Dates: Monday 14th-Sunday 20th May 2012.

 

Tour target: Drawing and painting of nature, both landscapes and wildlife (mainly waterfowl and birds of prey) at the Doñana National Park and its surroundings.

 

Introduction:

 Doñana is one of the great nature sanctuaries of the European continent, a vast plain of swamps, pine forests and sand dunes surrounded by the Guadalquivir River to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the South, a magical setting where life abounds in every corner. In this tour, we invite you to enjoy Doñana through in an unhurried and sensual tour, in the company of people who share your same passion for art, drawing and painting in direct contact with nature, letting the inspiration flow according to the spontaneity of the moment. Thus, our notebooks will reflect the marsh landscape of grasslands flooded by sheets of calm waters, with quick notes of Glossy Ibis and herons feeding among a myriad of ducks, sketches of Purples Gallinules defined by red and purple washes, and skeins of flamingos crossing the sky at dusk.

We finish everyday sharing our favourite experiences, exchanging ideas and reviewing our wildlife encounters. Moreover, at the end of this journey by the "southern marshes" we will have a full notebook of memories and notes of each and every one of the most significant places from Doñana. This will not just include the heart of the National Park which is overlooked by tourists, but also the many quiet corners that we know so well which we will take you to, which establish the real soul of the Marsh. 

 

Meeting point: Seville airport. Contact us to discuss other possibilities.

 

Departure point: Seville airport. Other options can be discussed.

 

Program:

 

Day 1 (May 14th)

Pick-up at Seville airport and move to the village of El Rocío, where we will show you to your accommodation. After a "welcoming wine” there will be time for a first acquaintance with the marsh close to El Rocío, to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this fabulous place in the evening light.

 

Day 2 (May 15th)

A day to draw and paint in areas of marshland.

 

Day 3 (May 16th)

In the morning we will visit a White Stork colony, where we will have no trouble finding inspiration. The day is completed with an evening of painting at Isla Mayor-Cantarita.

 

Day 4 (May 17th)

The third day of open-air painting will be at the endless beaches of Donana, where the water and dune front, the old watchtowers with their peregrine falcons on the top, and the contrast between the deep blue sea and the white sand will be the main character of our work.

 

Day 5 (May 18th)

Trip to the Odiel marshes, where we can paint in different areas depending on the tides, moving between the resting and feeding areas of the abundant wading birds, between the beach and the dam.

Day 6 (May 19th)

A visit to the heart of Doñana National Park in the area known as Marisma del Rey. The trip includes a breakfast at the marshes at dawn and a lunch on location at midday.

 

Day 7 (May 20th)

Transfer to Seville and farewell.

 

 

General aspects

Some of the more interesting birds we will watch:

Night Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Flamingo, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Red-knobbed Coot, Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin´s Gull, Whiskered Tern, Little Tern. 

 

Weather conditions:

During the spring, the marsh is a very nice place to spend the day even having outdoor lunch. In May, there is a predominance of clear and sunny days with pleasant temperatures at dawn and at dusk (12-18 ºC) but temperatures that may be high at noon (24-30 ºC) but not so hot as they are one month later, near the Summer. The feeling for the Northern European visitor will be a very late spring.

 

Necessary equipment, tips and thoughts:

 -Watching equipment: binoculars and/or terrestrial telescope with tripod (WWS offers the possibility of renting this materials to use during the trip). Camera.

 

-Material for drawing and painting: field notebook, pencils and watercolors. Every participant must bring their own materials according to their preferences and personal tastes and style.

 

-Recommended clothing: comfortable clothes and footwear for trekking. A jacket, a raincoat or lightweight coat is enough for the mornings; for the rest of the day a short-sleeved t-shirt and a sweater is recommended.

 

-Other: it is recommended to use sunscreen and sunhat, so we will work in clear environments, often without coverage of trees or possibility of shelter or shade. It is recommended to include in your baggage a small folding chair. At this time of year the presence of mosquitoes is not predictable yet, but it is worthwhile to include in your suitcase a repellent as prevention at dawn and dusk. It is not necessary to take any special precautions to prevent diseases.

 

If you do not want to carry on your luggage a folding chair but you need one, or if you would like to use an easel for the trip, please check with us the possibility to hire these materials for the days of your trip.

 

Lodging:

Small hotels of familiar and cosy atmosphere located in quiet villages surrounded by nature and protected natural areas. The basic option is a double room with private bathroom. There are communal living areas for everyone to enjoy. If you require an individual room, check for some extra cost.

 

Food:

Price includes all food. Breakfast and dinner in the hotel, with pic-nic lunches. On a few days the majority of the day will be spent in the field (thus avoiding long journeys to get to restaurants from the watching areas). The price also includes all snacks and drinks.

 

Those with special dietary requirements must let us know in advance to be able to organise appropriate menus.

 

Schedules:

Breakfast time is at 7:00 am in May. Moving to working areas takes approximately 30-40 minutes depending on the location. About 13:00 pm we stop to take a slow lunch until 15:00 pm, sitting out the hottest part of the day. This is followed by an afternoon session. We head back to our accommodation at 19:30 pm and dinner at 20:30 pm.

 

Difficulty degree:

Very easy. Painting areas can be reached by car. The tour is open to people of any age, but children must come accompanied by a responsible adult. 

 

Difficulty degree for walking tours:

Very simple routes made on foot.

 

Size of Group:

Up to 8 people. Non artist companions are welcome but please let us know on booking to allow us the  opportunity to organise side events independent from the artists group.

 

Leader/Guide: Francisco Hernández (local biologist and wildlife artist).

 

Single room supplement: 18 €/day.

 

Extensions:

There is a possibility of extending the trip through a tailor-made itinerary. Contact us to discuss possibilities.

 

Flights not included

The price includes a health care and accident insurance.

 

---