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?
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