Information
The only criticism that can be made of John Muddemans site guide (A Birdwatching Guide to Extremadura ) (Amazon Ref click here) is that there is no index and on occasions it is difficult to ascertain the best sites for some species as a result. The references to site numbers below are to the Muddeman guide. We had limited time and as a result, we concentrated on the best sites for particular targets. More general time in the field in a number of areas would almost certainly have resulted in more chance sightings of some of the species. The other relevant main guides used were the Helm series Where to Watch Birds in Southern Spain (for Monfrague, Amazon Ref click here) and Where to Watch Birds in North and East Spain (for Sierra de Gredos, Amazon ref. click here).
There are a wealth of reports which cover this area available on the Internet and particular help was received from reports by Guy Langan (26.03.04-10.04.04), Tom Goossens (18.05.04-25.05.04) and Nigel Voaden (16.04.05-22.04.05).
We formed the view that of the specialities Spanish Imperial Eagle and Eagle Owl would be best at the Portilla del Tietar nest sites (which we knew had been occupied in 2005 and proved to be occupied again in 2006); the bustards would be easiest at Belen Steppes but the sandgrouse probably in the steppes around Santa Marta de Magasca; Black-shouldered Kite at the site near Monroy; Citril Finch at Sierra de Gredos; and Azure-winged Magpie would be common which indeed it proved to be with our first from the car on the main NVE90 on the first morning.
Sites
11th March 2006 we arrived at around 9.30pm Spanish time and excelled with the arrangements by securing the hire car swiftly and having something to eat at the airport. Arrangements then hiccupped with a diversion through the heavy traffic of central Madrid on a Saturday night after we inadvertently came off the ring road and headed into the city centre (The driver thanked the Navigator.. lots of times!!!!). A circuitous route got us to our hotel for the first night a basic affair next to the NVE90 south-west of Madrid at Mostoles for 12.30pm. It was better inside the gated compound notwithstanding the expert identification of American Cockroach by one of our number in his bedroom rather than with the groups of youths in the building site outside.
12th March 2006 after the overnight stay at Mostoles, we left (in the dark) at about 6.30am to the sounds of a singing Blackbird and Crested Lark. We stopped at a roadside services near Navalmoral and then travelled to Embalse de la Arroyocampo (Q1); and from there we travelled to Monfrague (Site 4 and CC7 in Helm) where we spent the balance of the day with a lunchtime stop of Chorizo floating in grease at the bar near the visitors centre at Villareal de san Carlo. The visitors centre confirmed that the Eagle Owl and Spanish Imperial Eagle nest sites at Portillo del Tietar were occupied this year. We travelled back towards Trujillo shortly before dusk with Purple Swamphen, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonellis Eagle, all three vultures, Thekla Lark, Azure-winged Magpie and Rock Bunting safely seen. A pizzeria in Trujillo provided the evening meal and we then travelled to our excellent accommodation at Finca Santa Marta (accommodation website click here) about 11 km east along the EX208 from Trujillo. The plan was to tackle the steppes the next day. The day ended with 81 species recorded.
Our accommodation - Finca Santa Marta, highly recommended
Vulture and Eagle Watching, mind the edge!
13th March 2006 an early morning walk around the spacious and luxurious accommodation before breakfast at 8.00am before setting off via Trujillo in search of steppe species. We searched the sites around Santa Marta de Magasca (site 10) before travelling to the Black-shouldered Kite site (site 11.10) near Monroy. We travelled back to Trujillo via a late afternoon stop in a bar in Monroy and on to the Belen steppes (site 12) until dusk. The evening meal at our accommodation was very worthwhile. The day yielded the majority of our remaining target species with both bustards, both sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Lesser Kestrel and Black-shouldered Kite the highlights. The remaining main targets had been reduced to Black Wheatear and Rock Sparrow. The day ended with Scops Owl as the 105th species with fittingly Great Bustard the 100th for the trip.
14th March 2006 an early morning start to Belen Steppes yielded good views of sizeable flocks of both bustards before returning for breakfast at 8.30am; we then travelled to a good Black Wheatear site at Cabanas del Castillo (site 10.6) before excursions to search the rice fields (site 17.9) and Embalse de la Sierra Brava (site 17.2). An attempt to secure Rock Sparrow at Botija (site 16.5) at dusk failed save for a brief probable sighting but we had secured Black Wheatear and two category C species - Red Avadavat and Common Waxbill. The day ended with 127 species recorded.
15th March 2006 the final morning we again concentrated around the Finca Santa Marta before breakfast at 8.30am. We then travelled back to Madrid via sites in the Sierra de Gredos (site 1 and C500 in Helm). The highlights were catching up with Rock Sparrow at our accommodation and Citril Finch in Sierra de Gredos.
Birds
1. Little Grebe several sightings on roadside pools.
2. Great Crested Grebe single sighting of at least 20 birds at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
3. Black-necked Grebe single sighting of at least three birds at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
4. Cormorant a reasonably common species with several groups of around 20 seen at dawn and dusk flying to and from roost sites.
5. Cattle Egret a surprisingly uncommon species but groups of up to 20 around Trujillo.
6. Little Egret again a surprisingly uncommon species but seen in small numbers.
7. Grey Heron scattered sightings.
8. Black Stork three sightings in Monfrague on 12.03.06 at least two at Pena Falcon both perched and in flight from Castillo de Monfrague and the pull-in; two in flight at Mirador de la Tajadilla; and a single feeding alongside the rio de Tietar at Portillo de la Tietar. Not seen away from Monfrague.
9. White Stork absolutely everywhere.
10. Wigeon a single sighting of a pair at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
11. Gadwall a few sightings on roadside pools.
12. Mallard as expected, the commonest duck on roadside pools and ditches.
13. Pintail two males seen at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
14. Shoveler seen from a roadside pool on 12.03.06 from the NVE90 and at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
15. Black-shouldered Kite two adults seen displaying and chasing each other at Muddeman site 11.10 on 13.03.06.
16. Black Kite scattered sightings.
17. Red Kite still quite common presumably a number had not yet left for their summer quarters.
18. Egyptian Vulture seen each day with probably up to 10 in Monfrague.
19. Griffon Vulture the commonest vulture. Hundreds seen. If you scanned, you would find it.
20. Black Vulture seen each day particularly in Monfrague and the steppes.
21. Short-toed Eagle surprisingly common for the early date (in a late spring) with perhaps five pairs seen.
22. Marsh Harrier the only harrier species seen. Seen at the rice fields and at Embalse de Aroyocampo.
23. Sparrowhawk a single female seen near Canamero on 14.03.06.
24. Goshawk single male displaying and circling over the pines at Parador Nacional de Gredos on 15.03.06.
25. Buzzard a few seen mainly on the steppes.
26. Spanish Imperial Eagle single adult seen at the nest site at Portilla de la Tietar on 12.03.06. The nest is at the top of a large oak. The birds are normally out of view from the hide at the viewpoint. However, approximately 300 to 400 yards further to the east along the road there is a high stile over the roadside fence and from here the nest can be viewed from the south bank of the river. The nest is situated to the very bottom right of a large scree slope as you view back left to the main rock face.
27. Golden Eagle two sightings. One perched high at the top of Pena Falcon from Castillo de Monfrague on 12.03.06 and another soaring above the cliff face at Cabanas de Castillo on 14.03.06.
28. Bonellis Eagle two sightings. A single seen briefly from the pull in at Pena Falcon of a bird flying north over the Castillo de Monfrague and a single soaring over the picnic site at Mirador de la Tajadilla on 12.03.06.
29. Lesser Kestrel seen around Trujillo and Monroy in good numbers (10+) and scattered around the steppes.
30. Kestrel a few seen at scattered locations.
31. Peregrine single sighting of a presumed female seen distantly around the top of Pena Falcon from Castillo de Monfrague on 12.03.06.
32. Red-legged Partridge fairly common.
33. Grey Partridge the oddest sighting of the trip was a single from the road on the way to Cabanas del Castillo on 14.03.06. It had a relatively rufous head and nape and was considered by a local guide with whom we discussed the sighting most likely a hunters release.
34. Moorhen fairly common.
35. Purple Swamphen single sighting of at least 10 adults on both sides of the northern end of the causeway at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06.
36. Coot seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo and Embalse de la Sierra Brava.
37. Crane the first sighting was in flight from the NVE90 on the first morning but otherwise only a single seen in flight on the steppes at Santa Marta de Magasca and at ricefields alongside the EX116 on 14.03.06.
38. Little Bustard first seen around the Santa Marta de Magasca sites with a flock of 6 and a flock of 50 near site 10.1 and at the Belen steppes with two seen well at site 12 on 13.03.06. The next morning at dawn a magnificent flock of 70 at the same site.
39. Great Bustard again first seen around the Santa Marta de Magasca sites with groups of 4 and 3 and two singles near sites 10.5 to 10.9 and at the Belen steppes with groups of 11, 4 and a single male seen well at site 12 on 13.03.06. The next morning at dawn a magnificent flock of 40 at the same site with a number of displaying males.
40. Avocet three seen at the ricefields on 14.03.06.
41. Black-winged Stilt a single sighting of two distantly at Embalse de Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
42. Little Ringed Plover a few seen at roadside pools and rivers.
43. Golden Plover a few flocks on the steppes.
44. Lapwing a few flocks on the steppes.
45. Snipe seen on a roadside pool at the Belen steppes on 14.03.06.
46. Dunlin four seen at Embalse de Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
47. Black-tailed Godwit the commonest wader with sightings at the ricefields and Embalse de Sierra Brava on 14.03.06 with three sizeable flocks.
48. Greenshank a single heard at Embalse de la Sierra Brava on 14.03.06.
49. Ruff at least four on roadside pools at ricefields alongside the EX116.
50. Green Sandpiper - a few seen at roadside pools and rivers.
51. Common Sandpiper - a few seen at roadside pools and rivers.
52. Black-headed Gull scattered sightings with some groups around the ricefields and scattered pools.
53. Lesser Black-backed Gull scattered sightings.
54. Black-bellied Sandgrouse only seen at the steppes around Santa Marta de Magasca with scattered sightings around sites 10.1 and 10.5 to 10.8 including a group of around 20 at site 10.1 on 13.03.06.
55. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse seen at the steppes around Santa Marta de Magasca and also at Belen steppes with the largest group around 30 near site 10.6.
56. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon scattered sightings. No real sign of any pure blood not even in Monfrague or around the higher areas at Cabanas del Castillo.
57. Woodpigeon scattered sightings.
58. Collared Dove scattered sightings.
59. Great Spotted Cuckoo refreshingly widespread. Seen well on the steppes at 10.1 and generally and at Belen steppes (site 12). Also seen occasionally from the car en route.
60. Cuckoo a single seen on the last afternoon from the car approaching Madrid.
61. Scops Owl heard on two evenings at Finca Santa Marta.
62. Eagle Owl single adult seen at the nest site at Portilla de la Tietar on 12.03.06. The nest is very difficult to see. It is best viewed from approximately 75 yards back west along the road. If you view back across the river to the rocky crag to your right, there is a pinnacle on the rock face which on its left hand side has a small cave about 10 foot from the top. The female sits unobtrusively on the nest in this cave surrounded by a mostly dead bush.
63. Little Owl heard at Finca Santa Marta and a few other sightings.
64. Pallid Swift seen in Trujillo en route on 13.03.06 both in the morning and evening.
65. Swift a few scattered sightings.
66. Alpine Swift a single sighting of at least two birds in Monfrague at Fuente del Frances on 12.03.06 and seen again at Cabanas del Castillo on 14.03.06.
67. Hoopoe - refreshingly widespread. Seen well on the steppes and around Finca Santa Marta.
68. Green Woodpecker a single bird seen and heard at Parador Nacional de Gredos on 15.03.06.
69. Great Spotted Woodpecker a few scattered sightings.
70. Wryneck a single sighting on the last morning in a dead roadside tree near Cuevas del Valle on 14.03.06.
71. Calandra Lark common on the steppes but not often seen well without effort. Probably best seen well by scanning fields when driving relatively slowly around tracks. Their calls became as familiar as the jangling of the Corn Buntings.
72. Short-toed Lark a single sighting of at least three birds near site 10.1 on 13.03.06.
73. Crested Lark absolutely everywhere.
74. Thekla Lark we only studied this species on a few occasions. The first was at Arroyo de la Vid at the southern entrance to Monfrague on 12.03.06; the next was on the steppes near sites 10.1 and 10.7 on 13.03.06; and the last was at site 11.8 on 13.03.06. However, in the right habitat and with perseverance on birds which you initially suspected showed the right characters, they proved relatively common.
75. Woodlark a few scattered sightings.
76. Skylark three flew overhead at Belen steppes on 13.03.06 in the evening.
77. Crag Martin everywhere in the right habitat and sometimes in the wrong habitat as well presumably birds that were still wintering. Indeed first seen at a roadside stop near Navalmoral on the first morning.
78. Barn Swallow common.
79. Red-rumped Swallow scattered and widespread.
80. House Martin common.
81. Meadow Pipit scattered sightings.
82. Water Pipit seen at the ricefields on 14.03.06.
83. Grey Wagtail a few scattered sightings.
84. White Wagtail relatively common.
85. Wren a few scattered sightings.
86. Dunnock only seen at altitude at Sierra de Gredos but there relatively common and to our disappointment in dipping Alpine Accentor.
87. Robin relatively common.
88. Black Redstart common and seen at scattered localities. First seen at a roadside stop on the first morning near Navalmoral. Common at altitude at Sierra de Gredos on 14.03.06.
89. Stonechat a surprise was exactly how widespread this species proved to be including some startlingly white-rumped individuals.
90. Wheatear a sure sign of the late spring was the fact that we only saw one of this species. An adult male on the Belen Steppes on the morning of 14.03.06.
91. Black Wheatear a single sighting of a singing male at Cabanas del Castillo. The crags directly behind the old church are the best location but it was first located on a rooftop in the town.
92. Blue Rock Thrush common in the right habitat with good numbers in Monfrague and at Cabanas del Castillo notable.
93. Blackbird common.
94. Song Thrush a few scattered sightings.
95. Mistle Thrush a few scattered sightings.
96. Cettis Warbler heard at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06 and at ricefields alongside the EX116 on 14.03.06.
97. Zitting Cisticola heard at a couple of locations first at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06.
98. Savis Warbler a single bird heard at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06.
99. Sedge Warbler - a single bird seen and heard at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06.
100. Subalpine Warbler a single seen briefly by the roadside near Cabanas del Castillo.
101. Sardinian Warbler reasonably common more often heard than seen.
102. Blackcap seen in very large numbers in the Finca de Santa Marta but otherwise not in large number.
103. Chiffchaff no Iberian seen but reasonable numbers of Common Chiffchaff with occasional song.
104. Goldcrest only recorded at Sierra de Gredos.
105. Firecrest seen well near the view point at Portilla del Tietar on 12.03.06 and briefly near Cabanas del Castillo and at Parador Nacional de Gredos.
106. Long-tailed Tit scattered sightings.
107. Bearded Tit a single male seen and heard well at the northern end of the causeway at Embalse de Arroyocampo on 12.03.06.
108. Coal Tit only seen at Sierra de Gredos.
109. Blue Tit relatively common.
110. Great Tit relatively common.
111. Short-toed Treecreeper two sightings at Cabanas del Castillo on 14.03.06 and at the Parador in the Sierra de Gredos on 15.03.06.
112. Nuthatch heard near Cabanas del Castillo.
113. Southern Grey Shrike reasonably common in the steppes and scattered sightings at other times.
114. Woodchat Shrike a single male seen very well on the steppes near Santa Marta de Magasca (10.5).
115. Jay scattered sightings.
116. Azure-winged Magpie a very common bird in the right habitat.
117. Magpie reasonably common.
118. Jackdaw reasonably common.
119. Carrion Crow only seen on the last day at Sierra de Gredos.
120. Raven scattered sightings.
121. Spotless Starling a common species. No effort was made to locate any lingering wintering common cousins.
122. House Sparrow a common species commoner than Spanish Sparrow.
123. Spanish Sparrow seen in good numbers on a number of occasions especially on the steppes.
124. Rock Sparrow a tricky species which was only finally nailed on the last morning in the vineyard at Finca Santa Marta with at least three present.
125. Red Avadavat a single definite sighting at ricefields alongside the EX116 on 14.03.06. Several other small birds flitting around at this site were either this or the species below.
126. Common Waxbill a single definite sighting at ricefields alongside the EX116 on 14.03.06.
127. Chaffinch a common species.
128. Brambling around 10 seen in the Sierra de Gredos.
129. Serin a common species with the first sighting being two flushed from a weedy patch at the roadside services on the first morning. Their frenzied and jumbled song could be heard at most locations with some vegetation.
130. Greenfinch scattered sightings.
131. Goldfinch together with the species below, the commonest finch.
132. Linnet relatively common.
133. Siskin seen at altitude in the Sierra de Gredos on the last day and also a group near Canamero on 14.03.06.
134. Citril Finch sightings of at least three including a singing male at Parador Nacional de Gredos on the two occasions when we stopped on 15.03.06.
135. Hawfinch seen in flight at Castillo de Monfrague.
136. Crossbill two sightings of small numbers at both stops by woodland in the Sierra de Gredos.
137. Cirl Bunting heard at Monfrague and a brief sighting from the car en route to Cabanas del Castillo.
138. Rock Bunting a frustrating species to begin with as a result of a number heard at various sites in Monfrague without views. The species finally gave itself up in grand style at Portilla de la Tietar with a single showing exceptionally well by the side of the road. If you hear a thin seep call, look for birds grubbing around on the deck. Good numbers were seen at Cabanas del Castillo and Sierra de Gredos.
139. Corn Bunting a very common species of open countryside.
140. Reed Bunting a single seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo on the first day.
Butterflies
1. Large Tortoiseshell
2. Cleopatra
3. Nettle-tree
4. Provence Hairstreak
5. Western Dappled White
6. Red Admiral
7. Small Tortoiseshell
8. Southern Festoon
9. Holly Blue
10. Green-striped White
11. Peacock
12. Small White
Mammals
1. Iberian Hare
2. Red Fox
3. Common Rabbit
4. Iberian Ibex at least 15 seen at Sierra de Gredos.
Paul Chapman, Richard Hunt, James Payne, Howard Taffs and Jason Williams