Black Stork
Extremadura is the secret wilderness of real Spain, and set in the heart of this diverse country we will find huge rolling expanses of prime steppe, miles of cork oak woodland and rugged mountain scenery, brought alive by some of the most spectacular birds in Europe. Birdlife thrives in this beautiful place, and from our base at the stately home that is Hotel Vina las Torres near the historic town of Trujillo, we will see why this area is so good as both an introduction to European birding, and an example of Iberia’s special birds. From flocks of bustards roaming the plains to clouds of raptors in the skies, the diversity here has something for everyone, as we enjoy spring in the Spanish Steppes! We will get time to explore the gardens for Azure-winged Magpie, European Serin, Woodchat Shrike, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Golden Oriole, Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper and European Bee-eater, with hopefully our first calling Scops Owl after dusk! There is no better introduction to the region than the area of steppe at Belen, just a few km from where we are staying. Little Bustard is likely to be seen by the roadside, Calandra Larks display their bat-like flight above the fields and Montagu’s Harrier often sweep across the grasslands. European Bee-eaters are again common and Thekla, Crested and Greater Short-toed Larks are possible. This is a superb location for viewing Great Bustards, often displaying in roadside fields. Heading out from Trujillo, where Lesser Kestrel and Pallid Swift compete for our attention in the skies, we head along the ‘Santa Marta Loop’, one of our favourite sites in Extremadura. Raptors are very common here, and everywhere you look the sky is filled with circling Griffon and Black Vultures, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, kites, and even Golden Eagle is seen here occasionally. Black-eared Wheatear, Tawny Pipit and Cattle Egret can be seen, though the highlight is sure to be a cereal field favoured by Montagu’s Harriers, with regular double figure counts of this most elegant of raptors. The variety of Extremadura comes from the presence of its reservoirs and waterways that help add the wetland species to our list. Savi’s Warblers greet us as they reel from the bulrushes, and Purple Heron and Little Bittern are specialities, often giving stunningly close views. The real stars are the Purple Swamp-hens that often show at very close range, though we have seen Squacco Heron and Eurasian Spoonbill, plus Gull-billed and Whsikered Terns. Monfragüe warrants a days exploration for such specialities as Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black Stork, Egyptian and Black Vultures, Rock Sparrow, Bonelli’s Eagle, Rock Bunting and Eurasian Eagle Owl. This superb National Park offers an unmissable blend of dramatic scenery and stunning birds for a great day in the field. To the south of the region, we will drive to the vast expanses of steppe in the area known as La Serena. Larks include Greater Short-toed, and this is our best chance of Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse which roam these plains in cackling flocks. A small roadside pool is also a favourite of Collared Pratincole, which will hopefully give us a spectacular flying display. Nearby, the rice fields of Madrigalejo often hold a few waders and interesting passerines. Here and along the Rio Zujar, a winding river with lush bank side vegetation, warblers are the target birds. Melodious should be singing from the trees, with Great Reed Warbler croaking from the reeds. Penduline Tit, though elusive, is possible, whilst we have seen Black-crowned Night Heron, Red-crested Pochard, European Honey Buzzard, European Roller and a colony of European Bee-eaters here.
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Introduction
