Extremadura & Andalucia

Flower-rich grassland, Monfrague Natural Park  Pueblo Blanco  Sierra de las Corchuelas

    2-16 June 2001

    Observers: F. Simpson

     

    INTRODUCTION


    A two week birding trip was undertaken to western and south western Spain with the intention of observing the classic Iberian species in the areas of Monfragüe, La Serena, the Jerez Lagoons and Doñana. These included Black-winged Kite, Spanish Imperial Eagle, bustards, sandgrouse White-headed Duck, Crested Coot and Glossy Ibis amongst the many others. My additional interests included wildlife in general and photography. Travel was easy with excellent roads. Temperatures up to 40°C in the shade were a little uncomfortable for the first few days until I acclimatised.


    TRAVEL


    Return flights from London Stansted to Jerez-de-la Frontera with www.buzzaway.com was relatively expensive at £180. Car hire was arranged through www.carhire4less.co.uk with a Renault Clio 1.4 costing £224.


    ACCOMMODATION


    Camped all nights except one (La Serena-slept in the car) at Camping Parque Natural de Monfrague, Camping Lago de Arcos (Arcos de la Frontera) and Camping Rocio Playa (Matalascañas, Doñana).


    LITERATURE, REFERENCES & SITE GUIDES USED


    1.      Muddeman, J. 2000. A Birdwatching Guide to Extremadura. Arlequin Press.
    2.      Garcia, E. & Paterson, A. 1994. Where To Watch Birds in Southern Spain. Helm.
    3.      Rose, L. 1995. Where To Watch Birds in Spain and Portugal. Hamlyn.
    4.      Dunn, R. 1998. Trip Report: Southwestern Spain, April 16-25, 1998. Internet.
    5.      Baptiste, Y. 1998, Trip Report: Extremadura, April 25-May 2, 1998. Internet.
    6.      Reid, I. & Young, S. 1999. Trip Report: Central Spain 13-17 May, 1999. Internet.
    7.      Money, N. 1998. Trip Report: Extremadura, May 15-29, 1998. Internet.
    8.      Svensson, L. et al. 1999. Bird Guide. HarperCollins.
    9.      Simonis, D. et al 2001. Spain. Lonely Planet.
     

    ITINERARY


    Day 01    02/06/01     London > Jerez de la Frontera. Drive north to Monfragüe via Sevilla, and Mérida.
    Day 02    03/06/01     Monfragüe: Puente del Cardenal, Rio Tajo bridge, Peña Falcon, Arroya de la Vid, Ternezuelo,
    Day 03    04/06/01     Monfragüe: Fuente de los Canos, Mirador de la Trajadilla, Tiétar Dam & cliffs, Mirador la Bascula.
    Day 04    05/06/01     Belén Plains, Trujillo town, Camping Monfragüe.
    Day 05    06/06/01     Monfragüe: Castillo de Monfragüe, Sierra de las Corchuelas, Itinerario Amarillo, Fuente Tres Canos.
    Day 06    07/06/01     Embalse de Azutan, Camping Monfragüe.
    Day 07    08/06/01     Valle de Jerte, Camping Monfragüe.
    Day 08    09/06/01     Trujillo, Santa Marta de Magasca, Rio Almonte, Embalse de Talavan, Monroy area, Camping Monfragüe.
    Day 09    10/06/01     Drive south to La Serena via Caceres, Mérida, Llerena and Castuera.
    Day 10    11/06/01     La Serena, drive south to Andalucia, Laguna de Medina, Arcos de la Frontera.
    Day 11    12/06/01     Laguna del Taraje, Sancti Petri, Arcos de la Frontera.
    Day 12    13/06/01     Parque Nacional de Doñana: El Rocio, Matalascañas.
    Day 13    14/06/01     Parque Nacional de Doñana: El Acebuche, El Rocina, El Rocio.
    Day 14    15/06/01     Parque Nacional de Doñana: 50km drive to Centro Cerrado Garrido, Northern Marismas.
    Day 15    16/06/01     Arcos de la Frontera. Flight from Jerez de la Frontera to London Stansted.

     

    THE DIARY


    Saturday 2 June 2001
    Flight: London Stansted - Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia. Drive: Jerez to Monfragüe, Extremadura, via Sevilla, Mérida, Trujillo.

    Blue sky, max. 34.6°C at 1300h in Extremadura.

    JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA AIRPORT
    The birding began before getting off the plane with Cattle Egret (4) feeding in rough grassland along the runway. A very small airport, just walked off the plane up to the building seeing Hoopoe, Black Redstart and several Crested Larks. Left at 1100h in Hertz hire car, Renault Clio 1.4.

    DRIVE FROM JEREZ TO SEVILLA, N-IV
    Collared Pratincoles particularly common along the Guadalquivir flood plain. Bee-eaters and Hoopoes fairly common. Crested Larks numerous along the roadside with well over (100) birds seen. Also noted: Stone Curlew, Cattle Egret, Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Woodchat Shrike, White Stork, Swift, Zitting Cisticola.

     

    AREA DE DESANSO LOS GAVILANES 1307-1415h, 34.60C
    A lay-by & picnic site on the N-630 Sevilla to Mérida. Many Azure-winged Magpies in the surrounding dehesa. Egyptian Vulture overhead. Nightingale and Sardinian Warbler singing from a scrubby hollow. Corn Buntings singing in the dehesa. Bee-eaters (4+) overhead. House Sparrows common. Red-rumped Swallows (4) in the area. Woodchat Shrike hunting from a low branch in a cork oak tree. Turtle Doves singing. Many butterflies in the dry grass verges: Clouded Yellows, Skipper and Pierid species, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Two Azure-winged Magpies down on one of the picnic tables. Flock of three Barn and two Red-rumped Swallows passed by. Blue Tit calling.

    CAMPSA SERVICE STATION
    Crested Larks running around the pumps on the tarmac. Azure-winged Magpies in nearby scrub. House Sparrows common, with some pairs nesting in the illuminated price sign.

    N630/NV: MÉRIDA & TRUJILLO ROADS NORTH
    Black-shouldered Kite - three birds observed from the car driving north through Extremadura. All birds hunting close to the roadside over more open areas of dehesa. At least 47 Black Kites seen. Largest number together was a group of five on the outskirts of the city of Mérida. White Storks nesting in all towns and villages along the way. Many Montagu's Harriers seen in steppe and agricultural areas including cereal fields.

    SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA
    Stopped at this small village south of Trujillo for a rest, getting lost in the narrow streets. Species noted included Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling, Black Kite, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting and House Sparrow.

    PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜE
    Species noted on the edge of the park: Pallid Swift, Crag Martin and Raven. Stopped for a few minutes at Peña Falcon before heading on to the campsite. At least 50 Griffon Vultures and a few Egyptian Vultures in the sky above the car park. Also a Peregrine and numerous Black Kites. Blue Rock Thrush singing.

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    A medium sized campsite around 10km from the park on the C254 to Plasencia. Arrived at 2025h. Quiet and clean and set in miles of gently rolling dehesa habitat. A pair of White Storks with two or three chicks nesting on an artificial platform at the entrance to the campsite. Azure-winged Magpies numerous. One pair nesting in an oak just over the fence from where I pitched the tent. Black Kites occasionally passing overhead and each time several Azure-winged Magpies would fly up and mob them. Feeding parties moving noisily around the campsite taking scraps of food. Relatively tame compared with the birds seen earlier on in the day. House Sparrows numerous. Spotless Starlings fairly common. Turtle Dove singing. Red Kite overhead.
    After 2300h: Sonar blip call of a Scops Owl heard regularly from somewhere in the campsite. European Nightjar 'churring' further away.

     


    Sunday 3rd June 2001
    PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜE

    Blue sky, around 35°C, and no cooling wind!

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Slept until 0900h after the early flight and drive yesterday. Woodlarks displaying from cork oak woodland high above in drifting song flight. Crested and Thekla Larks singing from open meadow like areas in the dehesa. Woodchat Shrike in the crown of an oak near the tent. Cuckoo singing in the distance. Turtle Dove singing. Blue Tit calling. Azure-winged Magpies everywhere. Blackbird, House Sparrow and Black Kite noted.

    DRIVE FROM THE CAMPSITE INTO THE PARQUE
    Species observed from the car: Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Griffon Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.

    VIEW OVER TO PUENTE DEL CARDENAL
    A lookout point over the Tajo gorge. Griffon Vulture (10) in the air and small colony breeding on the cliffs above the road. Red Kite soaring. Another bird hunting along the wooded slopes below the cliffs. Several Chaffinches singing. Blue Rock Thrush singing from the top of scrub above the crags. Crag Martin (7-8), Red-rumped Swallow (3-4), House Martin (5), Linnet (pr) passed by. Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio machaon) common. Also a few Scarce Swallowtails (Iphiclides podalirius). Blue Tit calling. A group of Black Storks (5) drifted slowly into view, circling high over the embalse (reservoir) on thermals then passing directly overhead. All black apart from white breast, flanks and vent and white 'armpits' visible. Red bill and long red protruding legs. Aquila Eagle overhead briefly but not much to specifically identify it but probably a Golden Eagle. Goldfinch (4). Two or three Serins singing. Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Spanish Gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba), False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi), Meadow Brown (Maniola jutina), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus). Walked down the dusty gravel track to the edge of the embalse: Blue Rock Thrush (m). Woodlark (singing m), White Wagtail (1).

    AREA DE DESACANO / RIO TAJO BRIDGE
    Superb close views of a male Sub-alpine Warbler and four Hawfinches in the scrub here. Several Nightingale singing. Blue Tits with broods of young. At least 500 House Martins breeding below the bridge. Birds everywhere and after a few minutes found at least five Alpine Swifts among the masses. Another three Hawfinches passed by giving their electric 'pix' flight call. Feral Rock Dove (c40) with some birds resembling 'pure' or wild Rock Doves. Crag Martin (c10) around the bridge - most higher up feeding and breeding along the ridges. Common Sandpiper calling from the shoreline below the bridge. Raptors observed overhead: Red Kite, Black Kite, Griffon Vulture, and Egyptian Vulture. Butterflies noted along the track through the scrub: Cleopatra, Wall, Large White, Two-tailed Pashas, Holly Blue, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Southern Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Large Tortoiseshell and False Ilex Hairstreak. Three dragonflies noted here: Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens), Large Red Damsefly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) and Small Red Damsefly (Ceriagrion tenellum). Hundreds of House Martin nests under the bridge visible from the track along the edge of the reservoir. White Wagtail (1). Rock B
    unting; two singing mm on steep scrub covered slopes by the edge of the reservoir.  Song a high pitched and clear melody with a distinct change in pitch apparent. Hawfinch (ad + juv) watched close to the abandoned building. Gecko sp. on the track. Continued up the track as it began to climb out of the gorge: Serin, Black Kite, Azure-winged Magpie (pr + b/4), Spotless Starling, Blue Tit, Red Kite and Blackbird all noted.

    PEÑA FALCON
    Around 30 Griffon Vultures soaring, some very low overhead. An adult Black Stork flew out from a nest site low on the cliff face. Another two Black Storks gliding over high above. Peregrine around the crags above the car park. Crag Martins and Red-rumped Swallows fairly common. Watched flying down to rest on the road during quiet periods with no traffic. Blue Rock Thrush singing. Also noted: Jay, Goldfinch, Blackbird and Blue Tit.

    ARROYA DE LA VID
    1730-2041h. Spent some time here watching my first Spanish Sparrows, making some sound recordings on Minidisc before walking upstream. At least four Spanish Sparrows visible - nesting pairs observed from the bridge. Two nests constructed almost entirely of dry grasses built around the intersection of the telegraph wire and the pole. Very cautious about entering the nest as I approached. Typically very vocal like both House and Tree Sparrows. Buzzard overhead. Bee-eaters (4) hawking insects over the river, particularly around a deep pool. Grey Wagtails (pr + juv). Greenfinch (pr). Several Barn Swallow broods perched in riverside scrub around the bridge. Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) - several disturbed from bankside vegetation. Many Iberian Pool Frogs
    (Rana perezi) singing noisily. Woodchat Shrike carrying food to a fledgling in a nearby oak tree. A pair of Rock Sparrows around the second small waterworks bridge upstream. Several pairs of Thekla Lark along the rocky course of the river. Brown Argus, Wall, Clouded Yellow, Common Blue noted. Short-toed Eagle (imm) overhead. Dartford Warbler alarm calling. Several lizards along the dry sandy track including Eyed Lizard (Lacerta lepida) and Large or Spanish Psammodromas (Psammodromus spp.) (8). Family of Azure-winged Magpies. Great Tits with young. Sardinian Warbler, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon and White Wagtail noted. Egyptian Vulture hunting over a nearby cistus scrub covered hillside, followed by a Black Stork circling for a while. Another Woodchat Shrike - uttering its short 'buzz' call from a post. Kingfisher passed just below me landing within a willow overhanging a pool in the river. Began diving frequently. Red Kite overhead. Another Spanish Sparrow nest in some mid-stream scrub. Two more pairs of Bee-eaters further upstream. Booted Eagle (light phase) passed overhead - a much smaller eagle than the Short-toed. A Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) hanging upside down under the bridge. Flock of 20-25 Spanish Sparrows passing back and forth between the telegraph wires and the dehesa. Cuckoo singing. Rock Bunting singing. A pair of Red-rumped Swallows with juveniles in the Barn Swallow flock.  

    DRIVE FROM ARROYA DE LA VID TO CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Black Redstart (2) at the car park for Peña Falcon, Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling, Barn Swallow, Woodlark, Azure-winged Magpie, Corn Bunting, Flock of 20+ Sparrow sp, and several Brown Rabbits.
     
    TERNEZUELO
    An entrance to a 'Coto de Privado' a few km from the campsite. Large flock of Bee-eaters - 33 minimum perched on small pylon wires with birds doing aerial sorties for insects over the dehesa. Scops Owl heard calling from somewhere in the surrounding dehesa. Also singing: Corn Buntings, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon. Hoopoe (1). Barn Swallow (20+), Woodlarks and Crested Larks singing. Red Kite perched on a stump nearby. Hoopoe (pr) on the other side of the road. Spanish Sparrow (20+) feeding in the dried up grassland. Woodchat Shrike (1).

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    0000h: Barn Owl calling close by.

     


    Monday 4th June 2001
    PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜE

    Blue sky, around 35°C. No wind.

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Hoopoe singing almost continually when I woke at 0630h. Corn Buntings singing. Spotless Starlings calling. One Azure-winged Magpie perched briefly on top of the tent. Crested Larks heard. Collared Dove singing from within the campsite.

    DRIVE INTO THE PARQUE
    Booted Eagle (light phase) overhead. Black Kites common. Thekla/Crested Larks, Stonechat, Woodchat Shrike (2), Blue Tit. Black Vulture - two birds overhead about 8 km from the campsite on the Villarreal road. Pulled over and watched from below.

    JUST UP THE ROAD FROM PUENTE DEL CARDENAL  1050-1125h
    A male Blue Rock Thrush with food for young. Another male singing nearby. Swallowtail, Meadow Brown, Skipper sp., Gatekeeper sp., Wall Brown. Rock Bunting (m) with food for young.  Chaffinch singing. Family of Long-tailed Tits (5+ juvs), Rock Bunting (juv), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch singing, Cuckoo singing. Overhead: Griffon Vulture, Black Kite, Crag Martin, House Martin (200+), Red Kite. Short-toed Treecreeper singing, Dartford Warbler calling from dead tree. Linnets overhead, Wood Pigeon singing. A large snake skin lying in a rocky gully. Sub-alpine Warbler singing further up. Spanish Gatekeepers common. Bath White noted.

    VILLAREAL DE SAN CARLOS TO LA BAZAGONA ROAD
    Woodchat Shrike, Blue Tit, Anax or Aeshna sp.

    LAY-BY AT FUENTE DE LOS TRES CANOS  1145-1307h
    Great Spotted Woodpecker calling, Great Tit calling, Thekla Lark and Corn Buntings singing, Chaffinch singing. Woodchat Shrike, Sub-alpine and Sardinian Warblers common. Azure-winged Magpie, Clouded Yellow, Blue Tit, Dartford Warbler with food for young, Woodlark (pr), Great Tit.  Egyptian Vulture overhead. Another Woodchat Shrike. Griffon Vulture (3) high above. Pair of Woodchat shrikes perched in a large dead tree in an area of regenerating eucalyptus plantation. Long-tailed Tit flock (c20 inc. juvs.). Red-legged Partridges calling from regenerating eucalyptus areas. Cleopatra butterfly (m). Nightingale in scrub. Group of Wild Boars on the far bank of the Rio Tajo - 2 adults and 3 piglets foraging on the shoreline.

    MIRADOR DE LA TRAJADILLA  1315-1410h
    Jackdaw (6) in the car park feeding amongst the picnic tables. Egyptian Vulture nest with a large juvenile clearly visible on the cliff face. Many Griffon Vulture nests visible on the cliffs. A Red Kite nest in full view in the canopy of the pine wood below the cliffs - adults feeding two well grown chicks. Goldfinch (7) and Linnet (4) passed by. Pair of Black Kites hunting - one stooped towards the water several times trying to pick something from the surface. Plenty of Chaffinches singing. Crag Martins numerous.

    AREA OF PINES ABOVE THE TIÉTAR DAM  1420-1500h
    Rock Bunting (m). House Martins nesting under the dam. Several Red-rumped Swallows. Jackdaw (3), Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Linnet. Azure-winged Magpies and House Sparrows common. Crested Tit (3-4) observed with Blue and Great Tits close by. Sub-alpine Warbler (pr). Black Kites overhead.  Raven calling. Crag Martin, Swallow and House Martin present.

    MIRADOR LA BASCULA  1510-1545h  38.10C
    Six Black Vultures in view at the one time. Four birds were very high above the ridge but two less than 200m overhead at the lookout point. Griffon Vulture (4) close by for comparison. Also a single Black Kite. Heat haze too strong to see eagle/vulture nests on the crags. Two-tailed Pashas (3+). Azure-winged Magpies. Subalpine Warblers common in the cistus scrub.

    BRIDGE OVER EMBALSE  1635h
    House Martins (100+) nesting under the bridge. Grey Heron fishing on the far bank. Nightingales singing from the scrub. Griffon Vulture circling. Black Kite (2) again watched taking something from the surface of the water. Adult Black Stork circling over the reservoir. Linnet (2) overhead. Masses of fish visible from the bridge - one shoal of 50-60 with some almost two feet in length. Azure-winged Magpie bathing at the water's edge. Two more Griffon Vultures overhead. House Sparrows common and several pairs using old or evicted House Martin nests. Blue Tit noted. Sand Martin (6) present. Sub-alpine Warbler singing. Griffon Vulture (7) soaring together in the distance

    PORTILLA DEL TIÉTAR 1645-1800h
    At least 20 Griffon Vultures on the cliff face here - many with young in the nest. Black Stork's nest approximately half way up where there is a deep cut down the face. Adult present and two small white downy chicks visible at times. Up to (4) Black Kites present.  Blue Rock Thrushes singing on both sides. Blue Rock Thrush (pr + juv) on the small outcrop above the road. Red-rumped Swallow (4), House Martins and Blue Tit noted in the scrub. Group of (4) Griffons perched near the tops, standing with their necks down, heads almost on the ground and eyes closed (? resting or roosting). Some areas of the cliff just a white wash of droppings particularly below the nests. Red-rumped Swallow nest found in the rocky outcrop above the look-out: like an elongated House Martin nest with a long access tunnel ending in typical cup-shaped chamber. Adult Black Stork watched regurgitating food for the chicks. The adults' heads actually a glossy green colour when seen in the sunlight at certain angles. Nightingale and Chaffinch singing from scrub just along the road.

    SMALL STREAM JUST AFTER LEAVING THE PARQUE  1835h
    Species noted: Kingfisher, Bee-eater, Cetti's Warbler, Serin, Cuckoo, Nightingale, Corn Bunting, Barn Swallow, Crested Lark, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Terrapin sp.

    DRIVE FROM PORTILLA DE TIÉTAR
    Species noted: Black-eared Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike, White Storks (many nests), Spanish Sparrow and House Sparrow nesting in the base of the White Stork nests, Serin (4), Black Kite, Zitting Cisticola,  Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Corn Bunting, Greenfinch, Linnet, Azure-winged Magpie.

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE  2140-2215h
    Black Kite, numerous Azure-winged Magpie, Bee-eater (6) overhead, Crested Larks in the dehesa, House Sparrows common, Blackbirds alarm-calling.
    2345h Red-necked Nightjar singing and displaying over the campsite.

      


    Tuesday 5th June 2001
    BELÉN PLAINS/STEPPE, TRUJILLO, RIO ALMONTE, MONFRAGÜE
    Blue sky, around 35°C.

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Short-toed Treecreeper singing in the cork oaks by the tent.

    DRIVE: CAMPSITE TO PLASENCIA
    Woodchat Shrike (pr) and several Black Kites seen.

    ROAD EX 108, PLASENCIA TO NAVAMORAL
    Cuckoo, Short-toed Eagle perched on a pylon, Azure-winged Magpie, Barn Swallow, Pair of Golden Orioles at km 20, Kestrel sp., Spotless Starling, Turtle Dove, Magpie, Crested Lark, Jackdaw, flocks of Sand Martins, and around 12 White Stork nests seen on pylons.

    ROAD N-V, NAVALMORAL TO TRUJILLO
    Large concentration of White Stork nests and a flock of 100+ Cattle Egrets at km 241. Total of 27 Black Kites counted from the car between Plasencia and Trujillo. Another group of c30 Cattle Egrets near Trujillo.

    BELÉN PLAINS / STEPPE  1030h
    No sandgrouse or bustards seen! One Little Bustard heard calling. Montagu's Harriers common. Many Common Magpie broods visible. Numerous Corn Buntings singing. Cuckoos singing. Southern Grey Shrike on stream-side fence. Hoopoes singing. White Storks nesting on most of the pylons and many feeding in the grasslands. Calandra Lark - like a giant Skylark with thick white trailing edge to the wing very conspicuous. Many birds singing and encountered over a wide area. Also good numbers of Short-toed Larks and Crested Larks. Zitting Cisticolas and Great Reed Warblers in well vegetated drainage dykes. Little Owl perched on a stone pillar at farm track entrance. Kestrels common with both Lesser and Common identified here. Several broods of Stonechats. Flock of 43 Cattle Egrets. Black Kites common. Another group of 16 Cattle Egrets found. Six Montagu's Harriers hunting together over one large cereal field.  

    SANTA MARTA DE MAGASCA STEPPE
    A 'mini-tornado' watched from about 250m away! No bustards or sandgrouse - heat haze now too strong. Clouded Yellows common. Hoopoe on dry stone wall. Red Kite (2), Buzzard (1), Wood Pigeon (o/h). White Storks and Black Kites common. Cleopatra noted. Three pairs of Montagu's Harriers hunting over the same large cereal field. Good views from the car of more monty's perched on roadside posts.

    BRIDGE OVER THE RIO TAMUJA 1350-1420h
    Not much water present - probably dry by the month's end. Little Ringed Plover feeding - alarm called as I approached - probably breeding. Pond Terrapins and Marsh Frogs common. Kingfisher, White Wagtail (2 juvs), Black Kite (6) overhead, Azure-winged Magpies, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldfinch. Red-rumped Swallow and House Martin nesting under the bridge. Crag Martins nesting under small stone bridge/walkway. Numerous Sympetrum dragonflies and damselflies. Bee-eater calling. A few Spanish and House Sparrows. Woodchat Shrike.

    DRIVE ON TOWARDS N-521, STOPPED 6-7km FROM THE BRIDGE  1430-1530h
    Two Black-eared Wheatears passed across the road in front of the car - both landing on telegraph poles. Several flocks of Spanish Sparrows. Crested Larks common. No sign of any bustards or sandgrouse. A group of 21 Lesser Kestrels perched on two adjacent pylons flying back and forth across the steppe to hunt. One male perched less than 100 metres away on a pylon. At least 12 Rollers in the area. Red Kite hunting. Several Black Kites present. Two pairs of Montagu's Harriers. Flock of 15 Spanish Sparrows. Skylark, Short-toed and Calandra Larks singing.

    ROAD N-521, TOWARDS TRUJILLO
    Several more pairs of Montagu's Harriers. Lesser Kestrels numerous. White Stork, Raven, Jackdaw (12), Magpie, and Black Kite (6) noted.

    TRUJILLO (TOWN) 1630h  34.30C Lesser Kestrels and White Storks nesting all over the town. Numerous Jackdaws, Swifts and House Sparrows. Also Feral Pigeon. Other raptors flying low over roof tops: Black Kite, Red Kite. Serin and Goldfinch singing. Black Kite mobbed by Jackdaws. Good numbers of Barn and Red-rumped Swallows. Good views of Spotless Starlings. Up to six Lesser Kestrel around the castle. Good area of waste ground - flower-rich - along one area of the castle walls: Swallowtail, Mallow Skipper, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Large White, Meadow Brown, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady and Small White noted.

    ROAD C524 CROSSING THE RIO ALMONTE  1940-2015h
    Brown Rat at the doorway of the abandoned building. Woodchat Shrike perched on the roof. Crested Larks and Corn Buntings singing. White Wagtail (pr + 2 juvs). Fan-tailed Warbler song-flighting above the river. Flock of 10 Goldfinches. Plenty of Marsh Frogs and Pond Terrapins. Cuckoo singing. Jackdaw and Blackbird noted. Two or three pairs of Spotless Starlings. Crag Martins, Barn and Red-rumped. Swallows nesting under the bridge. Another pair of White Wagtails nesting under the bridge. A pair of Bee-eaters hawking insects over the larger pools in the river. Several pairs of House Sparrows - some collecting nest materials. At least one pair of Spanish Sparrows, the male feeding on large seeds of a grass. Azure-winged Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird (singing). A pair of Kingfishers perched on a dead branch on the mid-stream island. Melodious Warbler singing from the scrub/dehesa c1km along the road.

    TRUJILLO TO TORREJON ROAD
    Counted from the car along the roadside: Woodchat Shrike (14), Black Kite (9). Flock of 15 Azure-winged Magpie crossing the road. Also noted: Bee-eater, Magpie, Booted Eagle, Crested Lark, Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting, Stonechat, and Southern Grey Shrike. Larks numerous along the roadside.

    SALTO DEL GIANO / PEÑA FALCON  2100-2150h
    Raven overhead. Black Redstarts (2 singing mm + juv). A relatively tame female around the car lay-by. Egyptian Vulture overhead. Singing male Cirl Bunting in scrub on the slope above the road. Short-toed Treecreeper singing from oaks on the slope above the reservoir, below the road. Flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits passed by. Two to three Blue Rock Thrushes present - one perching on the fence at the car park. Red-rumped Swallows and Crag Martins numerous. Wren singing from scrub on the rocky slope. Temperature at 2315: 22.7°C.   

     


    Wednesday 6th June 2001
    PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜE

    Blue sky, around 35°C.

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Short-toed Treecreeper, 2 singing mm, Hoopoe singing, Azure-winged Magpie, Linnet, Blue Tit, Spotless Starling, Serin, Chaffinch, White Stork, Greenfinch, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow. Adult Azure-winged Magpie feeding a juvenile beside the tent.

    DRIVE INTO THE PARQUE, STOPPING AT VILLAREAL DE SAN CARLOS
    Stopped at the information centre. Outside: Woodchat Shrike, Turtle Dove, Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Two-tailed Pasha butterfly.

    WALK UP TO CASTILLO DE MONFRAGÜE  1130h
    Jay (pr) and Hawfinch (1) at the lower car park next to the road. Cleopatra, Blackbird, Goldfinch (2), House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Meadow Brown, Chaffinches singing, Wall Brown, Family flocks of Azure-winged Magpies, large groups of Long-tailed Tits including many juveniles. Crag Martins and House Martins common towards the top. Griffon Vulture flew in, head on towards the cliff face - rush of wind against the winds very audible. Greenfinch, Great Tit, Spanish Gatekeeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. Wren singing higher up. Black Redstarts nesting inside a large cave (with metal grill at the entrance). Swallowtail, Griffon Vultures (8) soaring in the distance. Cirl Bunting singing, Sub-alpine Warbler, Wren (3-4 singing mm) and Blue Rock Thrushes singing.

    CASTILLO DE MONFRAGÜE 1300-1815h
    Two-tailed Pasha, Swallowtail and Cleopatra butterflies numerous.
    One very territorial Pasha chasing everything that passed including Crag Martins and Red-rumped Swallows. Later landed on my shoulder. Blue Rock Thrush perched on the telecommunications equipment. Linnet (5), Chaffinches common - flycatching off the scrub on the cliff edges. Long-tailed Tits noted even right here at the top. Blue Rock Thrushes (3-4) flycatching  / aerial sorties from the crags. Crag Martin, House Martin, and Red-rumped Swallow passing continuously. Family of Black Redstarts present.  False Ilex Hairstreaks common (photographed). A Two-tailed Pasha observed pursuing a Red-rumped Swallow about 50 metres out from the top of the castle.
    1440h: Black Kite (6), Griffon Vulture (4).
    1500h: Black Kite (12), Griffon Vulture (8).
    1535h: Black Kite (4), Griffon Vulture (17), Egyptian Vulture (1).
    1603h White-rumped Swift - (2) observed from the parapet.
    1635h: Single White-rumped Swift seen again passing with a Common Swift.
    1641h: Egyptian Vulture (1).
    1707h: Griffon Vulture (26)
    1750h: Griffon Vulture (53) most of them high above on in one group
    Good views of a Short-toed Eagle perched on a rock pinnacle. Three Blue Rock Thrushes observed chasing each other. Another view of a single White-rumped Swift passing. Also two to three Common Swifts and a single Alpine Swift. Juvenile Blue Rock Thrushes and Black Redstarts. Black Stork feeding way below at the edge of the reservoir. An Egyptian Vulture flying just above. Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Hawfinch (1) on the walk back down. Distant Cuckoo singing. Azure-winged Magpies coming to feed on scraps of food in the car park.

    ITINERARIO AMARILLO - FUENTE TRES CAÑOS  1940-2205h
    Walked from Villarreal de San Carlos as far as the Mirador.
    At the village: Thekla Lark, Blackbird, Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling. Along the trail: Two large deer sp. on the edge of the reservoir below. Corn Buntings - 8 singing mm, Barn Swallows (74) on wires, House Martins (140+), Blackbird (6), Woodchat Shrike (10), Bath White (1), Griffon Vulture (3), Chaffinch (5), Short-toed Treecreeper - 1 singing m, Blue Tit (4 + b/4), Red-rumped Swallow (2), Crag Martin (2), Jay (1), Brown Argus (3), Meadow Browns - common, Spanish Gatekeepers - common, Goldfinch (4), Alpine Swift (1), Sub-alpine Warbler (1), Nightingale (1), Rock Bunting - 3 singing mm, Black Kite (1), Robin - singing male in poplars at one of the hill arroyos, Black-eared Wheatear (pr + 3 juvs), Red-legged Partridge (1), Sardinian Warbler (1).

    DRIVE BACK TO CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Red-necked Nightjar observed displaying a few kilometres on from Villarreal in the regenerating eucalyptus plantations.  Some very large bat species as well.  

     


    Thursday 7th June 2001
    EMBALSE DE AZUTAN

    Blue sky, around 35°C.

    ROAD EX 108
    Buzzard (1) noted.

    ROAD N-V TOWARDS MADRID
    Magpie and Wood Pigeon noted close to the roadside.

    N-V KM136 TO CALERA Y CHOZAS
    Lesser Kestrel, Clouded Yellow, Lark sp.

    CM-4104
    Cattle Egrets common, Magpies, Montagu's Harrier, Jackdaws, Southern Grey Shrike (Ad + juv), and a flock of (27) Cattle Egrets feeding together.

    EMBALSE DE AZUTAN, CM-4160 FROM CALERA Y CHOZAS
    EL ARCO ENTRANCE / BRIDGE OVER RIO TAJO

    Two to three Province Hairstreak butterflies noted along the dry roadside banking here. Numerous House Martins and Barn Swallows, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Coot (1), Cattle Egret (1), Swallowtails common, Jackdaw (3), Magpie (3). Black Kite (3) over the hillside. Flock of nine Cattle Egrets flying upstream. Another flock of nine Cattle Egrets passed by. Spotless Starling, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit.

    KM 10.1
    Purple Heron overhead. Booted Eagle hunting. Great Reed Warbler singing in waterside vegetation. White Stork (pr) and Spotless Starlings nesting in the abandoned buildings here. Crested Larks in the surrounding farmland. Bee-eaters calling. Cleopatra, Magpie, numerous Swallows and Martins, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Black Kite (1), Cattle Egrets and a flock of 20+ Spotless Starlings.

    KM 12.4
    Cattle Egret (14), Reed Warbler, (2 singing mm), Sardinian Warbler, Mallard (19), Bee-eater (pr) and a Grey Heron on the far bank.

    KM 12.7
    Turtle Dove and Great Reed Warbler singing. Nightingales singing. Bee-eater (4+), Mallard (171), Cattle Egrets (3ads + 1juv), Zitting Cisticola, Goldfinch. Moorhen (1). Penduline Tit - a juvenile bird watched at close range through the 'scope down to 15 metres. Observed feeding in roadside scrub for several minutes. Red-legged Partridge (Ad + 6 or 7 juvs) family creeping along the fence above the road under scrub where the Penduline Tit was feeding. Cetti's Warbler singing. Several Goldfinches in the area. Sand Martin (20+). Night Heron (1) flying around for one to two minutes, disturbing a flock of (c100) Barn Swallows from a reed bed. Stonechat (m) and several calling juveniles. Orphean Warbler observed carrying food for young. Spotless Starling (3) flew by. Purple Swamp-hen standing at the edge of the water in some tall reeds - a Moorhen swam by, dwarfed in comparison with its larger relative. Excellent extended views from above of a Night Heron circling in flight below the bank here. Clouded Yellow, Common Swift (1), Barn Swallow (c200).

    KM 13.1
    Scrub-covered hillside with 12 feet high thistles.
    Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow, Southern Gatekeeper, Spanish Brown Argus, Large White,
    Bath White, Wall Brown, Two-tailed Pasha. Bee-eater (3), Cetti's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Red-legged Partridge, Linnet, Melodious Warbler, Magpie, Goldfinch, Orphean Warbler.

    RIVERINE WOODLAND WHERE THE RIO GERALO MEETS THE EMBALSE
    Cetti's Warbler, 3 singing mm. Nightingale, 4 singing mm. Little Grebe (1), Holly Blue, Hairstreak sp. Large colony of Tree Sparrows breeding. Magpies and House Martins common, Collared Dove singing, Goldfinch, Cattle Egret (2) overhead, Blackbird singing, Common Swift (2+), Song Thrush, Melodious Warbler, House Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker calling, Serins singing, Jays calling. Flock of 100+ Spotless Starlings around the abandoned building. Orphean Warbler observed at close range. Turtle Dove 'purring', Another Orphean Warbler in roadside trees. Tree Sparrows and Serins 'dust-bathing' in a ploughed field. Purple Heron (1) and Cattle Egret (9) overhead. Bee-eater (6+). Was within a few metres from another Purple Heron disturbed from a pool below the bridge. Another or the same Purple Heron overhead a few minutes later. Unidentified Darter and Hawker dragonfly species common. Golden Oriole (f) over the second bridge. Nightingale taking insects at the stream side. Sub-alpine Warbler observed with a huge larva for its young. Long-tailed Tit (4+). Wood Pigeon.

    EMBALSE DE AZUTAN: ALONG THE 'CAMINO GENERAL'
    Cetti's Warbler, 6 singing mm. Reed Warbler, 3 singing mm. Great Reed Warbler, 4 singing mm. Corn Bunting, 2 singing mm. Zitting Cisticola, 2 singing mm. White Stork (1), House Sparrow, Common Swift, Mallard (15), Purple Heron overhead. Tree Sparrows common in embalse-side trees. Flock of 10 Cattle Egrets overhead. Purple Heron (4) noted, Small Skipper or similar species (6), Moorhen (1), Bee-eaters. Marsh Harrier (m) hunting over one of the reedbeds. Clouded Yellow, Large White, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, Small White, Speckled Wood. Flock of 18 Cattle Egrets overhead. Hummingbird Hawk Moths noted. Purple Swamp-Hen (1 ad + 1 small chick). Red Avadavat - flock of 17 foraging along vegetation and reeds along the irrigation channels in farmland here. Alerted by the constant high pitched 'zsi' notes. Several more observed between km 5.0 - 4.7.

    DRIVE BACK TO THE CAMPSITE
    Species noted: Hoopoe, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Azure-winged Magpies, Woodchat Shrike, Red Kite, Black Kite.

     


    Friday 8th June 2001
    VALLE DE JERTE & RESERVA NATURAL GARGANTA DE LOS INFIERNOS

    Blue sky, max 25°C

    CAMPING MONFRAGÜE
    Short-toed Treecreeper singing.

    VALLE DE JERTE
    2KM OFF THE N-110 ON THE PUERTO DE HONDURAS ROAD  0930-1000h

    Much different habitat in mountains here - sessile oak and cherry orchards. Species singing: Bonelli's Warbler, Blackcap, Serin, Wren, Chaffinch, Blackbird. Nuthatch (pr), Grey Wagtail (f), Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Esper's Marbled White, Brown Argus, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Spanish Gatekeeper, Bee-eater, Short-toed Treecreeper. Rock Bunting (f) with food for young.

    7KM FURTHER ON
    1025-1100h. Fantastic views from here.
    Watched a family of Golden Orioles (2 ads + 2 juvs) at close range. Song of the male recorded on minidisc. More singing males all through the woodland here Griffon Vulture and Spotless Starling passed by. Nuthatches common. Several Jays, Blue Tits, Chaffinches and Great Tits. Mistle Thrush (3). Bee-eaters calling. Barn Swallow common. False Ilex Hairstreaks common. Meadow Brown and Cleopatras also common. Many other unidentified species in the rich herb layer of this open woodland. So little time to see everything...

    SOLAR POWER STATION  1110-1205h
    Black-eared Wheatear in the small disused quarry. Clouded Yellow, Marbled White sp. Queen of Spain Fritillaries common - photographed. Several Dark Green Fritillaries. Unidentified moth sp. flying in the millions over the surrounding hillsides. (2-3) Ortolan Buntings singing and displaying. Cuckoo singing. Griffon Vulture overhead. In the oakwoods below: Nuthatches and Golden Orioles singing, Chaffinch, Firecrest singing, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

    KM 16
    A dead Red-necked Nightjar found on the road. Moved it onto a small lay-by and photographed it showing the rufous neck plumage. Brown Argus and Purple-shot Coppers (photographed) common.

    PASS AT PUERTO DE HONDURAS  1240-1640h
    Altitude 1450m. Rocky and stony areas amongst short sub-alpine scrub.
    Stonechats very common in the whin and bracken-rich areas of cover. Many singing Dunnocks, Wrens and Linnets here also. Whitethroats singing and song-flighting. Many Ortolan Buntings singing. Brood of Great Tits observed - surprising at this height as no trees are present apart from short scrubby bushes. Cuckoo singing. Sub-alpine Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Chaffinch, Griffon Vulture (3), Black Kite (1). Raven soaring below. (Rufous-tailed) Rock Thrush - an adult male watched through the 'scope on the largest rocky outcrop just after the pass (on the right-hand side at the 'Valle de Jerte' sign). Also a Rock Bunting and Bee-eater here. An Ortolan Bunting, Cuckoo and Linnet observed perched on a dead tree through the same field of view in the 'scope. Recorded on Minidisc™. singing male Sub-alpine Warbler and more distant: Ortolan Bunting, Cuckoo, Whitethroat, etc. Another Rock Thrush heard in song on the opposite of the valley, sounding superficially like a Blackbird. Hawfinch (2) scoped in an oak (on dead branches) far below. Clouded Yellow, Peacock, Brown Argus, large Fritillary sp., Queen of Spain Fritillary, Small Tortoiseshell. Buzzard mobbing a Griffon Vulture. Kestrel and Raven (2) overhead. Quail calling from the grassy slope behind the car park. Thekla Larks singing higher up. Southern Grey Shrike perched on a massive boulder for around 20 minutes. Spanish Argus butterflies observed.   

    SOLAR POWER STATION  1645h
    Grey Wagtail overhead. Rock Bunting noted. Group of 36 Griffon Vultures soaring on the warm afternoon thermals at various heights above and below. Black Kite (1). Jay calling. Flock of c20 Serins. Azure-winged Magpies lower down in the sessile oak woodland.

    WOODLAND IN THE RESERVA NATURAL GARGANTA DE LOS INFIERNOS
    1715-1910h. Steep-sided slopes and river gorges with dense ash, alder, willow and Pyrenean Oak woodland. Thick growth of lichens and mosses on the trees. Wood Whites common - flying weakly through the understorey grassland of the woodland. Wall, Purple Hairstreak, Small White, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Clouded Yellow, Spanish Gatekeeper, Peacock. Lizards numerous. Damselfly sp., Hornets common, Emperor Dragonflies. Robin, Chaffinch, Blackcap singing, Blackbird, Serin, Blue Tit. Golden Oriole (m) flew over the river in the gully below an observation point. Great Spotted Woodpecker observed. Green Woodpecker calling.

     


    Saturday 9th June 2001
    TRUJILLO, MONROY AREAS / RIO ALMONTE / ENBALSE DE TALABAN

    Overcast, around 21°C, rained most of the day. Only day of the whole trip.

    DRIVE FROM CAMPSITE TO TRUJILLO AREA
    Woodchat Shrike, Raven, Black Kite, Hoopoe (4) over the road, 2km from the campsite, Blackbird, Azure-winged Magpie, Corn Bunting, Griffon Vulture (7) above the Embalse de Torrejon turn-off, Rock Bunting (3), Barn Swallow, Back Redstart, Griffon Vultures (22) above Peña Falcon, Cirl Bunting at Arroya de la Vid, Thekla Larks and Bee-eaters.

    ABANDONED BUILDINGS / STREAM ON THE TRUJILLO TO MONROY ROAD
    TURNOFF C-524 AT KM 3.6.

    White Storks nesting - two nests on top of old/dead palm trees in former grounds/garden. A third nest on the roof of one building. Black Kite (6), Griffon Vulture (1), Buzzard (2). Huge colony of Spanish Sparrows breeding in the larger eucalyptus trees. Probably around 300-400 birds here. Red-rumped Swallows nesting under the old bridge. Goldfinches common - many juveniles, Stonechat (m), Barn Swallow. Grey Wagtail in the stream. Stonechat (f) in bramble scrub. Southern Grey Shrike pursuing a Blackbird (f). Spotless Starlings breeding. A Hoopoe and a Southern Grey Shrike perched together on the wire - the latter then chasing the former away. Cattle Egrets overhead.

    DRIVE TO THE NEXT STOP
    Cattle Egret (21). Southern Grey Shrike (pr).

    STEPPE GRASSLAND AROUND KM 6.4 - 7.1.
    Bee-eater (2) hawking a ploughed field. A Quail calling. Calandra and Crested Larks singing Broods of Stonechats. Many White Storks nesting on an abandoned building. Spanish Sparrows common. Wood Pigeons overhead. Red Kite (1), Lesser Kestrel (2), Black Kite (2), Buzzard (2), Montagu's Harrier (1). Rain! 1200-1310h

    1-2 KM FURTHER ON AT TINY EMBALSE / EUCALYPTUS STAND
    Little Egret (1) feeding in the cover of juncus rushes. Zitting Cisticola displaying. Massive colony of Spanish Sparrows breeding in the eucalyptus stands. Southern Grey Shrikes (2 prs) in the area. Woodchat Shrike (pr). Barn Swallows. Several pairs of Magpies, Mallards with broods of b/10, b/2, b/5. Moorhen (pr). Little Grebe (1ad + 1juv). Spanish Sparrows and Spotless Starlings bathing. Cattle Egret (pr) overhead, Stonechat, the other adult Dabchick, Gadwall (f), Black Kite, Thekla Larks singing.

    STEPPE GRASSLAND 1 KM PAST THE PLACIO DE DONA CATALINA

    White Stork (6), several Black Kites, many larks singing, Quail calling. Another large breeding colony of Spanish Sparrows here - several flocks of 50+ feeding in the cereal fields. Corn Bunting Zitting Cisticola, Common Swift (1), Barn Swallows, Wood Pigeons overhead. Red Kite hunting close by in this relatively tree-less landscape. Common Swift (73) passed through over a period of five to ten minutes. Kestrel sp., Southern Grey Shrike (1), Griffon Vulture (1), Hoopoe calling.
    More rain at 1425h.

    SECTION OF OLD ROAD OFF TO THE RIGHT
    Observations from the car in heavy rain, 19.6°C: Black-eared Wheatear (m) in a large ploughed field. Hundreds of Spanish Sparrows everywhere. Little Owl perched on metal fence at a cattle feeding station on the left. Short-toed and Calandra Larks singing. White Stork overhead. The chatter from the Spanish Sparrow colonies audible at a fair distance. Spotless Starling (3) passed by. Montagu's Harrier hunting in the adjacent field at 1530h. Little Owl still sitting out in the rain 40 mins later when a second bird appeared. Feral Rock Doves overhead.

    DRIVE ON TOWARDS THE SANTA MARTA JUNCTION
    Griffon Vulture (1), Buzzard (3), Southern Grey Shrike (6), Black Kite (1). Lesser Kestrel (4) perched together on a barbed wire fence.

    BRIDGE OVER THE RIO ALMONTE
    From the car (still raining): Blackbird, Jay, Bee-eater, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Spanish Sparrow, Cirl Bunting (singing), Azure-winged Magpie, Chaffinch, White Stork o/h, Barn Swallow, Goldfinch, Rock Bunting (singing), Stonechat, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock and Cirl Buntings both observed on the rocky slopes of the river valley., Thekla Lark (singing), Wren (singing), Common Swift, Serin, White Wagtail, Grey Heron (downstream), Kingfisher diving from a large mid-stream rock, House Martin.

    EMBALSE DE TALAVAN
    Brand new hide looking over the reeds and a quieter area with no anglers.
    Great Crested Grebe (pr + b/3), Coot (pr + b/4), Moorhen (pr + 1), Mallard (3ff + b/4, b/8, b/5) and (18) well grown juveniles or adult birds. Zitting Cisticolas displaying. Stonechat singing. Grey Heron (ad), Stonechat (3+ prs), Gadwall (f + b/3), Raven (2) flying left at 1847h. Little Owl perched on the remains of a dry stone wall on the horizon. A second Little Owl appeared 100 metres to the right. Kingfisher passed at 1849h. Little Grebe display calls heard, probably (2 prs). Corn Bunting, Calandra and Crested Larks singing. Spanish Sparrows passing continuously. Red-rumped Swallows nesting under the road bridge. Brief phrase of song heard from Great Reed Warblers - around 2 singing mm. Two White Stork nests visible: one on a pylon, the other on the roof of an old hut. Black Kite (7) perched on fence posts. Bee-eater (pr), Barn Swallows, Lesser Kestrel (f) flew left at 1903h, White Wagtail (juv), Spotless Starlings, Blackbird, Buzzard (2). Hoopoe flying over the steppe rise on the horizon, then sheltering from the rain in a rock cavity. Lesser Kestrel (4) perched on a small Lesser Kestrel (4) perched on a small pylon. Excellent views of Water Rail in short grass in the marshy area - dragging along a tiny Moorhen chick which it then proceeded to eat!

    1.5 KM EAST AT MONROY JUNCTION FOR CACERES / TORREJON 2000-2030h
    Buzzard (2), Black Kite (1), Kestrel (2), Hoopoe (2), Woodchat Shrike (1), Raven (2). Large colony of White Storks and Spanish Sparrows in the Stone Pines. Flock of 17 Bee-eaters passed overhead. Azure-winged Magpie (10+), Magpie, Thekla Lark, Corn Buntings and Goldfinches singing, Red-rumped Swallow. Finally stopped raining.

     


    Sunday 10th June 2001
    DRIVE SOUTH TO LA SERENA VIA CACERES AND MERIDA

    Blue sky, around 33°C.

    CAMPING MONFRAGUE
    Left Monfrague today after a long sleep in.
    Short-toed Treecreepers singing. Azure-winged Magpies coming down for bread outside the tent. Golden Oriole heard singing near the shower block.

    DRIVE SOUTH VIA CACERES AND MÉRIDA
    (63) Black Kites counted by the roadside between Plasencia and Mérida including twenty birds around a tip on the outskirts of Mérida. Crested Larks very common. N630 Plasencia - Caceres road: Black Stork, Hoopoe, Magpie, Azure-winged Magpie, Red Kite, Spanish Sparrow, Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling, Blackbird, Clouded Yellows, White Storks nesting in Canaveral. Shadow of a Black Kite on the road as it passed over the car when driving through the village. Pallid Swift, House Martins, Common Swift. Colony of c300 Cattle Egrets on an island at Embalse de Alcantara. Lesser Kestrels around the village of Valdesalor.
    km 570: Black Vulture (1) and several Black Kites.
    km 573: White Storks nesting in a ruined castle.
    Aldea del Caño: Red Kite (1)
    km 578.5: White Storks nesting on a pylon.
    km 588: Hoopoe (2).
    km 589: Buzzard (1).
    km 591: Azure-winged Magpies in the village here.
    km 596: Buzzard (2).
    km 597: Azure-winged Magpies.
    km 598.5: Buzzard (1).
    km 600: Azure-winged Magpies.
    km 603: Cattle Egrets.
    km 606 Azure-winged Magpies
    km 608: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 614: White Storks (2).
    Edge of Mérida: around a landfill site - White Stork (31) and Black Kite (20) in the sky.

    ROAD N-432 TO LLERENA
    km 98: Woodchat Shrike (1), Montagu's Harrier (4), Kestrel sp.

    ROAD EX 103 / C-413 TO CASTUERA
    Ravens common.
    km 138: Black-eared Wheatear (1), Raven (3).
    km 136: Red Kite (1), Kestrel sp.
    km 126: White Stork nests at an embalse, Bee-eater (2).
    km 125: Magpie (1), Bee-eater (4).
    km 122.5: Bee-eater (1)
    km 121: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 113.5: Southern Grey Shrike (1).
    km 112.5: Black Kite (1).
    km 112: Woodchat Shrike (1) perched on the 'km 112' sign
    km 111: Southern Grey Shrike (2), Buzzard (1), Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 105.5: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 104.5: Woodchat Shrike (2).
    km 103.5: Little Owl flying across the road.
    km 99: Hoopoe flying across the road.
    km 97.5: Bee-eater (3), Black Kite (1).
    km 95: White Stork (1) feeding in a field here.
    km 93.5: Woodchat Shrike (2).
    km 93: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 92: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 91.5: Turtle Dove (1), Woodchat Shrike (1).

    LA SERENA AREA
    1830h onwards.

    EMBLASE DEL ZUJAR
    Little Egret (1), Red-legged Partridges calling from the rocky slopes, Jackdaw (c30), Thekla Larks singing, Red-rumped Swallows, Spanish Sparrows common.

    ROAD BACK TOWARDS CABEZA DEL BUEY
    Stopped several times to scan the area. Then approximately 5 to 6 km after the Campanario junction  - five very large birds obvious about 80 metres from the roadside: Great Bustard - (5) feeding in short natural grassland. Pulled the car over and rolled down the window (road very quiet, at this time of day anyway) without getting out and took a couple of photographs. They were aware of me by this time and walked away to more then 100 metres distant. All birds were adult males. Also observed here: Montagu's Harrier (2mm), Hoopoe (1), Calandra and Short-toed Larks singing, Southern Grey Shrike (2), Ravens and White Storks passing overhead.
    Drove c1.5 km further on and stopped to scan: Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (4) feeding in short grassland around the cover of some thistle clumps. Whilst watching them, a 'bubbling' call was heard as the other species passed by: Black-bellied Sandgrouse (2). Over the next 20 minutes, more passed by (2) + (1) + (2). One bird landing close by in ploughed field. Little Owl (1), Hoopoe (2), Southern Grey Shrike (2), Collared Pratincole (1), Buzzard (1), Montagu's Harrier (1), Raven (2), Cattle Egrets passing. Flock (? post-breeding) of (41) Calandra Larks flew past, low over the ground. Thekla and Short-toed Larks singing.

    DRIVE TOWARDS CAMPANARIO
    Black-bellied Sandgrouse (2), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (1). Flock of distant unidentified Sandgrouse sp. Little Owl (4), Southern Grey Shrike (6), Montagu's Harrier and Ravens common.

    EMBALSE DEL ZUJAR
    2220h - 0815h. Slept in the car here so that I could be up at dawn to look for steppe species before the heat haze.  Stone Curlews and Little Owl calling from around 0335h, although probably calling through the night while I was asleep. Red-legged Partridge (2) on the road - more calling from the surrounding slopes. Little Owl hunting along the river. Thekla Larks singing. Common Swift (20+), Red-rumped Swallows, House Martin, flocks of Feral Rock Doves overhead, Spanish Sparrows, Moorhen, Raven, Jackdaw, White Stork, Zitting Cisticola.

     


    Monday 11th June 2001
    LA SERENA AND DRIVE SOUTH INTO ANDALUCIA / LAGUNA MEDINA / CAMPING LAGO DE ARCOS

    Blue sky, around 28°C.

    DRIVE ALONG THE ROAD TO CABEZA DEL BUEY AT 20MPH
    Little Bustard (6) right beside the road just metres away from the car. Rolled down the window in an attempt to photograph them but they exploded up into the air like Grey Partridges. All male birds with two of them fully mature males with striking head pattern. The other four being sub-adults. A few kilometres on, four Great Bustards observed flying over the road in slow, low-level flight like giant geese with slow-beating eagle-like wings. Landed about three fields away in agricultural land. Could be heard calling. Sandgrouse sp. in a field opposite but disappeared under cover before identification. Montagu's Harriers and Black Kites common. Large flocks of Spanish Sparrows. Serins singing from isolated groups of a few eucalyptus trees. Little Owl (1), Calandra Larks, Short-toed Larks, Crested Larks, Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Zitting Cisticola (common), Hoopoe (2), Black Kite (12) together. Corn Bunting and Goldfinch common. Cattle Egrets, White Storks and Southern Grey Shrikes all common. Magpie, Buzzard (2), another Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike (3).

    ROAD EX-103  CASTUERA TO LLERENA
    km 94: Southern Grey Shrike (2).
    km 98: Bee-eater (1).Km 99: Southern Grey Shrike (1).
    km 105: Woodchat Shrike (1)
    km 107.7: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 113: Roller (1).
    km 115.5: Azure-winged Magpie (2).
    km 116.5: Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 119: Woodchat Shrike (1), Southern Grey Shrike (1).
    km 121.7: Southern Grey Shrike (1).
    km 126: Bee-eater (1), Woodchat Shrike (1).
    km 127.7: Bee-eater (1).
    km 132: Hoopoe (1), Bee-eater (1).
    km 134: Hoopoe (2), Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike.

    LAGUNA MEDINA, JEREZ, ANDALUCIA
    Noted from the car along roads around Jerez: Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Moroccan Orange Tip.
    1525-1830h. 27.
    2°C. Partly cloudy - some spots of rain. Water level high. A large body of water with restricted viewing along the south shore. Masses of Coots and Black-necked Grebes the most obvious birds present. Had a quick 'scope and straight away and found a Ferruginous Duck and a White-headed Duck - a male less than 100 metres from the shore, swimming through sparse reed cover. Goldfinches numerous, Stonechat common, Crested  Lark singing. Zitting Cisticola - singing mm common with four birds observed together. Singing Reed Warblers and Great Reed Warblers common. Sardinian Warblers in the scrub. Yellow-legged Gull (17). White-headed Duck (4mm), Pochard (8), Ferruginous Duck (2mm). Nightingale, Linnet, Cetti's Warbler with food for young, Little Egret (1), Cattle Egret (5), Gadwall (12), Red-crested Pochard (2mm + 2ff), Montagu's Harrier (m) over an adjacent cereal field. Black-necked Grebe (68), Great Crested Grebe (24), Little Grebe (16). House Sparrows common. Common Swift. Barn Swallow. Little Bittern (m) flying around the rushes at the end of the trail. Got to the end of the track and had searched through the several hundred Common Coots when right at the end of the lagoon: Crested Coot (Red-Knobbed Coot) - (2 ads + 2 juvs) on their own in a quiet corner of the lake! Chicks still very small. Superb views of the adults feeding the young. Three Common Coots nearby for comparison. Turtle Dove singing at the end of the track. On the walk back: Yellow Wagtail (1), Purple Swamp-Hen (ad

    DRIVE TO ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
    Cattle Egret (18), Collared Pratincole, Jackdaw, Barn Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Little Owl perched on an 'S bend' road sign, Crested Lark, Feral Pigeon, Raven (4), Black-eared Wheatear, Red Kite, Kestrel sp., Bee-eater (20+), White Storks, Magpie, Black Kite, Spotless Starling, Southern Grey Shrike.

    CAMPING LAGO DE ARCOS
    Serin, Bee-eater, Blue Tit, Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Spotless Starling. Nightingale singing. Purple Heron overhead. Crested Lark singing.

     


    Tuesday 12th June 2001
    LAGUNA DEL TARAJE / SANCTI PETRI AREA

    Blue sky, around 31°C.

    DRIVE FROM ARCOS
    Cattle Egrets common, Raven, Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Jackdaw, Barn Swallow, White Stork, Black Kite, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Kestrel sp.

    LAGUNA DEL TARAJE 1130-1350h.
    Stonechat (32) counted along the track surrounding the lagoon. Collared Pratincole (1), Cattle Egret (35), Corn Bunting (10), Crested Lark (6), Zitting Cisticola (4), Painted Lady, Small White, Bath White, Barn Swallow (4), Common Swift (2), Woodchat Shrike (juv), House Sparrow (14), Raven (3), Spectacled Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (3), Nightingale (5), Black Kite (1), Sardinian Warbler (1), Red-legged Partridge (b/12), White Stork (1), Yellow-legged Gull (8), Brown Argus (3+), Skipper sp., Hawker sp., Darter sp., Dartford Warbler (1), Swallowtail (1), Linnet (5), Greenfinch (2), Goldfinch (7), Cleopatra (1), Booted Eagle (1). On the lagoon: Coot (2 prs + 4 juvs), Little Grebe (ad + juv), Great Crested Grebe (2 ads + juv), Mallard (2), Marsh Harrier (f) over the reedbed. Sardinian Warbler in Stone Pine wood at the main road. Firecrests singing in the canopy.

    SANCTI PETRI AREA
    1530h. Saltmarsh sheltered by sandbar across a tidal inlet.
    Little Egret (2) in the creeks. Another 10+ in the lagoons. Crested Larks, Goldfinch, Linnet, Barn Swallow, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow and Wall Brown in the dunes. Yellow-legged Gulls common. House Sparrow, Common Swift and Pallid Swift in the ghost town of Sancti Petri. Walked south along the beach on the Costa de la Luz. Fell asleep in the sand dunes. Woke up and disturbed a Little Egret feeding out on the rocks. A Clouded Yellow flew in off the sea (from North Africa?). Common Swift and Barn Swallow passing by. Several Little Terns feeding offshore and around the island. Area of Stone Pines in the dunes: Sardinian Warblers abundant. Numerous nesting House Sparrows. Singing Short-toed Treecreepers (4+). Serins singing. Collared Doves common.

    DRIVE BACK TO ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
    Noted from the car: Crested Lark, Little Egret, Spotless Starling, Bee-eater, House Sparrow, Little Owl, Cattle Egret, Collared Pratincole, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, White Stork, Kestrel/Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Jackdaw and House Martin.

     


    Wednesday 13th June 2001
    DRIVE WEST TO HUELVA REGION & PARQUE NACIONAL DE DOÑANA

    Blue sky, around 38°C.

    DRIVE FROM ARCOS TO DOÑANA
    Little Owl over a sunflower field near Espera. Zitting Cisticola displaying over the same field.
    A 371, km 6.0: Montagu's Harrier hunting over a field of sunflowers.
    N-IV, km 588: Cattle Egrets common.
    N-IV, km 587: Collared Pratincole (2) over the road.
    N-IV, km 584: Collared Pratincole (1) over the road.
    Crested Larks common along the side of the N-IV. Hoopoe near Almonte. Clouded Yellows numerous. Wood Pigeon, Black Kite, Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Kestrel, White Stork, Magpie.

    PARQUE NACIONAL DE COTO DE DOÑANA  

    EL ROCÍO  
    1345-1645h. 3
    7.5°C. Moderate heat haze, fairly strong westerly wind.
    The whole are was more or less covered with water (and birds) compared with my first visit in September 1999. Massed of Greater Flamingos, Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, waders and wildfowl. Flock of 27 Black-tailed Godwits passed by and settled amongst a flock of 200+. Red Crested Pochard (f + b/3). Several more broods seen. Greater Flamingo (401). Spoonbill (114) feeding close to the observation point in the village. Birds running around in the shallows with the end of their bills submerged in shallow water. Grey Heron (min 92) - large proportion were juvenile birds. White Stork (57) - some nesting in the town. Little / Cattle Egrets (112) many feeding around the horses and cattle grazing in the shallows and drier areas. Night Heron (1) flew past. Pochard (b/4). Mallard - many broods present. Black-winged Stilt - several hundred. Whiskered Tern (c200) - three or four fishing just metres away, taking small perch-like fish. Black Kite (c10) mobbed continuously by the terns. Count of 1
    ) in the sky at 1540h and 27 at 1600h. Shoveler (b/5). Greylag Goose (min 4). Large colony of House Martins breeding in the town and feeding over the wetlands. Crested Lark, Hoopoe, Swallow, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Bee-eater. Numerous broods of Coot. Ferruginous Duck (b/7). Little Grebes - a few pairs. Red-rumped Swallow, Spotless Starling, Linnet also noted. Drove to the village of Villamanrique to look for signs for the Cerrado Garrido Centre. Approximately half way through the Stone Pine forest - a superb Spanish Imperial Eagle (sub-adult) overhead. A few Azure-winged Magpies. Common Swift (55+), Red-legged Partridge calling, Kestrel (2).  

    CAMPING ROCÍO PLAYA, MATALASCAÑAS
    2205h. Party of 31 Greater Flamingos flying south along the coast then inland as the sun was setting. Crested lark, Magpie, Spotless Starling, Barn Swallow.

     


    Thursday 14th June 2001
    PARQUE NACIONAL DE DOÑANA

    Blue sky, around 35°C.

    EL ACEBUCHE
    Azure-winged Magpies common and relatively tame around the information centre. Black-billed Magpies much less common. House Sparrows numerous. White Storks nesting on the roof of the centre.

    OBSERVATORIO ZAMPPULLIN
    Savi's Warbler 'reeling'. Cuckoo flew by. Many Reed and Great Reed Warblers singing. Zitting Cisticola displaying. White Stork (1). Little Ringed Plover (1). Spotless Starlings nesting in a dead Stone Pine. Stonechat singing from a reedbed. Pochard (3ff + b/6, b/5, b/2). Breeding calls from Little Grebes heard. Marsh Harrier. Several broods of Mallards. Also noted: Azure-winged Magpie, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Serin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Black Kite, Common Swift, and Magpie.

    OBSERVATORIO SAMOMUJO
    Little Ringed Plover (1), Little Grebe (juv), Great Reed and Fan-tailed Warblers. Short-toed Treecreepers (2-3) in the pines. Tufted Duck (f + b/4). Goldfinch. Mallard, etc (as last hide). Walk to the next hide: Hoopoe, Short-toed Treecreeper, Serin, Azure-winged magpie.

    OBSERVATORIO CALAMON
    Bee-eater (4), Red-rumped Swallow (2), Cuckoo singing, White Stork (o/h). Savi's and Zitting Cisticolas singing. Terrapin sp., Great Reed Warbler, Little Grebe. Little Bittern flew into a dense reedbed. Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, Mallard (f + b/9), Mallard (f + b/11), Ferruginous Duck (f + b/2), Shoveler (2), Ringed Plover.

    OBSERVATORIO MALRASIA
    Superb views of a pair of Golden Orioles and one juvenile in a eucalyptus tree in front of the
    hide. Also two singing mm heard. A lot of Aerial activity with four or five observed flying at once, some repeatedly flying down and partially submerging themselves briefly in the lagoon. Melodious Warbler singing. Savi's Warbler 'reeling'. Ferruginous Duck (f + b/3), Great Tit, Magpie, Zitting Cisticola, Great Reed Warbler, White Stork, Mallard, House Sparrow, Little Grebe (b/2), Spotless Starling, Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Mallard (f + b/9), Ferruginous Duck (2 ads), Terrapin sp., Bee-eater, Goldfinch.

    AVIARIO AREA
    A fenced enclosure for captive wildfowl collection - but it was empty!
    Species noted from the hide overlooking the aviaro: Golden Oriole (m) passed by singing in flight. Another three birds later passed. Savi's Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Reed Warbler, Blackbird, Azure-winged Magpie, Stonechat (m + juv), Bee-eater, House Sparrow, Zitting Cisticola, Black-billed Magpie, Buzzard (3), Great Reed Warbler, Wood Pigeon, Barn Swallow, Fan-tailed Warbler, Black Kite, Crested Lark, Serin, Swallow, Kestrel, White Stork, Goldfinch, Red-rumped Swallow, and Tree Sparrow.

    LAGUNAS DEL HUERTO Y DE LAS PAJAS
    More Golden Orioles singing, Woodchat Shrike (2), Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Linnet, Bee-eater, Black Kite, Serin, Black-eared Wheatear (juv) and Melodious Warbler.

    OBSERVATORIO 'EL PORRO'
    No Swamp-hens. Golden Oriole singing, Mallard, Stonechat, Goldfinch, Spotless Starling, Ferruginous Duck (f + b/5), Magpie, Bee-eater, Tree Sparrow, Zitting Cisticola.

    OBSERVATORIO MAMIFEROS
    Woodlark, Azure-winged Magpie, Great Tit, Bee-eater.

    OBSERVATORIO 'FOCHA'
    No Focha (Coot) and no lagoon! Looked as is had naturally dried up and become overgrown recently. Zitting Cisticola, Golden Oriole singing, White Stork nesting on a pylon, Green Woodpecker (2) calling.

    EL ROCINA
    Grey Heron (27) - 22 of them juveniles. White Storks nesting: (4 prs) on pylons and (4 prs) in trees. Savi's Warbler reeling. Little Bittern (m) flew by twice then regularly passing later. Whiskered Tern (2) flew left at 1427h, later (5) passed at 1509h. Black Kite (2), Tree Sparrows common, Zitting Cisticola singing, Great Tit (juv), Black-winged Stilt (6), Mallard, Little Egret, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Serin, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Moorhen, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Bee-eater, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Spotless Starling, Spoonbill (2), Woodchat Shrike, Collared Dove, Short-toed Treecreeper. Baillon's Crake - one bird heard calling from one of the boggy inlets of the Charo de la Boca stream. The 'frog-like' rattle was heard four times.

    Drove to Huelva to look for sites but was too much of a grotty industrial/chemical plant of a city for me. Back to Doñana.

    EL ROCIO 1800-2010h.
    Black Tern (1), Avocet (4), Yellow Wagtail (2), Zitting Cisticola (1), Ferruginous Duck (f + b/9), Shoveler (10), (f + b/9), Black-headed Gull (1), Gull-billed Tern (2). Night Heron (8) with six birds standing together at 1900h. Whiskered Tern (c200). Black-winged Stilt (102) visible but probably many more. Pochard (b/2), Gadwall (1), Greater Flamingo (363), Spoonbill (104), Grey Heron (112), Cattle Egret (101), Little Egret (21), White Stork (61), Black Kite (25) at 1914h (peak count), Red-crested Pochard (4), House Martin, Barn Swallow, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Mallard, Coot (48) all together in one corner, Little Grebe, Bee-eater, Spotless Starling, Greylag, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Linnet, Southern Grey Shrike, Marsh Harrier (imm) disturbing the Godwits at 1935h, Moorhen, Wigeon (m) in breeding plumage, Shoveler (9 ads) feeding together. Night Heron (9) at 1949h and (10) at 2002h. Azure-winged Magpie scoped in the stone pine woodland to the right-hand side of the main road.

     


    Friday 15th June 2001
    PARQUE NACIONAL DE DOÑANA

    Blue sky, around 36°C.

    DRIVE TO THE CERRADO GARRIDO CENTRE
    Now named the Centro de Interpretacion del P.N.D. Jose Antonio Valverde.
    Directions (from Gosney's Finding Birds in Southern Spain guide) modified now as follows:
    1. Head out of El Rocio towards Almonte.
    2. 1.8km after the 'leaving El Rocio' sign (the name with a red line through it), turn right towards Villamanrique.
    3. After 15.8km, turn right opposite the Villamanrique 4km sign.
    4. Continue for 4km and turn right at the second obvious crossroad.
    5. At the T-junction, turn left.
    6. After 2km, turn right just before a small bridge.
    7. After 1km, follow the signs for the centre by turning right.
    8. Follow from here on gravel tracks for 25km.

    Pool at point 7: Pin-tailed Sandgrouse drinking at the edge of the water. Hoopoe (2), Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Hoopoe (3), Black Kites common, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Woodchat Shrike (juv), Corn Bunting, Bee-eater, Southern Grey Shrike.
    All distances from the start of the gravel tracks:
    0.9km: Tawny Pipit on the track - very approachable in the car, Bee-eater common (20+), Zitting Cisticolas common.
    5.5km:  Calandra lark, Zitting Cisticolas common.
    6.9km:  Small pool with (2 prs) of Black-winged Stilts and (3) chicks visible.
    7.2km:  Black-winged Stilt (pr) at roadside pool, Barn Swallow, House Martin.
    7.8km:  Marsh Harrier hunting along a drainage dyke, mobbed by several Swallows. Stonechat, House Sparrow, Corn Bunting.
    9.1km:  Calandra Lark (15) flew over the road.
    9.8km:  Masses of water in this area of rice cultivation - large numbers of Whiskered Terns and Black-winged Stilts with smaller numbers of Gull-billed Terns, Black Terns, Avocets, and Yellow Wagtails. Lesser Short-toed Lark (2) on the track just in front of the car.
    11.2km: Terns numerous all around. Lesser Short-toed Larks relatively common after this - but so too Short-toed Larks!
    11.5km: Purple Heron, Black-headed Gull. A large fully-grown Eyed Lizard (Lacerta lepida) over the track
    14.0km: A large lagoon on the right with 400+ breeding Greater Flamingos. Numerous Egrets, Black-winged Stilts, Coots and Terns. Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull (imm).
    18.8km: Booted Eagle.
    19.0km: Superb views of the wetland with Egrets, Purple Herons, Stilts and wildfowl numerous. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (1) flew off close by from a dry, stony area. Spoonbill (12) passed by. Little and Great Crested Grebes with young common. Purple Swamp-Hen (1).
    21.3km: Lapwing (12).
    21.7km: Spoonbill (22).
    22.3km: Squacco Heron (1).
    22.4km: Greater Flamingo (c300), Spoonbill (35).
    Purple Herons common in the last 5km of wetlands along the track to the centre.

    CENTRO DE VIVTANTES JOSE ANTONIO VALVERDE 1105-1440h.
    An amazing place - a large colony of breeding herons, egrets, bitterns and ibises right in front of the centre's large glass viewing panels.
    Glossy Ibis - the first four were seen in a tree on beside the track around 200 metres from the centre. Difficult to count but probably around 40 birds including juveniles. The most obvious species nesting in the reedbed were: Purple Herons, Cattle Egrets, Squacco Herons, Glossy Ibises and Little Bitterns. Birds constantly flying in and leaving the colony e.g. five Purple Herons arriving and 13 Glossy Ibises leaving at one point. Further behind, a large breeding colony of Night Herons. Crested Coots (pr + b/2) - these birds close enough to really observe the red knobs clearly on the heads of the adults. Several Common Coot broods. Several Little Grebes, one pair with a (b/5) with two chicks on one parent's back. Several pairs of Great Crested Grebes with young. Ferruginous Duck, Mallard, House Sparrow, Spotless Starling, Tree Sparrow. Terns, Greater Flamingos, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts abundant. Spoonbill (2) over the lagoon at 1132h. Whiskered Tern over the lagoon at 1214h. Great Reed Warblers very visible, particular in vegetation just two metres from the windows o the centre. One Glossy Ibis with aberrant plumage - large white central patches on both wings. Many Zitting Cisticolas displaying. Purple Swamp-Hen (1). Bee-eater, Lapwing (c80), Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Red-crested Pochard, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow. At one point there were c60 Ardeids in the air at once including: Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Little Bittern and also some Black Kites which may have disturbed them.

    THE DRIVE BACK TO EL ROCÍO
    At least 55 species noted from the car: Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Coot, Little Egret, Whiskered Terns (nests), Black Kite, Woodchat Shrike, Great Crested Grebes, Savi's Warblers, Zitting Cisticola, Spotless Starling, Lesser Kestrel, Moorhen, Short-toed Lark, Night Heron, Grey Heron, Stonechat, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Montagu's Harrier, Cattle Egret, House Martin, Jackdaw, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Gull-billed Tern, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Black Tern, Great Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Linnet, Little Ringed Plover, Black-headed Gull, Yellow Wagtail, Spoonbill, Red-rumped Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Bee-eater (flock of 20), Collared Pratincole, Goldfinch, White Wagtail, Common Swift, Calandra Lark, Azure-winged Magpie, Black-billed Magpie, Corn Bunting. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (1) at the pool again (direction no.7, 0.5km on after turn-off).

    DRIVE BACK TO JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA AND ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA
    Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Black Kite, Cattle Egret, Woodchat Shrike, Crested Lark. Bee-eaters breeding in bare roadside embankments along the Huelva to Seville motorway.

     


    Saturday 16th June 2001
    CAMPING LAGO DE ARCOS

    Blue sky, around 35°C.

    Left the campsite at 0800h for the aeropuerto at Jerez de la Frontera.
    Species noted around the campsite: Zitting Cisticola, Crested Lark, Serin, Collared Dove, Purple Heron (overhead). Species noted on the drive: Barn Swallow, House Martin, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Cattle Egret, Wood Pigeon, Collared Pratincole, Hoopoe. Montagu's Harrier (m) circling low over the road a few kilometres from Jerez. Guinea Fowl (2) straying over the main road before the junction for the airport. At the airport: House Sparrows and Spotless Starlings nesting in the terminal building. From the plane, before take off (1115h): Cattle Egret (2), Barn Swallows, White Stork (1).

     


    SPECIES LIST - EXTREMADURA & ANDALUCIA - SPAIN - 2001

    1. Black-necked Grebe
    2. Little Grebe
    3. Great Crested Grebe
    4. Little Bittern
    5. Night Heron
    6. Cattle Egret
    7. Squacco Heron
    8. Little Egret
    9. Grey Heron
    10. Purple Heron
    11. White Stork
    12. Black Stork
    13. Glossy Ibis
    14. Spoonbill
    15. Greater Flamingo
    16. Greylag Goose
    17. Mallard
    18. Gadwall
    19. Shoveler
    20. Wigeon
    21. Pochard
    22. Red-crested Pochard
    23. Ferruginous Duck
    24. White-headed Duck
    25. Griffon Vulture
    26. Black Vulture
    27. Egyptian Vulture
    28. Golden Eagle
    29. Spanish Imperial Eagle
    30. Short-toed Eagle
    31. Booted Eagle
    32. Red Kite
    33. Black Kite
    34. Marsh Harrier
    35. Black-winged Kite
    36. Montagu's Harrier
    37. Common Buzzard
    38. Common Kestrel
    39. Lesser Kestrel
    40. Peregrine Falcon
    41. Red-legged Partridge
    42. Quail
    43. Water Rail
    44. Baillon's Crake
    45. Moorhen
    46. Coot
    47. Crested Coot
    48. Purple Swamp Hen
    49. Great Bustard
    50. Little Bustard
    51. Avocet
    52. Black-winged Stilt
    53. Stone Curlew
    54. Collared Pratincole
    55. Little Ringed Plover
    56. Ringed Plover
    57. Lapwing
    58. Green Sandpiper
    59. Common Sandpiper
    60. Black-tailed Godwit
    61. Yellow-legged Gull
    62. Little Tern
    63. Gull-billed Tern
    64. Black Tern
    65. Whiskered Tern
    66. Black-bellied Sandgrouse
    67. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
    68. Rock Dove
    69. Stock Dove
    70. Wood Pigeon
    71. Collared Dove
    72. Turtle Dove
    73. Cuckoo
    74. Barn Owl
    75. Little Owl
    76. Scops Owl
    77. European Nightjar
    78. Red-necked Nightjar
    79. Common Swift
    80. Pallid Swift
    81. Alpine Swift
    82. Hoopoe
    83. Kingfisher
    84. Bee-eater
    85. Roller
    86. Green Woodpecker
    87. Great Spotted Woodpecker
    88. Skylark
    89. Crested Lark
    90. Thekla Lark
    91. Woodlark
    92. Short-toed Lark
    93. Lesser Short-toed Lark
    94. Calandra Lark
    95. Sand Martin
    96. Crag Martin
    97. Barn Swallow
    98. Red-rumped Swallow
    99. House Martin
    100. Tawny Pipit
    101. White Wagtail
    102. Yellow Wagtail
    103. Grey Wagtail
    104. Wren
    105. Dunnock
    106. Robin
    107. Nightingale
    108. Bluethroat
    109. Black Redstart
    110. Black-eared Wheatear
    111. Black Wheatear
    112. Stonechat
    113. Blue Rock Thrush
    114. Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
    115. Song Thrush
    116. Blackbird
    117. Blackcap
    118. Orphean Warbler
    119. Sardinian Warbler
    120. Spectacled Warbler
    121. Subalpine Warbler
    122. Dartford Warbler
    123. Zitting Cisticola
    124. Savi's Warbler
    125. Cetti's Warbler
    126. Reed Warbler
    127. Great Reed Warbler
    128. Melodious Wabler
    129. Bonelli's Warbler
    130. Goldcrest
    131. Firecrest
    132. Spotted Flycatcher
    133. Great Tit
    134. Blue Tit
    135. Crested Tit
    136. Long-tailed Tit
    137. Penduline Tit
    138. Nuthatch
    139. Short-toed Treecreeper
    140. Woodchat Shrike
    141. Southern Grey Shrike
    142. Azure-winged Magpie
    143. Magpie
    144. Jay
    145. Jackdaw
    146. Carrion Crow
    147. Raven
    148. Spotless Starling
    149. Golden Oriole
    150. House Sparrow
    151. Spanish Sparrow
    152. Tree Sparrow
    153. Rock Sparrow
    154. Chaffinch
    155. Linnet
    156. Goldfinch
    157. Greenfinch
    158. Serin
    159. Hawfinch
    160. Common Waxbill
    161. Ortolan Bunting
    162. Cirl Bunting
    163. Corn Bunting
    164. Rock Bunting
    (166. Helmeted Guineafowl)
    (167. Laughing Dove)

     

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