Destinations
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Extremadura 17 – 25 March 2010
Wild central Spain
Extremadura is one of the few remaining truly wild areas of Spain and, indeed, Europe. The region is renowned for its amazing variety of birds of prey, especially in Monfragüe National Park, and special species such as the bustards and larks to be found on the rolling plains of the Spanish steppes.
The plains around Trujillo and Cáceres form part of the great Spanish steppes with their fascinating assemblage of birds. Here we will search for great bustards performing their incredible breeding display. March is the best time to see the astonishing ritual in which the male turns himself into the appearance of a huge white pom-pom of feathers. Other steppe birds in this area are little bustards, stone-curlews and both pin-tailed and black-bellied sandgrouse. Crested and calandra larks are also found in the plains. Another speciality is Spanish sparrow, a rather local bird in Spain despite its name.
We will spend two or three days exploring Monfragüe National Park, some 25 miles north of Trujillo. This is one of the most outstanding areas for seeing birds of prey in a country which is itself probably the best for raptors in Europe. It has the core Spanish population of black vultures, which breed here along with griffon and Egyptian vultures.
Eagles are well represented here with Spanish imperial, golden, short-toed and booted. From the various crags, which make fine vantage points for raptor-watching, other species that can be seen include black stork, chough and rock bunting.
The lower valleys approaching Monfragüe hold good stands of holm oak woodland, the ‘dehesa’ or wood pasture that is such a distinctive feature of Extremadura. The dehesa is famous for the wintering cranes, most of which leave in February, but here also are azure-winged magpies, that amazing, colourful bird of the east with an outpost in Spain. One theory was that they originated from birds escaped during trade with China in earlier times, but proof that it is a relict population has recently come to light with the discovery of sub-fossil bones.
We stay at the wonderful Finca Santa Marta, a granite-built olive oil mill converted into a country inn, situated in the countryside south of Trujillo.
Great bustards (Steve Fletcher)
More photos of birds of Extremadura by Steve Fletcher: click here.
Holiday report for March 2010 here
White storks (Steve Fletcher)
Azure-winged magpie (Steve Fletcher)
Calandra lark (Steve Fletcher)
