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!