Any recommendations or thoughts about birding Parque Nacional de Donana in early January and staying in El Rocio? Any recommendations or thoughts about birding Parc Natural de S'Albufera in late December and staying in Valencia? Thanks.

I am taking my first trip to Spain late October. I have limited my birding to opportunistic sightings while sightseeing, and a one day organized trip from Sevilla to Donana with Ecotono Birding. I suggest lurking or joining BirdForum website. There is a backyard forum section for Spain that has regular posts from some bird tour companies and their websites include trip reports that might be beneficial for your research.

Thank you so much

Late October is a truely monumental time to visit. The Continental migration of raptors is at its height and the three man transition channels are Southern Sweden, Sicily and Andalucia.

We were in the Tarifa area last October and the skies were full of Kites, Buzzards, Griffith Vultures, Egyptian Eagles and Montagu Harriers.

At one stage in the fields below the cliffs surrounding Tarifa we saw over 200 white storks.

There are designated areas and hides (I believe that a visitor centre was being opened as well) in the main road between Tarifa ,and La Linea. The road roses considerably and has excellent views of the Straights.

We also saw many harriers around the marshes close to Conil. Lots of Firecrests there as well.

There's also flamingo in the salt pans on the route to Cadiz.

Sorry I'm sorry sure about opportunities in winter.

Hi. I am back from Spain. I had excellent travel weather late October/early November but that meant bad for water levels - the rains had not arrived. Therefore, we only did a little bit of birding in la Donana - to the east in Doñana PNat-Pinares de la P. del Río y Azanalcazar. A picnic area so dry forest. It wasn't great as it was a holiday with numerous picnickers and the birds are skulkers. We heard a number, but in the 90 minutes I saw 4 species! We heard more, but I don't count 'heards'.
We did spend most of the day in Brazo del Este to the east of Guadilquiver River in the rice fields. These had been cut and burnt as well as flooded, so large flocks of migrating birds and lots of buzzards and BOP. Species total there was 50 species.
I ended up changing my travel plans and went to Valencia instead of Barcelona. I was pretty cultured out by then, so arranged a short notice birding trip with Valencia Birding. Instead of Albufuera we spent some hours at Marjal del Moros. We only had about 4 hours, so this worked well. They do visit Albufuera, but particularly for independent birding, Marjal is easier to bird. Albufuera is big and the best birding is hard to get to or needs boats. We caught 43 species in 4.5 hours.
If you have a car, this is pretty easy to get to and quiet. Few people. Ocean on one side, for gulls and then marsh and scrub for passerines and shore or water birds. A number over winter. Surf was really big when we were there, so only a few gulls. Reliable for water rail and barely out of the car, we had a little bittern fly by.
Enjoy.