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| A Report from birdtours.co.uk |
SW and Central Spain from 16th-25th April 1998,
By Richard Dunn, Alan Jack and Andy McLevy
Having read the trip reports and the sight guides we decided that Spain had a lot to offer, so we booked a flight to Faro in Portugal from Manchester (it was cheaper to fly from Manchester to Portugal than it was to fly from Newcastle to Spain). The cost of the return flight was £139.00. The car hire was £150.00 for ten days (the car was a brand new Ford Escort with less than 500Kms on the clock.)
The route we chose was as follows:
Into Spain via Castro Marim on the Portuguese / Spanish border then on to the Coto Doñana for a couple of days, then drive north through the steppe regions to Extremadura, based in this region at Monfragüe, with one day north into the Sierra de Gredos mountains, then return south back to the Coto Doñana, then out of Spain via Castro Marim again.
Getting around was fairly easy although the Spanish road signs leave a lot to be desired, more than once when following signs! we ended up heading in the wrong direction and the roads that you have to travel to get to the Lucio Cerrado Garrido are appalling with huge potholes and the tarmac crumbling away in places, but the birding made it worthwhile. We used two maps: Michelin map 444 Madrid Castilla - La Mancha Extremadura and Michelin map 446 Andalucia Costa del Sol. For sight guides we used Gosneys guides Northern and Southern Spain, these were found to be fairly reliable, and part of a trip report by Tim Allwood which we got from Steve Whitehouse.
Our original plan had been to camp but after a first night in which the wind blew a gale and it rained as well we decided to use pensiones or hostales after that, these worked out to be very good value for what was on offer, the cost was about £7.50 per night, and with cheap meals on offer these were excellent.
Itinerary
16/4/98
Arrived at Faro at around about 11 am picked up the car and drove straight to Castro Marim on the Portuguese border with Spain. We spent about two hours here and in the area saw over 100 Cattle Egrets at a colony, a couple of Squacco Herons and a Pallid Swift as well as a Bee-eater and small numbers of waders. From here we travelled into Spain and down to the Coto Doñana. We visited the reserve centre at Acebuche, highlight here was a pair of Ferruginous ducks, then on to the bridge at La Rocina the highlight here being over 400 Greater Flamingos on the lagoon. Camped overnight at Rocio Playa, the wind blew a gale, it rained very hard, the Germans arrived to pitch their tents very late and the Spanish partied very loud and late into the night. The weather started out quite good but went downhill after 6pm to the conditions described above.
17/4/98
All day in the Coto Doñana, at La Rocína and on the roads into Doñana to Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre. These areas proved to be excellent, highlights being, Marbled duck, breeding Glossy Ibis, Lesser Short-toed Lark, over 200 Collared Pratincoles standing on the track we were driving on, huge flocks of Cattle Egret and over 300 Greater Flamingos some of which had downy young. Overnight at Pension Cristina in El Rocio. The weather was part cloudy with a cool wind but dry all day.
18/4/98
AM at La Rocína, then on to Bonanza and Laguna de Tarelo via the Pinzon marshes. Late afternoon and we headed north towards Extremadura. La Rocina was just as good as yesterday, Pinzon wasn't bad either, with good numbers of Collared Pratincole, 4+ Purple Gallinules, lots of Purple Heron and three Night Heron. We weren't impressed with Bonanza so gave it the thumbs down and went for White-headed Duck at Laguna de Tarelo. On the way north we travelled the N630 road from Seville, just before K708, 2 male Little Bustards flew over the road, after an emergency stop, a scan of the area revealed another 6 male Little's and 2 male Great Bustards plus 8 or more Calandra Larks. Overnight in a roadside Hotel (the Hotel Zafra). The weather was warm during the day but cool late on and dry all day.
19/4/98
Travelled from the hotel (were we had Great Bustard from the room window) to La Serena via the N432 (K88 male Little Bustard, 2 male Black-eared Wheatear and 2 Stone Curlew) then the C437 (K5 13 male Great Bustard and 3 displaying male Montagu's Harriers) then the C413 (from the bridge were the road crosses the Rio Matachel we had a Black Vulture and 20 Griffon Vultures, then just up the hill were the road levels out and heads into the Dehesa we had a Black-shouldered Kite fly over the road) to Castuera. La Serena was excellent, loads of Bustards (at a lunch stop, we had from one vantage spot 30 Great Bustards). A small wood by the side of the road acted like an oasis drawing in migrants, it had Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler as well as Spanish Sparrows nesting in a Black Kites nest, this is right next to the road about 20 feet up and the Kite was on the nest being bugged by the sparrows. From here we travelled on to Monfragüe via the Embalse De Zújàr were we had Spectacled Warbler and a large flock of Spanish Sparrows. As we approached Torrejón el Rubio, about 1 Km from the southern edge of the village, a Black-shouldered Kite flew over the road and hovered over the fields to the west. Overnight at Pension Monfragüe at Torrejón el Rubio, the weather was hot all day with rain at dusk.
20/4/98
Monfragüe all day, excellent: 150+ Griffon Vultures in the air together, 4 Imperial Eagles, Black Vultures nest with well grown chick in the nest, Eagle Owl out on the crag seeing off Griffons, male Rock Thrush, Black Storks at the nest and Bonelli's Eagle. Monfragüe is a fantastic place to go birding, the birds are everywhere, look up at any one time and you will see an eagle, kite or vulture, we had 4 species of eagle and 3 of vulture. Overnight at Pension Monfragüe, Torrejón el Rubio. Weather hot all day.
21/4/98
Travelled north-east to the Gredos mountains, here we saw Short-toed Eagles, Egyptian, Black and Griffon Vultures, Bonelli's Warbler, Crested Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Firecrests and Short-toed Treecreepers. Travelled back to Monfragüe from the north just for another look at the Peñefalcón, on the way a Wild Boar was a distraction as it stood in the middle of the road.
Overnight at the Pension Monfragüe. Weather hot all day, although for a short time we were above the snow line in the Gredos mountains and the wind wasn't very warm up there.
22/4/98
Start of a long journey south, headed west from Torrejón el Rubio on the CC912, before the turning for Monroy there is a line of pine trees which cross the road with nesting White Storks, tracks head north and south from the road, we took the track to the north and walked for about a kilometre and scanned the area and more or less straight away had Black-shouldered Kite. In this area there were in total 4 Black-shouldered Kites, a pair that treated us to a fabulous display, mating and a food pass plus 1 bird coming to perch at about 150m from us. Also here were Great Spotted Cuckoo's (3) Spanish Sparrow's (20+) and a singing Golden Oriole. At the bridge over the Rio Almonte there was Alpine Swift (5) and Black Wheatear. Between the river and the minor road that heads towards Trujillo there are nest boxes on the pylons and telegraph poles, these boxes have Rollers, we counted 26 birds. Following the minor road towards Trujillo then towards Santa Marta de Magasca we saw more Great Spotted Cuckoos (4), Little Bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier (10), more Rollers, Black Vulture and over 1000 Spanish Sparrows in three flocks. From here we headed for a couple of tracks mentioned by Gosney as being excellent, here we had Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse (2 male 1 female) and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (25+) more Montagu's Harrier, Rollers and a Black-eared Wheatear. From here we drove south back to El Rocio in the Coto Doñana, which was a disaster because when we arrived (after midnight) the accommodation was closed and with nowhere to stay we slept in the car. The weather was rain showers on and off all day, hot when the sun shone, cold when it rained.
23/4/98
Easy birding around El Rocio after a rough nights kip in the car. At La Rocina the Purple Gallinules showed well with the chicks and after watching an adult eat the reed stems we christened them "Eating Machines", deft control with foot and bill peeling off the outer layer and taking bite size morsels very rapidly. Down the track towards Cañada Mayor, here we had 18 sightings of Booted Eagle in 2½ hours, loads of Nightingale, a couple of Short-toed Treecreepers and found a set of Lynx tracks, a chat with a warden, with radio tracking equipment told us that there were 7 pairs in that area. A visit to the grounds of the Palacio de Acebron produced a Melodious Warbler, with another 3 at La Rocina; we believed these to be new arrivals as they weren't present earlier in the week. Overnight at the Pension Cristina. Weather very hot all day.
24/4/98
Birding around the Coto Doñana towards the Lucio Cerrado Garrido Centre following the route in Gosney, Southern Spain. As mentioned earlier in the week these roads are terrible, the birds however are fantastic. Not much different from the first visit but we did have 2 Great White Egrets and there appeared to be passage happening with at least 37 Griffon Vultures and 2 Black Storks moving through. If following the Gosney route for this area, just before you turn off tarmac and onto gravel there is a pool on your right. This small pool was excellent, on 4 stops as we passed this pool we saw Pin-tailed Sandgrouse twice, loads of White Storks, a Black Stork, large flocks of Cattle Egret, Greater Flamingo, Gull-billed Tern and hundreds of Collared Pratincole. From here we drove towards the Portuguese border to Isla Cristina. On the salt marsh here there was Avocets, Spoonbill and Little Tern. Camped overnight at Isla Cristina. Weather was very hot all day.
25/4/98
As we left the campsite a couple of Stone Curlews could be heard. Over the border into Portugal and a very quick look at Castro Marim again, Curlew Sandpiper 15+, Little Stint 2, Stone Curlew flying, Greenshank and 18 Greater Flamingo, then on to Airport at Faro for a 12 noon flight to Manchester, the last bird seen from the steps of the plane was a White Stork.
From picking the car up on the 16th to returning it on the 25th we travelled 2631 Km
(1635 miles)
Classified List
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Common in the Coto Doñana.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Common in the Coto Doñana at suitable wetlands.
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
2, Coto Doñana on 17th at the, single at Laguna de Tarelo on the 18th.
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
6 at La Rocína on the 17th and a single on the 18th.
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
40+ in the reeds at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, 2 over La
Rocína on the 18th and 3 near Pinzon the same day, 3 over La Rocína on the 24th
and only 6 seen at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 24th compared to the
17th.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
2 at Castro Marim in Portugal, 1 at La Rocína on the 17th & 23rd, 2 at the
Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 18th & 24th.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common with some large flocks counted, seen in all areas visited from the Coto
Doñana to Monfragüe, with a nesting colony at Castro Marim in Portugal.
Little Egret Egrettta garzetta
Common, seen in all areas visited from the Coto Doñana to Monfragüe.
Great White Egret Egretta alba
2 non-breeding plumage birds at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 24th.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Common in the Coto Doñana.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Common in the Coto Doñana, with nests noted at Acebuche and Cerrado Lucio Garrido
Centre.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Nesting birds in Monfragüe at the Peñafalcon and near the Tiétar cliffs also
two migrants seen in the Coto Doñana on the 24th, 1, a sub-adult (the other
didn't stop).
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Very common all areas, even nesting on the overhead road signs on the road to
Madrid (NV E 90) and on tower blocks in the centre of Cáceres.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Nesting birds noted at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th & 24th
with over 20 birds on both dates.
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
12 at La Rocína on the 16th & single on the 24th, 20+ at Cerrado Lucio Garrido
Centre on the 17th, single at Pinzon on the 18th and 9 at Isla Cristina on the
24th.
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Common, over 600 birds near the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre (with small young)
on both visits, also at La Rocína and at Castro Marim (18) on the 25th.
Gadwall Anas strepera
Up to 6 at La Rocína, Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre and Acebuche on all visits.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Noted at all wetlands
Shoveler Anas clypeata
Single male on the days at La Rocína.
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris
3, 2 male 1 female on the 17th and 2 male on the 24th at Cerrado Lucio Garrido
Centre
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Common in the Coto Doñana.
Pochard Aythya ferina
12 at Acebuche on the 16th & 23rd.
Ferruginous Duck Aytha nyroca
pair at Acebuche on the 16th, male at Acebuche on the 23rd.
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
7 male,1 female at Laguna de Tarelo on the 18th.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
6 birds seen: 1 flying over the road about 2 Km N from the Rio Matachel on the
C413 (19th), this road runs to Castuera at La Serena, 1 flying over the road
about 1 Km S of Torrejón el Rubio (19th) and 4 (22nd) birds in one area
near the Monroy turn off on the CC912 from Torrejón el Rubio to Cáceres, for
this site look out for a line of pine trees on both sides of the road, with
nesting White Storks, from the trees walk N for about 1 Km and scan to the N.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Common all areas, nest found at La Serena 19th and 13+ scavenging dead fish
from a ditch at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre 24th.
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Seen on most days but never numerous, at Acebuche, near Trujillo (12), in the
Gredos mountains (2), at the Rio Almonte (3), S of Caceres (2).
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Seen only in Extremadura, up to 2 at Penefalcon on the 19th - 21st, at the Tajo
bridge on the 20th, 3+ at the Tietar cliffs on the 20th, 2 S of Torrejón el
Rubio on the 21st, near Extremadura station on the 21st, near Barca on the 21st,
2 S of the Rio Almonte on the 22nd.
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Common, seen all areas, 150+ in the air together at the Penefalcon, also nesting
here with young noted here and on the Tietar cliffs. Passage birds coming through
the Coto Doñana with over 35 birds on the 24th (same day as Black Storks and
2 Great White Egrets).
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus
Seen only in Extremadura, single birds, on the 19th, S of Rio Matachel going
down to land out of sight, N of Rio Matachel, at Penefalcon, on the 20th at
Penefalcon, at the White hut site on the nest, at Tietar cliffs, at Tajo bridge,
on the 21st at the Puerto del pico pass in the Gredos mountains, 2 near Trujillo
on the 22nd.
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Near Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre 17th, N of Seville 18th, La Serena and the
Embalse de Zujar on the 19th, 2 at Tietar cliffs 20th, 3 in the Gredos mountains
on the 21st.
Marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus
Seen only at the Coto Doñana on the 17th, 18th and 24th.
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Locally common near Trujillo with up to nine birds in one small area, seen on
the 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th and 25th.
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Monfragüe only, single 20th and 21st.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Common seen all areas on all days but the last.
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Monfragüe only, 4 sightings of three birds on the 20th, juvenile at Penefalcon,
pair at the nest at the white hut site and single at the Tietar dam.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Common, seen all areas, e.g. 18 sightings of at least 10 birds during a 2½ hour
walk in the Coto Doñana on the 23rd
Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
Single at Penefalcon on the 20th
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Common, large flocks seen near Trujillo and in Cacereas as well numerous small
groups and singles. After a while most kestrels sp. were given just a glance
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Common, after a while most kestrels sp. were given just a glance
Hobby Falco subbuteo
singles Coto Doñana 17th and in the Gredos mountains on the 21st
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
Penefalcon on the 19th and 20th (2) with food pass seen.
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
only 3 seen but many heard at birding stops as we travelled north.
Quail Coturnix coturnix
common, heard all over the place.
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
common
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
seen at La Rocina 17th - 18th and 23rd - 24th, at least 5 adults with young
on each date, also 4+ at Pinzon marshes on the 18th
Coot Fulica atra
common
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax
Common, seen in all suitable grassland areas on the 18th, 19th and 22nd, first
seen flying over the road, 2 male, on stopping we found another 6 male in a
small area of grass next to the road.
Great Bustard Otis tarda
Common, seen in all suitable grassland areas on the 18th, 19th and 22nd, also
seen from our hotel bedroom window on the morning of the 19th, during a lunch
stop driving through La Serena from one vantage point we could see 30 birds
spread out over the area including males displaying.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Very common Coto Doñana
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Common Coto Doñana
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Two seen at K88 on the N432 near Zafra on the 19th, heard Isla Cristina on the
24th, seen Castro Marim on the 25th
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Common seen all areas, with over 200 birds on the track towards Cerrado Lucio
Garrido Centre on the 17th, very approachable in the car.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Pair at small reservoir by the C413 near Campillo de Llerena, pair at the river
behind El Rocio.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Seen at Castro Marim and at La Rocina lagoon
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Common at Coto Doñana
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Seen at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina on the 16th, 24th and 25th.
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
A few in the Coto Doñana displaying on the 17th and 24th
Little Stint Calidris minuta
30+ at Algaida salt pans near Bonanza on the 18th
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
15+ at Castro Marim on the 25th
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Seen at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
100+ in the Coto Doñana on the 17th
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Single at La Rocína on the 23rd
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Seen in the Coto Doñana on the 17th and at Castro Marim on the 25th
Curlew Numenius arquata
Seen at Isla Cristina on the 24th - 25th
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Seen at Castro Marim on the 16th and at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the
24th
Redshank Tringa totanus
Noted at the Coto Doñana
Greenshank Tringa nebularia
30+ at La Rocina lagoon on the 16th - 17th and in Doñana on the 24th
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Single noted at La Rocina lagoon on 16th and 23rd
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Seen on passage at La Rocina lagoon and on territory at suitable areas inland
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Seen at the Coto Doñana on the 16th - 17th
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Noted at Coto Doñana
Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans
Noted at Coto Doñana
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
9+ on the tracks to the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, with 6+ in
this area on the 24th and 10+ in the Pinzon area on the 18th
Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Common at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina
Whiskered Tern Childonias hybridus
Common to abundant in the Coto Doñana
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
3, 2 male 1 female on the 22nd on one of the tracks near Trujillo mentioned
in the Gosney guide.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Seen at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th (2), at the small pool near
the turn off for Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre (2) on two dates 17th and 24th
and near Trujillo, on one of the tracks near Trujillo mentioned in the Gosney
guide on the 22nd (25+)
Rock Dove Columba livia
Feral birds noted on all dates "real" birds on the 20th at Monfragüe
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Seen all dates in all areas
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Heard on the 17th near El Rocio, common at Isla Cristina 24th - 25th
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Seen at Rocio Playa campsite on the 17th, heard at Rio Matachel on the 19th,
El Rocio on the 23rd - 24th and at Castro Marim on the 25th
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
2 at the Black-shouldered Kite site off the CC912, 3 on the minor road to La
Encilla farm at the junction with the CC912 and 1 near Santa Marta de Magasca
all on the 22nd
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Fairly common, noted in all areas.
Scops Owl Otus scops
Heard on the 20th at Finca Carrascal, a Black-shouldered Kite site near Torrejón
el Rubio.
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Adult seen at Tietar cliffs on the 20th, perched out in the open preening, at
one stage a Griffon Vulture landed close by and the owl flew at it chasing it
away, others had 2 adults with 2 young here on the same day
Swift Apus apus
Common all areas
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Single seen Castro Marim on the 16th, "lots" between Lebrija and Trebujena near
Bonanza on the 18th and noted in the El Rocio area on the 23rd
Alpine Swift Apus melba
Large flock in the distance from the Castle at Monfragüe looking east along
the ridge on the 20th, 5 much closer at the bridge over the Rio Almonte on the
22nd.
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1 - 3 at La Rocina on the 17th - 18th and 23rd.
Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Common all areas
Roller Coracias garrulus
Common, south of the Rio Almonte towards Caceres were they use nest boxes on
telegraph poles at the side of the road, also towards Santa Marta de Magasca,
all on the 22nd
Hoopoe Upupa epops
Common all areas
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
Noted on 4 dates
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Common in the Coto Doñana on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre
also common at La Serena.
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Common Coto Doñana on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens
Seen only on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre, easy to see midway
between the end of the tarmac and the centre
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Common, even seen at the sides of motorways
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae
Common, more grey coloured than the rusty Crested.
Woodlark Lullula arborea
Common in Extremadura and the Gredos mountains
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Seen only in the Gredos mountains on the 21st on the road to the car park from
Hoyos del Espino.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Common around the Coto Doñana
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Common in the Extremadura region, nesting on crags and under bridges
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
Locally common
House Martin Delichon urbica
Common
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
One seen very briefly on the 17th near El Rocio
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Single at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Iberian Wagtail Motacilla flava iberiae
Common in the Coto Doñana
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
2 seen on mountain streams in the Sierra De Gredos on the 21st
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Common in the Monfragüe area
Dipper Cinclus cinclus
Seen on mountain streams in the Sierra De Gredos on the 21st
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Noted on five dates
Dunnock Prunella modularis
Common at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Noted in Monfragüe and the Sierra De Gredos
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Common all areas
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Common in the Monfragüe area
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Single passage male in a small wood at the roadside in La Serena
Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Common all areas
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Noted at La Serena and in the Gredos mountains
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica
2 males at K88 on the N432 near Zafra on the 19th and 1 male near Trujillo on
the 22nd
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura
1 male at the bridge over the Rio Almonte on the 22nd
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis
Single male on the crags below the castle in Monfragüe on the 20th
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Common in suitable areas
Blackbird Turdus merula
Common all areas.
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
Single near Torrejón el Rubio on the 21st
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Noted near Torrejón el Rubio 20th - 21st
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Common in suitable areas
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis
Common all areas
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides
Common in the Coto Doñana
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Noted in the Coto Doñana and near Trujillo on the 22nd
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Single Pinzon marshes on the 18th
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Noted at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre, Pinzon marshes and La Rocina
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta
Single at Palacio de Acebron, with another 3 at La Rocina, we believed these
to be new arrivals as they weren't present earlier in the week.
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
2 - 3 at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata
3 - 4 at the Embalse de la Serena
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans
Heard at the White Hut site in Monfragüe and at Tietar cliffs on the 20th and
seen near El Barco in the Gredos mountains on the 21st
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Common all areas
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Single at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Noted in three areas on the 18th, 19th and 23rd
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Noted in the Gredos mountains and near El Rocio
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
3 singing birds in the vicinity of the campsite near Hoyos del Espino on the
21st
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collbita
Singing birds noted at Monfragüe on the 19th and at Palacio de Acebron on the
23rd, the song was no different to singing British birds
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Single at La Rocina on the 17th
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Single near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
2 - 3 at the Puerto del Pico pass and near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino
on the 21st
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Single migrant in a small wood at the roadside in La Serena on the 19th
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
One male singing nears the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
Noted on three dates
Crested Tit Parus cristatus
2 at the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Coal Tit Parus ater
Noted at the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
Common at Monfragüe
Great Tit Parus major
Common all areas
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla
Seen well at Monfragüe on the 20th (singing from a concrete telegraph pole),
near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st and a couple near El Rocio
on the 23rd.
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Singles, flying N at La Rocina on the 17th, in flight from the C413 near Castuera
and heard at the Black-shouldered Kite site near Monroy on the 23rd
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Common, noted on every day but the 18th.
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Common, noted all areas
Jay Garrulus glandarius
1 - 2 seen in Monfragüe on the 20th and 22nd.
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyana
Common, easy to see, from 15+ in the first flock on the first afternoon to 20+
on the last morning at the campsite at Isla Cristina.
Magpie Pica pica
Common
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
2 - 3 seen around the Penefalcon at Monfragüe on the 19th and 2 at Puerto del
Pico pass on the 21st
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Common in the Monfragüe and Gredos areas
Carrion Crow Corvus corone
Noted in the Gredos mountains and in the Cáceres area.
Raven Corvus corax
Common all areas
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Common all areas
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Common all areas
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
A small colony noted nesting in a Black Kites nest at La Serena on the 19th
and possibly 1000+ south of the Rio Almonte towards Trujillo on the 22nd(in
3 flocks)
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia
1 - 2 noted south of Penefalcon in Monfragüe on the 20th - 21st
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Common
Serin Serinus serinus
Common all areas
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Small numbers noted near El Rocio on the 17th and 24th
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Common all areas
Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Common
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
2 - 3 noted in Monfragüe on the 20th
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
Seen only on the 20th at Monfragüe
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia
Common in Monfragüe and the Gredos mountains
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Common everywhere
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Where to watch birds in Southern and Western
Spain
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