will provide comfortable accommodation with excellent Spanish cuisine and fine wines. Our guide Josele¹s knowledge of the wildlife of the Pyrenees is unrivalled and his friendly entertaining personality will go a long way to make your visit very enjoyable.
Your artist on location, Ernest Leahy, is very experienced in drawing and painting the wildlife and landscape of the area and will encourage and assist you with both sketching & painting & will demonstrate techniques to help you in producing your artwork. As well as the normal art materials he will show how the use of telescope, camera & camcorder can be used to back up³ your artwork for later studio work. The easy pace of this trip will enable rewarding opportunities to produce some satisfying artwork for all.
A typical itinerary will be as below but days can be rearranged to suit requirements, weather etc.
Ebro valley steppes, Ashfodel and Great Spotted Cuckoo ( Clamator glandarius ) by Ernest Leahy
Itinerary
Day 1.- Zaragoza Airport to Boletas, near Huesca, stopping for lunch and some birding in a Steppe area. After our evening meal a discussion about our expectations, experience and equipment in preparation for the days ahead. Welcome dinner and overnight at Boletas Birdwatching Centre in Loporzano.
Day 2.- Morning at Montearagón Castle , at the top of a sand stone hill it is excellent spot for Raptors, Black Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Rock Sparrow, Chough and an interesting landscape where we will begin our drawing. After a packed lunch beside a lake with waterbirds, more sketching or relaxing birding. Evening talk about sketching in the field. Sierra de Guara. Excellent and impressive rock formations with many raptors with chance of Lammergier, Vultures & Eagles. This is an area with a unique landscape and we will spend a morning here composing our pictures. After lunch a short journey to higher ground will enable us to find alpine flowers with more chances to sketch, walk or birdwatch. Evening post Dinner, talk about favourite Wildlife Artists. Overnight at Boletas B.C.
Day 3.- Drive to Mallos de Riglos, spectacular conglomerate of limestone pinnacle rock attracting many raptors and attractive vegetable gardens with Serin, Buntings & Warblers as well as Flowers & Butterflies. Riglos village holds part of the traditional architecture in the area , small houses with stone arches and beautiful narrows streets After our walk and packed lunch we will choose our subjects for painting. Drive to Hecho Valley and Overnight at Siresa village where we will enjoy the beauty of a XI century Romanesque monastery.
Days 4, 5.- High Pyrenees for 2 days including the spectacular Hecho Valley where we will look for Wallcreeper, Red-backed shrike, Crested Tit, Dipper and many other birds. Good chances for alpine flowers & butterflies. We will visit the Romanesque monastery of San Juan de la Pena built in a cave surrounded by forest and peculiar scenery. Sketchbooks & cameras recording the days sightings. Return to Boletas with much to talk over. Overnight at Siresa
Day 6.- Drive to the north bank of the Ebro valley where we will find Great & Little Bustards, Pintail, Black Bellied Sandgrouse, Lesser Kestrel or Calandra Lark. Telescopes would be useful here and drawing will be more challenging but the day should be rewarding for a completely different landscape. Possibility of stopping at some lakes for local specialities. Evening discussion on watercolour techniques. Overnight at Boletas B.C.
Day 7.- Visit to Salton de Roldan and river bed for Raptors, Buntings, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Wryneck and an amazing variety of birds for a relaxing day painting. Evening, optional birdwatching and walking in the Loporzano village & farmland area. Visit to medieval village of Alquezar, once a Moorish town which holds the enchanting atmosphere of the ancient ages. Here people, old buildings , churches , streets, and surroundings are worthy to be watched and sketched . Interesting birdlife with lost of warblers, swifts, raptors and flowers. Choice of activities for the afternoon. Evening discussion and display of artwork started on the trip. Analysis of the holiday. Farewell dinner and Overnight at Boletas.
Day 8.- Early breakfast and return to Zaragoza for flight home.
Air company RYANAIR is offering a cheap flight from Stanstead to Zaragoza , please visit www.ryanair.com. If you are unable to flight to Zaragoza please contact us for alternatives.
Ernie inspired drawing Pratincoles and Avocets
