Itinerary 6. From Horta de Sant Joan to la Franqueta

In this area of olive trees we will hear typical species such as the woodlark, the red-legged partridge or the corn bunting. If we coincide with the fruiting season in the fields, we will see birds such as warblers, thrushes, robins or black redstarts taking advantage of the energy reserve the olives provide.

We continue into the forest track in the direction of the Franqueta area. Look out for the birds of prey flying over the cliffs. There we will see griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and perhaps a short-toed snake eagle, golden eagle or Bonelli's eagle. From the Lliberós car park you can take a short walk to the river. Among the trees, you can see birds such as the firecrest, the crested tit and the Western Bonelli's warbler. On the rocky walls look for the peregrine falcon, the rock sparrow, the blue rock thrush, the crag martin, the Alpine swift and the odd wild goat.

If we visit early, we have many chances of finding them before they climb to the highest, inaccessible parts, or look for shade in the summer heat. From Lliberós, we continue along the track, crossing wooded areas along the Vall d'Uixó ravine; there we find a good number of forest and Mediterranean birds such as the Dartford warbler, the coal tit or the crossbill. This track takes us to the Franqueta area, in the middle of a riverside forest where the great spotted woodpecker, the European green woodpecker and the Eurasian nuthatch live. In the shade of the poplars we wait for the visit of the most trusting birds. The grey wagtail is frequent at the river, and if you are very lucky you may see an otter.