i n t e r n a t i o n a l !

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

E X T R E M A D U R A

23-30 March 2002

Leaders:         Darren Rees & Dave Pullan

Guests:          Adrienne & Robin Mace, Margaret Rishbeth, Trevor Mann, Mike Baker, Daphne & David Knight, Barbara & Pat Waddington, Mike Balding, John Ellis, Stan Kenyon

Day 1

Our flight from Gatwick is on time and we land in a sunny Madrid at 6.20am local time.  The Spanish warmth greets us as we disembark.  We pick up the two minibuses and take the three-hour drive south and west chasing the setting sun. 

Our host Henri is at the Finca Santa Marta to greet us with a welcoming drink and meal, while the local Scops Owl greets us, calling from close by. 

Day 2

The pre-breakfast stroll around the grounds reveals the Finca Santa Marta in all its glory. With a clear sky we amble along the tracks between the almond and olive groves noting the common birds that are calling, these include Serin, Corn Bunting, Short-toed Treecreeper, Azure-winged Magpies and Hoopoe.  The track winds its way through the olive groves towards the umbrella pines on the hill and Stan’s keen ears pick up a fluting Woodlark.  We later get great looks at two neatly marked birds on the ground.  We also enjoy fine views of Sardinian Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Serin and Corn Bunting.  There is also a delightful group of Siskin in the top field and we finally get our first views of the handsomely marked Azure-winged Magpies.  Adrianne picks up a Short-toed Treecreeper that has been calling from the Cork Oaks and David finds the Hoopoe that has been tempting us with its ‘Hoo-hoo’ call all morning.  And so to breakfast.

We leave the Finca at 10.15 and drive towards Trujillo, noting the many Corn Buntings that are regularly dotted along the wires and are destined to be a constant feature of the holiday.  We stop at the boulder field to the south of Trujillo for our first scan.  This is our first chance to look at the raptors who are now on the wing.  Kites are dotted around the skyline and we get some passes overhead by both Red and Black Kites, giving good comparison views.  A Harrier drifts by that looks heavy winged and suggests a late Hen Harrier rather than the expected Montagu’s Harrier.  A Southern Grey Shrike is on the wires and a nearby pool attracts Little Grebe, Coot, Black-winged Stilt and Lapwing.  Crested Larks are calling and several Lesser Kestrels are flying around.  There is also an Egyptian Vulture soaring in the blue sky. 

Trujillo square – Ron MacIntyre

We drive through Trujillo noting more White Storks and Lesser Kestrels milling around the old buildings - there will be time for those tomorrow.  We push west of Trujillo, passing first through open country and then through Holm Oak dehesa.  Taking the minor road to Santa Marta de Magasca we drive slowly along, pausing for our first Spanish Sparrows and Great Spotted Cuckoo.  We get out at one corner where the dehesa gives way to scrubby fields and rolling open country.  The air is thick with the song of Calandra and Crested Lark.  Our first male Montagu’s Harrier drifts by giving us excellent views.  The first groups of large vultures drift over and we can pick out Griffon and Black Vultures.  We drive to a slightly raised area where some Holm Oak trees provide a shady place to have lunch, before we park we note a Red-Legged Partridge and nearby Montagu’s Harriers.  We disturb a Little Owl which gives us a brief look as it lands in a nearby tree.  From our lunch spot we are serenaded by Thekla Larks in song flight but the stars of the show are the many Montagu’s Harriers that are displaying with plunging flight over a green cereal field.  David is on fine form finding us a difficult to see Little Bustard in a nearby field.  Other species include Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Black Kite, Red Kite, Raven and a singing Southern Grey Shrike.  The next site visit is the narrow ravine at the Rio Magasca.  Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Hawfinch, Red Kite, Black Kite, Black Vulture and Griffon Vultures are all seen.  As we leave we see our first two Black Storks. 

We travel towards the village of Monroy and stop at a stand of umbrella pines to the north of the village set amongst a mixture of farmland and dehesa.   Dave finds our target bird which is the beautifully marked Black-shouldered Kite.  We walk down the path for a better look and soon see a second bird.  We can even compare the difference between the sexes as they perch alongside each other and we see them mate.  Other species include Red-legged Partridge, Woodchat Shrike, Short-toed Eagle, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Red Kite and our first Booted Eagle.  

And so back to the Finca which is just over an hours drive away, through dehesa and open fields. In one such field Daphne finds a Little Bustard close to the road, it’s been a great first day in the field.  All the birding is not over however as, after our evening meal, we try luring in the Scop’s Owls that are calling quite close to the Finca and with a little bit of coaxing, first by imitation and then by the CD player, we are rewarded with fantastic views of the bird in a large tree overhead.

Day 3 

Another perfect day greets us as we go for our pre-breakfast walk.  Already the Woodlarks are calling and we walk the track to the main road.  The Spotless Starling that has been giving us impressions of Wryneck now throws in Golden Oriole just to keep us on our toes.  A Stonechat sings from his perch and the Short-toed Treecreeper is calling from the twisted olives.  It eventually gives us fine views as it flies to a dead tree.  The Swifts flying around the Stork’s nests are catching the bright light and showing the two-tone wing with pale bases and dark tips, suggesting Pallid Swift.  The tall trees where the Storks are nesting are attracting other birds.  For a short period we see Raven being mobbed by Azure-winged Magpies, Common Kestrel, Spotless Starling, House Sparrows and well marked Rock Sparrows. 

After breakfast we drive north to the village of Belen and beyond, the road takes us through a series of stone-walled fields with small trees either side.  In one damp field there are rich red cattle and a large group of egrets  – Cattle Egrets no less!  We stop and take a good look.  A couple of Sardinian Warblers are nest building and a Great Spotted Cuckoo calls out, Stonechats are singing and displaying and a Pale Booted Eagle joins the raptors overhead.  These include Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Red Kite, Black Vulture and Griffon Vulture.  Other species include Hoopoe and Southern Grey Shrike.  Further along the road the countryside opens to rolling short pasture, and at a rise in the road we scan the panorama, where we are in luck with a female Great Bustard close to the road.  We get good looks at a bird that raises from its crouched position (perhaps a nest) and walks about, seemingly unconcerned.  Further on, Dave finds a large group of nine Great Bustards strutting across the plain and we can clearly see the whiskers on the mature males. 

Our lunch stop is on a slight rise with all around views over a mixture of ploughed cereal and rough pasture fields.  A Southern Grey Shrike is close on the wires and a Short-toed Eagle soars over us to take a look.  Two Fan-tailed Warblers are displaying over the green cereal field, jinking up and down as they fly.  All the while, kites, buzzards and vultures soar around.  After lunch we briefly look at a pool surrounded by dead trees marked with Stork nests, while birds are bill clattering and going to and from their large, untidy nests.  On the water are some Mallard and Little Grebes, with two Teal and two Gadwall.  The sun is at its strongest and it seems a good time to head for Trujillo and the shady cafes in the Plaza Mayor.  We spend an hour and three quarters watching the ‘goings on’ in the delightful medieval town square and even this is birdy with White Storks going to and from the nests on the clock tower and Pallid Swifts chasing around the air.  Most numerous are the groups of Lesser Kestrels, squawking and milling overhead.

After a refreshing break we visit the bullring to get closer views of the Lesser Kestrels, as they nest in the roof of the building and alight frequently, if briefly, on the red tiles.  We get fine views of both male and female birds.  Nearby, the lagoon that we have visited in past years, has been filled in or largely dried up.  There is still a small amount of water though and we do see nest-building Little Grebe, Coot, Black-winged Stilt and Little Ringed Plover.  Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper add to the climbing species list.

We return early to the Finca for some rest – after all, tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Day 4

Breakfast is at 8.30am and we leave at 9.30am, heading north to Monfrague National Park and after an hour or so of driving through extensive dehesa, we see the rocky ridge that marks the southern boundary of Monfrague.  The National Park here is an area of deep gorges, forest scrub and wooded slopes that provide ideal territory for a large number of breeding raptors.  The rivers Torrejon and Tajo carve through a series of wooded ridges and at three of four points have produced breathtaking cliff formations.  As we approach Pena Falcon Rock, which marks the southern entrance to the reserve, we cannot help notice the squadrons of Griffon Vultures in the air.  We park, set up telescopes and watch the scores of birds that wheel around the rock, noting many sat on the skyline like groups of elderly men.  Some birds can be seen on nesting ledges and several of these are feeding fluffy young.  Other vultures are around and Daphne spots two yellow headed Egyptian Vultures on the hillside. 

Black Stork – Dave Kjaer

A couple of Chough bound over and there are some Black Storks gliding around, dangling their red legs.  Small birds are singing with Blue Rock Thrush males claiming their territories from the rocky skyline.  An Iberian Black Redstart is showing well, below where we are parked and even closer are two Rock Buntings that give us delightful views, however, we cannot manage to find the Cirl Bunting that Stan points out singing in the nearby trees.  The small birds are a wonderful addition, but it is the large birds of prey that really catch the eye.  Amongst the milling vultures are lots of Black Kite and we also see two Peregrines soaring above Pena Falcon Rock. 

After an hour or so, we walk the short distance to view the rock at a different angle.  Normally from here we can see Black Storks on their shady nests, tucked into the rocky crevices, but today the nests are empty.  Still we enjoy great views of Crag Martins collecting mud.  Finally we move from Pena Falcon Rock to the nearby river and our lunch spot amongst the trees, where we have more kites overhead, with Great Tit and House Martin.  After lunch we stop at the old bridge and get our closest views of Griffons on the ledge.  There is a dark eagle flying low over the near ridge, which proves to be an adult Golden Eagle.  Adrianne points out a beautiful Short-toed Eagle hovering close by, and then a Bonelli’s Eagle soars in from the left, giving good views of its top and underside with their distinctive pale markings.  There are more Black Storks soaring overhead.

We drive to the unofficial centre of Monfrague Park at Villa Real for a much needed ice-cream stop.  After a brief rest we drive to the northern perimeter of the reserve where a shallow valley has always provided us with good views of Subalpine Warbler.  We park and notice a male singing straight away and we enjoy fine views of it moving back and forth from the bushes below. 

We drive further into the national park and at one roadside spot, where there is extensive replanting of the Holm Oak after clearly large tracks of Eucalyptus, we see a stunning male Black-eared Wheatear.  Further along at a viewpoint where we can scan over the series of gorges, we see more raptors including Buzzard, Short-Toed Eagle, Black and Griffon Vulture, Black and Red Kite.  There are also Cetti’s Warbler and Robin singing as well as Thekla Lark.

Our next viewpoint is at La Bascula, which is a traditional nest site for Spanish Imperial Eagle, all be it a very distant nest site.  As we approach, we notice groups of finches in the Wytch Elms, we get great views of Siskin, Goldfinch and a stunning Hawfinch in the treetops.  Dave has his zoom contact lenses in place and picks up a dark eagle perched in a tree some 2 kilometres away!  Through the high resolution optics we can just make out the pale cap and light shoulders of an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle but although we wait and wait, hoping to get a glimpse of the bird in flight, we can only manage views of other raptors.  These include Black Vulture, Griffon, Short-toed Eagle and Black Kite.  Other birds include Long-tailed Tit, Sardinian Warbler and Dartford Warbler.

So onto our last viewpoint for the day – the cliff face at Portilla del Tietar.  Here another steep rockface provides another ideal site for a group of Griffons and it has been home for a pair of Eagle Owls for a number of years.  We are in luck as there are a group of birdwatchers here already and they have found an Eagle Owl during it’s daytime roost.  We are soon training our telescopes on a beautifully marked owl sat on the cliffs.  Wow!  We enjoy fantastic views of an adult bird, twisting its head this way and that and having the odd scratch.  As the evening progresses, another bird flies across the cliff face, landing close by, and later our original bird flies high onto the skyline giving us wonderful views of its tufted profile. 

It’s a wonderful end to another fantastic day in Monfrague.  And so to our final evening meal at the Monfrague restaurant, but what’s this … there’s only two English language menus … this provides us with endless fun choosing our meals!

Day 5

There is a more relaxing pace to the day after yesterday’s rigours with breakfast at 9.00am, and we leave at 10.00am, bound for the expanse of dehesa near Jaraceijo.  From our raptor viewpoint we can look north over a series of wooded ridges to some cliffs.  There are a few Griffons soaring around and a couple of Black Kites.  The air is full of Thekla Lark song and we watch them perched upon on the Holm Oak, giving display flights and walking on the stony floor.  Some Azure-winged Magpies are darting through the trees and Corn Buntings chip in with their ‘wheezes’.  We start our raptor vigil, as we have on several occasions seen the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle from this very spot.  For over an hour we scan the skies, enjoying views of hovering Short-toed Eagles and Buzzards as well as soaring Griffons and Black Vultures close by.  Black Kite, Red Kite and Kestrel complete the bird of prey list.  Sadly we see no Imperial Eagle, but do enjoy views of a beautiful Woodchat Shrike.

We move onto our lunch spot some 10 kilometres further into the dehesa.  Starting our sandwiches, we are destined for an interrupted picnic as raptors and a dark Eagle are soaring overhead.  Dave yells out “Spanish Imperial Eagle” and everyone reaches for their telescopes, leaving their bread rolls behind.  For the next 30 minutes we watch through telescopes at an adult bird patrolling its territory, and even enjoy the sight of a plunge diving display routine.  We can clearly see, when it approaches nearer to us, the white shoulder patches and leading edges on the wing.  Everyone is thrilled with views of one
of the world’s rarest birds – we can at last finish lunch.

The rest of the afternoon is spent walking a trail along a ridge above the village of Madroñera.  There is a variety of taller Holm Oak trees and small Broom bushes, very attractive for breeding Scrub Warblers.  From where we park we can hear Sardinian Warblers and then enjoy fine views of a smart male and further along Dartford Warblers are singing and one by one, we all get good telescope views.  Other birds include Thekla Lark, Woodlark, Southern Grey Shrike, Magpie, Red Kite, Kestrel, Spanish Sparrow and Corn Bunting. 

And so to the Finca Santa Marta and more relaxation time before our evening meal.  The fridge is stocked with beer and the afternoon tea is ready.

Day 6

Leaving the Finca after breakfast at 9.30am, we drive south, descending from the dehesa to more mixed farming country.  Our destination for today is the relic steppeland of La Sereña, which provides a breeding ground for some of these difficult to see species such as Bustard and Sandgrouse.  The road crosses two major rivers, the Rio Guadiana and the Rio Zujar.  Birds en route include a single flying Great Bustard and a female Marsh Harrier close to the road and we also see our first gulls at one of the embalses, or dams.  These are Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with a single young
Mediterranean Gull.

Our first stop in Sereña is at a pool alongside the road where we have seen migrant waders.  There are Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Snipe present as well as many Swallows, Martins and a few Mallard.  On the ridge to the left is a small group of Little Bustard in a ploughed field.  We stop at various points alongside the road, to scan similar ploughed and rough pasture fields.  One to the left has another group of Little Bustards, this time much closer and another to the right gives us the chance to look at one of the many Calandra Larks that are singing and filling the air with their rich vocabulary.  Close to the road at a farm entrance, are a trio of sandy coloured Short-toed Larks and further along we find our first Great Bustards in a field, there are eight walking around so we set up telescopes.  Mike finds a Little Bustard in the same field giving good size comparisons.  Behind us, vying for attention, is a Fan-tailed Warbler, giving us excellent views of its fan-tail no less.  We drive on noting Northern Wheatear and more groups of Great Bustard before taking a dirt road off to the right to explore the
interior further.  We drive carefully along the track, noting more Great Bustards right and left.  We stop at an elevated position where an old stone barn gives us some shelter from the wind.  It’s an ideal site for lunch and we enjoy views of bustards in the far fields as we eat.  At one point, one male starts to display – wonderful!  Also on a nearby stone coral are two Little Owls.  Other species seen include Black Vulture, Common Swift, Griffon Vulture, Booted Eagle (Pale), Little Bustard and Hoopoe.

Driving back towards the tarmac road, Mike picks up another Little Owl next to the path.  We take another track into the interior and as we drop into a shallow depression, we notice a large group of bustards to the right and left of the track.  Together there are 40+ Great Bustards and we stop for over half and hour to watch the show.  Several males are displaying in the largest group and it attracts other males from the area and, strutting like the aristocrats they are, they move towards the large white powder puffballs of the displaying grand males.  A truly remarkable sight.  Other birds are here too – Dave finds two Stone Curlews in the rocks and at one time we get a flight of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse moving rapidly overhead.  Calandra Larks are everywhere and a Montagu’s Harrier mobs a migrant Osprey.  Black Vulture and Booted Eagle are also seen.

We start to leave La Sereña, noting another Marsh Harrier by the roadside and we retrace our steps.  There’s time to check the wader pool once more and we are in luck – two Collared Pratincoles are flying low over the water back and forth.  There are also Little Ringed Plover and the same group of Little Bustard we saw this morning. 

We drop down from the plateau to the Rio Zujar to explore the thin corridor or riverine habitat.  As we park we notice a wealth of new bird sound.  Common Waxbills are trumpeting and Nightingales are calling.  We get good views of both birds and Robin even gets a photograph of the latter.  Stan is on fine form and notes the slurred call of a Penduline Tit.  With a little coaxing it hops into the bushes close by and we enjoy fine views.  At one point we watch it gather reed mace, possibly nest building material.  There is also a pale grey leaf warbler giving tantalising views, which eventually reveals itself and we add Bonelli’s Warbler to the list.  Other species include Little Egret, Purple Heron, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Serin, Kingfisher.  The final stop is just south of Zorita, where there are 13 Great Bustards in the fields alongside the road.  They even display in the fading evening light and it’s a fitting end to a bustard filled day.

Day 7

Our destination for this morning’s birdwatching is the new wetland adjacent to Almaraz Power Station.  This offers a change of species to the woodland and steppeland birds, and as we park, we immediately notice Purple Heron flying around and Savi’s Warbler reeling.  We walk to where we can view the reed bed and search for the small, brown bird.  There’s a stiff breeze, but incredibly the Savi’s Warbler obliges and we all get best ever views of a bird singing atop the reed stems.  There are other sounds coming for the reed beds too – a Water Rail calls and some peculiar squawks emanate from the right.  We walk and peer into some patches of reeds.  There, in one clearing we can glimpse a large, black, fluffy chick.  It’s even larger, ungainly parent wades by – a Purple Swamp Hen family.  As we watch both adults pick back and forth, giving stunning views of this peculiar bird.  There are also plenty of Purple Herons in the reeds, giving us ample opportunities to watch these elegant birds.  Other species include Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Black and Red Kite, Black and Griffon Vulture, Great Crested Grebe, Yellow Wagtail and Crested Lark. 

From Almaraz we drive 20 minutes to the Sierra Guadalupe, close to the Cabañas del Castillo.  From our lunch spot we can view the surrounding dehesa and rocky ridges, where we see raptors soaring, include Griffon, Egyptian and Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagles and many kites.  We see our first Crested Tit which looks out of place in the Cork Oaks and also see our first Nuthatches hunting for food along the rough Cork Oak trunks.  We walk the path from the village to the viewpoint that looks over the next beautiful valley.  From here we see a female Black Wheatear on the rocks below and from the sheer rock face from the right, two Peregrines fly out and do a circuit over the valley.  Raptors around include Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vulture and Short-toed Eagle, but sadly no Bonelli’s Eagle.  Other species include Sardinian Warbler, Great and Blue Tit, Rock Bunting, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow and Blue Rock Thrush.  When we descend from Cabañas del Castillo, we drive through some more oaks set amongst stony fields.  This is ideal Rock Sparrow habitat and we see one in a tree close to the road.  At the river below, we add a few more new species to the list – Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail and Alpine Swift.  It’s a lovely way to end the week’s birding – and so back to the Finca.

Day 8

Today is our transfer day back to Madrid airport.  The drive to the airport is largely uneventful along the new Extremadura  Autovia and we eventually arrive on time at 12.00pm.  It’s been another great Extremadura week with many highlights for us to recall.  The Bird of the Week goes to the incomparable Great Bustard.  Place of the Trip is Pena Falcon Rock, Monfrague and the Magic Moment is the Great Bustards displaying at La Sereña.

SPECIES LIST

Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Black Stork
White Stork
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Shoveler
Black-shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Red Kite
Egyptian Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Black Vulture
Short-toed Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Golden Eagle
Booted Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
Osprey
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Peregrine
Red-legged Partridge
Water Rail (Heard only)
Moorhen
Purple Gallinule/Swamp Hen
Coot
Little Bustard
Great Bustard
Black-winged Stilt
Stone Curlew
Collared Pratincole
Little Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Snipe
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Feral Rock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Cuckoo
Scop’s Owl
Eagle Owl
Little Owl
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Hoopoe
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Calandra Lark
Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Thekla Lark
Woodlark
Skylark
Sand Martin
Crag Martin
Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Tawny Pipit
Meadow Pipit
‘Spanish’ Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Wren
Robin
Nightingale
Black Redstart
Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Black Wheatear
Blue Rock Thrush
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Cetti's Warbler
Fan-tailed Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Reed Warbler  (Heard only)
Dartford Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Subalpine Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Bonelli’s Warbler
Penduline Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Crested Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Short-toed Treecreeper
Southern Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Jay
Azure-winged Magpie
Magpie
Chough
Jackdaw
Raven
Spotless Starling
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Chaffinch
Serin
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Hawfinch
Cirl Bunting
Rock Bunting
Corn Bunting
Common Waxbill

MAMMALS

Rabbit
Brown Hare
Fox
Bat sp

REPTILES

Moorish Gecko
Green Lizard

BUTTERFLIES

Swallowtail
Cleopatra
Spanish Festoon
Small Copper
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Emperor Moth sp