Anser Birding 5-9 April 2006 Extremedura trip report

Anser Birding trip to Extremedura 5-9 April 2006

This visit was arranged to take in the best of the displaying steppe birds including bustards, arriving migrants and breeding raptors. The whole area is outstanding, totally unspoilt and only a three hour drive from Madrid.

We all flew conveniently from Bristol to Madrid without a problem and after collecting transport headed off toward Torrejon el Rubio. A few species were noted but we waited until the next morning to really start birding. We had a late meal in the restaurante, relaxed with a drink and retired for the evening.

6 April 2006
After breakfast we headed straight for Monfrague National Park in slightly overcast conditions, the recent rain was not really expected but was actually very welcome later on in the week. Around the spectacular rock pinnacle Penafalcon and the Salto de Gitano we could not note down the variety of birds quickly enough. A few Woodchat Shrike, 4+ Red-rumped Swallow, 40+ Crag Martin, nest building Black Stork in a cave, 100+ Griffon Vulture, 1 Black Vulture, a pair of Rock Bunting, Black Redstarts, 2 pairs of Blue Rock Thrush, 10 Black Kite, numerous Serins and Linnets all entertained us. A flock of Cormorant flew over high.

The Bridge
A spectacular flock of 1000 House Martin hawked below with 3 Alpine Swift and 2 Rock Sparrow for company. Another Rock Bunting sang with plentiful House Sparrows and Serin.

Villareal de San Carlos and surrounds
A Crested Lark was around the restaurante along with many nest building Swallows in action, a pair of Egyptian Vulture and least 3 Black Vulture cruised over a nearby ridge. At one point one of the pharaohs Chickens went low across the road giving us great views. Red-legged Partridge was seen and heard calling, 2 male and 2 female Black-eared Wheatear chased around the boulder strewn slope. As a great comparison one each of the males was of the black and pale throated forms. In addition at least three Woodlark were in song.

The Dam
Our target was Crested Tit here but they only gave brief flight views. The pines held Serins, Short-toed Treecreeper, and a skulking Sardinian Warbler. Most impressive was the flock of 40+ Hawfinch that were feeding on blossom. Graham located a Red Kite and Booted Eagle over the southern ridge. A flock of 35+ Bee Eaters were hunting from the roadside with more Woodlark in song. A Short-toed Eagle hovered nearby hunting for snakes.

After lunch at the restaurante we headed off to look over the steppe areas for the afternoon. A stop at one White Stork colony added the usual Spanish Sparrow city underneath the nest structures. Dozens of pairs were found under each nest. Everywhere we went for the next few days we saw White Storks sat on piles of twigs with attendant spugs. Some storks nested on a rock on the ground building towers on which to perch their eggs on top. Other were on poles, some put out especially.

Embalse de Talavan
A productive stop a this little reservoir produced Crag Martin, Coot, Moorhen, Little and Great Crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 1 Zitting Cisticola, 1 Sedge Warbler, 20+ Calandra Lark, a sub adult Spanish Imperial Eagle (good GRC spot) Woodchat, 2 Cattle Egret, 1 Southern Grey Shrike, 1 Bee Eater and 2 Hoopoe. MJM spotted three Otters right next to the bus and they slid and spiralled through the water a drake Garganey nervously watched from beyond.

The Cuartro Lugares Steppe
It is worth pointing out now that the steppe is alive with birdlife. We ended up seeing 1000,s of singing Calandra Lark and Corn Bunting and Spotless Starling, Crested Lark, Hoopoe, Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrike were encountered in every likely spot. It is always a wonderful experience to see and hear so many birds without any other noise.

We located the following birds 4 Great Bustard, 2 Little Bustard, 3+ Short-toed Lark, 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, a total of 18 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.4 Montagu’s Harrier including a melanistic bird (bird of the trip for some), 1 Northern Wheatear, 2 Little-ringed Plover, White Wagtail, Merlin, Black Kite

We stopped on the way back to the hotel to view a Spanish Imperial Eagle nest atop a pylon. One bird was incubating and this brought an excellent birding day to a close. We had a great evening meal with some wonderful wine on Bob (as he had 24 lifers).

Another overcast start to the day and we headed south after breakfast to the southern rice fields. En-route we saw many Azure-winged Magpies, Hoopoe, a Great spotted Cuckoo and at another area of steppe a male Whinchat, a pair of Montagu’s Harrier, 20 Lesser Kestrel, 3 displaying Little Bustard and a total of 34 Great Bustard with two parties of 10 and 18. Both had males engaged in the full foam bath display, a stunning sight. At least two Quail were heard, 100,s of Calandra Lark, 2 Zitting Cisticola and Little Owl were all seen.

Embalse
2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Lesser Kestrel, Coot, 10+ Black-necked Grebe and 30+ Great Crested Grebe. We ate lunch at a nearby restuarante and as ever had some great coffee.

Ricefields
An injured Common Crane had been abandoned by its’ friends who were no doubt back in Northern Europe. At least 5 Southern Grey Shrike, a Great Egret, 6 Little Egret, 2 Cattle Egret, 3 Red Crested Pochard, 3 Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 2 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 2 Zitting Cisticola, 1 Water Rail, 3 Green Sandpiper, 30+ Red Avadavat (introduced Indian species) and 2 Tree Sparrow were seen around the large storage reservoir. A Collared Pratincole flew over and Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers quartered the fields. A minimum of 30 Stonechat also found this area to their liking.
A flock of 50+ Collared Pratincole were found hawking over one particular field and an Egytpian Vulture cruised over.

We spent the lunch and early afternoon in Trujillo to see the famous town and of course it’s Lesser Kestrel colony.

Refreshed we took a very scenic drive through the most amazing dehesa and steppe with not even any pylons around. A view of Trujillo in the distance was impressive and it soon felt like a safari. We were rewarded by three grounded Black Vulture waiting for a ewe to leave its’ dead lamb, Buzzards, Montagu’s Harrier, Mistle Thrush and the usual steppe species. A few European Terrapins were noted in one riverbed.

A return to one pre-visited site at the end of the day produced one of the best half hours of birding possible. A Black-shouldered Kite was found atop a fig tree and it was decided that we should try another track to get closer. As a pair of Booted Eagle displayed above a flock of 20+ Bee Eater hunted insects around the trees. The kite was showing well for everyone as it preened but we were distracted by a pair of Golden Oriole and 2 Great spotted Cuckoo as they chased around the bus. Back at the hotel another great meal and some good wine ended another day.

8 April 2006
We returned to the Cuartro Lugares steppe between Santiago and Hinojas as is was so close to the hotel and rewarding before and almost immediately discovered what was probably the same melanistic Montagu’s Harrier as we had seen previously. A walk along the road, a stop at a vantage point and driving along some farms tracks produced 5 male Little Bustard, 5 Great Bustard, 1000,s of Calandra and Crested Larks with stop at the riverbed to watch Thekla Lark displaying. A flock of 20+ Bee Eater were also present here. We also saw and heard Black-bellied Sandgrouse in groups of 2, 4 and 7. Two Tawny Pipit and 20+ Short-toed Lark were also noted. Griffon Vulture and Black Kite were ever-present we did see Black Vulture on the ground once again.

Monfrague
Another visit to this lovely area surrendered 100,s of Azure Winged Magpie, a pair of Subapline Warbler below the castillo, 2 Black Stork, 10+ Black Vulture, 100 Griffons, 2 Golden Eagle including a pair on the nest, 2 Alpine Swift, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 2 Egyptian Vulture, many Crag Martins, Blue-rock Thrush all seen from the castillo. An ice cream was a welcome bonus as it was very warm.

We visited the Griffon Vulture colony opposite the picnic area where Hawfinches nervously fed on the blossom. The vulture chicks could be seen clearly and a pair of Egyptian Vultures actually flew in and mated. An intimate moment shared through a Leica 27x 62mm scope!

Tietar Cliffs
This site gave another chance to see vultures on the nest with a back drop of Nightingales singing and sometimes showing and bursts of Cetti’s Warbler song. It was a warm afternoon so many birds were quiet.

Arroyo de la Vid
A quick stop as Cirl Bunting was singing but could not be seen. A Grey Wagtail fed on the stream.

An evening visit to search for more species was very productive. We stopped at one of the lay-bys and quickly picked up a male Cirl Bunting, a stunning male Orphean Warbler sang and showed within feet. It continued to show on and off as it sang. Two pairs of Woodchat Shrike were also present with 20 Bee Eater, 2 Red-rumped Swallow, 10+ Crag Martin and a showy Mistle Thrush. MJM heard a Wryneck also. As it got dark we birded from the Salto de Gitano but did have to compete with noisy tourists and perform a PR session for birds. The Eagle Owl called a number of times but did not show. After a patient wait with many species resting up for the night and bats active, Graham found the owl perched up on the rocky ridge giving memorable views. A great end to the day and although late we were able to enjoy a full meal afterwards.

9 April 2006
On the last day it was decided to drive through the Monfrague National park and out the other end to take in the sites and try for some more birds. At Tietar we had a Black Stork flying past at the hide and enjoyed views of Spanish Imperial Eagle on the nest. It even stood up and moved the eggs to give us great views. At least 500 Griffon Vulture, 3+ Nightingale, Blue-rock Thrush and a flock of Long-tailed Tits offered distraction. MJM watched an Eagle Owl fly from the crag and into a cave. A pale phase Booted Eagle soared over which drew the birding to a close. It was time to head off.

Embalse de Arrocampo
This stop was intended to add a few wetland birds to our trip and it did just that. Purple Heron were seen well but the Night Heron was a little distant. A Polecat type animal swam a long way towards then past us before crossing the track. A flock of 30+ Bee Eaters hawked insects. We had another slight distraction of bikini clad girls in waders (not dreaming, it really happened), they were also keen to see what we were watching which turned out to be a singing Savi’s Warbler in full view. A couple of Reed Warbler were also in song. Black-winged Stilts were seen from the bus on roadside pools.

As we had a little time to spare we stopped off at the Rio Alberches to check some likely habitat. At least 10 Blackcap, 3+ Nightingale and 2 Willow Warbler were seen and heard. A party of 5 Griffon Vulture flew over but the highlight was a male Penduline Tit calling and feeding on poplar buds. This was the last bird seen away from the bus or airport and concluded the tour and we flew back to Bristol.

M.J.McGill