North and South of Trujillo

Day Five

We left at our usual time on Saturday morning 14th May to ensure that we could get a full day in before going home tomorrow morning. It was another fine day with clear skies which did produce more cloud in the afternoon although the early morning temperature was only 8 degrees.

Our main goal was to ensure that we could find Montague's Harriers as neither Trev nor Bryan had seen one so far on this trip although we had seen three on our journey here. So we headed northwards towards the Almonte Valley and the steppe country. We left Trujillo via 208 going north and then taking the CC 128 towards Santa Marta de Magasca. In one location there were derelict buildings either side of the road, which were inundated with White Storks. This is such a good place to watch and look. Co-ordinates: N 39.518643 W 5.914562

Once up into the steppes we were very lucky with amazing views of both flying and perched and male and female Montague's. Co-ordinates: N39.55561 W 5.99401. We had five good sightings of this species. Then right over our heads we had two Short-toed Eagles - such wonderful views of this great eagle. We have photographs all taken in good light and to be uploaded later. Then we had three females and one male Bustard in binocular range, but very good through a scope lens. To add to this we had a flying Spanish Imperial Eagle and a juvenile Egyptian Vulture - both correctly identified through a camera lens by Bryan. We also had our first new bird of the day when we saw two Stone Curlew fly.

Montagues Harrier

Short Toed Eagle

In an attempt to add new birds to our list we headed south of Trujillo on EX 208 and for the wetlands/rice fields south of Zorita and Embalse Sierra Brava. This was not the most successful. of afternoons as there was nothing of note and certainly nothing new in these areas. However we continued to have superb views of Montague's, Lesser Kestels and once again a small flock of Common Waxbills.

Common Waxbills

New birds were two Sand Martins. The area around Zorita is one of the areas where we were very lucky in seeing these marvelous birds - so check it out when passing!

We worked hard and our tally for the day was a total of 57 species. What a trip with excellent companions and friends. Now, what next?

Embalse de Arrocampo Almaraz and Surrounds

Day Four

We were again out before 8am on Friday 13th May and for the first time we had as much blue sky as cloud. After our visit to Monfragüe we guessed it was going to be a more intensive day to be able to add a substantial number of new birds to our overall list.

We decided to go northwards and towards the eastern edge of Parque Natural de Monfragüe. We used the fast A5-E90 to get us birding as soon as possible. We turned off at junction 207 and crossed the Embalse de Arrocampo Almaraz and travelled towards to Serrejón.

Later we went to Saucedilla where we did Ruta Two. There is an information centre in the town and here we found signposted routes that took past several area of water and where hides had been built. They are clearly marked and lead directly from the town itself. The information in Garcia and Patterson seems to be out of date as we could not find the dirt tracks that they mention.

After leaving this particular part of the area we made our way to the other end of the water at Almoraz. The coordinates for the track leading to the water is as follows: N39.82067 - W5.6433.
It is worth going to even in May, but it could be a good location for wintering birds.

Great White Egret

Savi´s Warbler

OUR NEW BIRDS ARE
Common Cuckoo
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall - one female
Great White Egrets - several
Gull-billed Terns
Kingfisher
Lapwing - just one
Little Bittern
Little Tern
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Purple Heron
Purple Swamphen/Gallinule.

We had to work hard for these, but we were surprised by seeing a Kingfisher and very surprised to see our first Marsh Harrier, a female, after three full days of birding. We still have to locate a site for Montague's.

This whole area is full of birdsong. We heard other calls and in the reedy areas Bryan heard Savi's Warbler and un-mistakenly Great Reed Warbler several times. We have heard Turtle Doves on occasions, but not yet seen. Cuckoo had been heard before and today we saw one fly. Great Spotted Cuckoo has yet to be seen even though the area has a very good number of Magpies.

Parque Natural Monfragüe

Day Three

On Thursday 12th May we ventured out at 7.45am to find that the weather forecast was wrong - it had stopped raining and the day looked very promising. On walking to the car we were greeted with a Nightingale and a Great Tit singing with both a Buzzard and a Black Kite circling around.

Our destination for the day was Monfragüe National Park. From Trujillo we took EX 208 which is a direct route and an interesting one. The fields are dotted with Oak and the flowers are out giving some gorgeous colours of yellow and blue. The roadside vegetation is beautiful too with an array of greens and with flowers in bloom. We had come for the birds, but the scenery and the time of year just added to our enjoyment. The areas are huge and the expanse of it takes a little bit of getting used too. The most useful advice that I can give is buy a map Regional Espana 576.

Griffon Vulture

Black Vulture

Spanish Imperial Eagle

We had another great day and with Bryan Thomas's knowledge, sharp eyes and ears we were on a winner. There was three other pairs of eyes and ears too we were able to see many things and we had some great moments.

In the car park at the foot of the castle turning we listened and saw:
Azure-winged Magpie
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Cirl Bunting
Goldfinch
Jay
Nuthatch X2
The above list shows that the birds are all around and they were very tame.

NEW BIRDS
Blackcap
Black- headed Gulls
Black Redstart - both male and female
Black Stork - on nest and flying
Crag Martin
Cirl Bunting
Egyptian Vultures - several sightings flying and perched.
Golden Oriole - heard many times and then two flew across the road
Nuthatch
Peregrine Falcon - flying around a cliff face
Rock Bunting - juvenile & then male showing brilliantly
Robin
Spanish Imperial Eagles - great views in and around the nest site. Could hardly have been better!
Subalpine Warblers - both male and female.
Wren

Plains of Cáceres and Surrounding Areas

Day Two

Wednesday morning on 11th May we left the hotel at 7.45am to make the most of the first part of the day as rain was forecast for the afternoon. We had heavy rain for around twenty minutes and then more heavy rain for all the evening. We arrived back at the hotel at 7.30 after a full days birding and with some new birds for our list and having seen some great places.

We decided to exit Trujillo by EX 351, but only to find the road blocked and so we travelled out along N521. The SatNav told us this did not exist. The new motor way runs almost alongside it and this meant that we could stop anywhere we liked as any other traffic was infrequent. It was a good way to start the day. We then used A58 turning left for La Cumbre on CC572 and then for Ruanes. There we turned right for Botija and headed towards Torremocha. North of here we found a Camino Rural and advertised as the Plains of Cacerés. Here we had a long view of a flying male Great Bustard that landed by two others.

We then headed towards Torreorgaz using CC142 heading towards Embalse de Salor. We passed through many different habitats on roads that sometimes carried only the minimum of traffic. However it is better to find places to park up and at all times keep both eyes on the rear view mirrors when stopped on the road viewing birds. If you follow this route you will see some amazing birds.

Our list of new birds for the day, added to yesterday's 53, is as follows.

Blue Rock-thrush
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Common Waxbill - two
Common Sandpiper
Egyptian Geese
Fan-tailed Warbler
Great Bustards
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Herons - numerous
House Martin
LARKS - great views of Calandra, and comparison views of Crested and Thekla. In the Steppe area we had views of Lesser Short-toed and (Greater) Short-toed. However not yet 100 per cent on the former and the photographs will be checked, but we did hear the call an LST lark.

Calandra Lark

Lesser Short-Toed Lark

Greater Short-Toed Lark

Little-ringed Plover.
Linnet
Nightingale
Pallid Swifts
Woodchat Shrike
Red Kite
Red-legged Partridge
Red-rumpled Swallows
Sardinian Warbler
Short-toes Eagle
Southern Grey Shrike
Spanish Sparrow.

That is 26 new birds for the day with regular sightings throughout the day of many that we saw on day one. Now it is Monfragüe for the day - rain permitting!

San Miguel to Trujillo.

Day One

On Tuesday 9th May we travelled from our home in San Miguel de Salinas, in Alicante Province, to Extremadura. The journey time was estimated at just 6 hours and 23 minutes. We left at 8am and arrived in heavy rain at 3.30pm at Hotel Peru, in Belén which is just outside Trujillo.

Even though we did spot some birds along the route which included White Storks and both female and male Montague's Harriers the weather was not favorable for either the birds are for seeing them.




We had decided to investigate two sites on the way with one at Lagunas de Rudiera. There is a hotel here alongside a large expanse of water. If the weather had been more favourable we could have investigated more. However it could be an excellent spot for wintering wildfowl. We timed the journey to it and it took three hours. We needed to stop and while in the car park we heard a Nightingale singing, a Jay perched nearby and so did a Mistle Thrush. We had intended to stop at Daimiel which is another 30 minutes away, but the weather was so wet we carried on past. I would like to investigate this site as the reference to it in the books is very good.

As soon as we arrived at Hotel Peru we met up with Bryan and Trevor. Unexpectedly our fortunes changed, the rain stopped and we went out.

There is no need to go too far because this is a place to find and watch birds and I can say it lives up to its reputation. At 5.30pm and until 7.30 all four of us Michelle, Bryan, Trevor and I turned left out of the hotel and moved slowly through Belén looking for Spanish Sparrows and headed out easterly and eventually joined up with road CC 23 and completed the circuit back. This is our list for just a short time. Our information comes courtesy of Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain by Garcia and Patterson.

Azure-winged Magpies
Barn Swallows
Bee-eaters - showed very well.
Black-winged Stilt.
Black Vultures - 4/5
Blackbird
Blackcap - male
Booted Eagle - pale morph
Buzzard
Cattle Egret
Collared Doves
Common Crow
Black Kites - at least a dozen or more
Corn Buntings - by the bucket full.
Griffin Vultures
Hobby, male and perched
House Sparrows only - Spanish and Tree for another day.
Pallid Swift
Jackdaws
Kestrel
Raven
Serin
Spotless Starling
Stonechat
Larks - Crested and Calandra (hopefully Thekla and Short-toed later)
Lesser Kestrel - female
Little Egret
Little Grebes - one on a nest
Little Owl
Mallard
White Storks
White Wagtail
Wood Pigeons

We had taken full advantage of the break in the weather and looking at the forecast we will be out by 8am in the morning as there is no rain forecast until the middle of the afternoon and then only a smidgeon or so! What will we see tomorrow?