BIRDWATCHING EN VALDEREJO
Appreciate the griffon vulture in its natural habitat.
The imposing limestone cliffs that surround it are home to the largest colony of griffon vultures in the Basque Country, as well as other rocky birds such as red-billed and yellow-billed choughs, Egyptian vultures, peregrine falcons and golden eagles. These birds frequently seek their food in the wide grasslands and heathlands of the Sierra de Árcena, where species such as the Dartford warbler or the Rock bunting also live.
Forests of holm oaks, gall oaks, beeches and, above all, large masses of Scots pine cover the mountain slopes and in them nest various forest birds of prey such as the short-toed snake eagle, the goshawk or the European bee-eater. The countryside at the bottom of the valley is home to a diverse community of passerines. Through it runs the Purón river, which on its way out of the valley towards the lands of Burgos is boxed in a picturesque gorge, habitat of the dipper.
In the park house there is a free binoculars lending service.
There are several ornithological itineraries ideal for birdwatching:
Puron Path
Round trip itinerary of 11.8 km and 280 meters of positive slope, well signposted, that from Lalastra takes us to the spectacular gorge of the Purón river.
Track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-observacion-de-aves/valderejo-puron-ibilbidea-senda-puron-76121712
Hermitage San Lorenzo
Iinerary that starting from Lalastra allows us to ascend to the watchtower that constitutes in itself the hermitage of San Lorenzo. Above it, the rocky massif of Vallegrull is where most of the griffon vultures of the area nest.
On the other side of the valley is Lerón where the only pair of Egyptian Vultures in the valley nest. In total almost 7 km and 280 meters of positive slope in a circular route.
Track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-observacion-de-aves/valderejo-san-lorentzo-ermita-ermita-san-lorenzo-76121262