Friday 9^th May 2003

A short walk at FSM produced Common Waxbill again, and our first 2 Cirl Bunting of the trip. We then headed to the track west of SMdM (M10, 5-10) to search for Sandgrouse. In the first field east of the track after turning off the SMdM road we saw a group of 8 Great Bustards and a pair of Roller were using the Roller nest box on the telegraph pylon next to the road where the first wires cross the road. A short distance further 5 Black-bellied Sandgrouse were feeding just 5 yards from the road.

As we drove north along the road we had good views of 3 Little Bustards, 3 Stone Curlew and 2 further Black-bellied Sandgrouse. We stopped at the area when two days earlier I thought I had seen Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Others had seen Pin-tails in this area 2 days earlier, so we were optimistic. As soon as we stopped the car 7 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse flew over.

To find this area, when travelling north along the track the road turns 90⁰ left after c.7km. At this point the field to the left is large, drops away from the road and is ploughed. To the right of the road is a brow. When the road turns a track that continues straight on, signed "Lomo de Hierro". We parked next to the sign and scanned the fields. In the field right of this track, over the brow, we found 6 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse which gave excellent perched views. A further 7 Pin-tails flew past.

We returned south along this track seeing the same steppe species, including Short-toed Lark, Western Black-eared Wheatear, Great-spotted Cuckoo and Red-legged Partridge. This is an excellent track for all Steppe species and is highly recommended. We saw all the above by 11:00am.

To bird through the heat of the day we first visited Embalse del Salor. This site is given in Garcia and Paterson (2001), but not Muddeman, and lies just south of Caceres. The feeder stream west of the reservoir produced singing Great Reed Warbler, 2 Cuckoo etc, while from the picnic area on the southern bank next to the eastern edge of the reservoir we relaxed and digi-scoped Cattle and Little Egrets, Common Sandpiper and Little-ringed Plover while Azure-winged Magpies took crisps placed next to the car.

We next drove the minor road heading north from Torremocha (just east of Embalse del Salor) towards to village of Botija (M16) . The fields of wild flowers along this road were spectacular and worth the drive if time allows. Where the river comes close the road just west of Botija (M16, 5) we found a colony of Bee-eaters, which gave great close views.

Wild flowers west of Botija	Little Egret at Embalse del Salor

Returning to Trujillo we found the fishponds (M12) again quiet so crossed the EX208 to look round the buildings opposite the Bull Ring that Muddeman gives as a breeding site for Pallid Swift. We had fantastic close views of 6 birds there; recommended.

After dinner we again explored the grounds of the Finca, this time seeing 2 Scop's Owls.

Saturday 10^th May 2003

The usual morning walk around FSM gave BAM a fly-over Hawfinch, the only one of the trip.

Today we headed south from Trujillo on the EX208 to bird the 'northern rice fields', an area of paddyfields around Madrigalejo (M17). The aim of the day was to see Red Avadavat, plus search for passage waders. This is a large area and during our May visit we found only very few paddyfields that held birds. Probably not recommended unless you want Red Avadavat (best at the old bridge over the rio Gargaligas, M17, 7) or have the time to spare.

Note that sites in this area change significance depending on the stage of rice cultivation in an area. We found some recommended areas completely dry. What is given here is a May 2003 update, but this may not be relevant in later years.

We stopped at Embalse de Sierra Brava (M17, 2). Birds here were incredibly distant, but we could make out a breeding colony of Gull-billed Terns (20+ birds) plus Gadwall and Black-winged Stilt. Not recommended.

We then took the track M17, 3. The paddyfields in this area were all dry and birdless. We did, however, find a flock of 6 Red Avadavat feeding in a crop field along this track. We continued past Palazuelo and Zurbaran (M17, 9 & 10) seeing very little of note.

Driving the Gargaligas / Los Guadalperales (M17, 8) loop-road turned up our first good field of birds including 22 Little-ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 5 Greenshank and 2 Redshank.

We then birded the old bridge over the rio Gargaligas (M17, 7). Looking down into reeds we found 20+ Red Avadavat breeding, plus had great views of 4+ Great Reed Warblers and Cetti's Warblers. We had over 25 species from the bridge in an hour.

We found the best site in the northern rice fields to be around Vegas Atlas (M17, 6). There is a road that leads due south from the village that then loops round and joins the EX355 next to the new bridge. This is shown on the Michelin map but is not in Muddeman. Paddyfields in this area produced some good birding, including Ringed and Little-ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 5 more Greenshank and 1 Redshank, a colony of 20+ Black-winged Stilts, 20 more Gull-billed Terns and our only Black-headed Gulls of the trip. In a flock of 25 Black-headed Gulls we found a stunning adult summer Mediterranean Gull, according to Muddeman only a vagrant to Extremadura. We also found a flock of 10 Collared Pratincoles in a ploughed field that gave excellent views.

We returned north, driving the road to Campo Lugar (M17, 1). Probably due to the time of day (c.16:00) this road produced nothing. However, just north of Zorita on the EX208 (at Km post 100.5) we picked up a pair of raptors over the road and pulled very quickly into a track entrance. Amazingly they were Bonelli's Eagles, which gave crippling views just overhead, before drifting away east. The birds of the trip for BAM.

We returned to FSM when an evening stroll produced excellent views of Woodlark and later more calling Scop's Owls.

Sunday 11^th May 2003

A morning walk round FSM was required more to clear my head from the night before than for any serious birding. The aim of the day was to travel back to the Monfrague to search for Western Orphean Warbler missed on the 8^th, and to try our luck if any early White-rumped Swifts were in.

We first searched the road from Arroyo de la Vid to the Castillo car park in the Monfrague for Western Orphean Warbler. After an hours searching we had great views of a singing male. When travelling from the Arroyo de la Vid crossing you pass a obvious pair of white gate posts on the right just before the road bends left, then there is another pair of gateposts and a track entrance about 1km further on the left (the next set of posts). This is about 1km before the entrance of the Castillo car park. Parking here we had the Orphean in the trees south of the road.

We then parked in the upper car park at the Castillo (continue on the track through the lower car park for a much shorter walk!) and then climbed to the Castillo. This does provide fantastic views over the park, and can give close views of passing raptors, but not when we were there. This is the site for White-rumped Swift in Extremadura, but not unexpectedly we were just too early and failed to see any. In this area we had Rock Sparrow, 2 Cirl Buntings, many Rock Buntings and Blue Rock Thrushes.

Being a Sunday, the park was far busier than our first visit and, although perfectly acceptable, is worth avoiding if possible. We then birded the Pena Falcon and Puente del Cardenal (no more Bonelli's..!) before returning towards Trujillo.

At about 17:30 we decided to bird to Belen Plain road again (M12). From 18:00 onwards Little Bustards began calling again and we found Great Bustard in the same field as on our first visit. As we progressed along the road the heat and haze reduced and we got better and better views of both Bustard species. Our final totals were 9 Little Bustards and 17 Great Bustards, including 1 amazing displaying male.

Monday 12^th May 2003

We left FSM and travelled North on the NV towards Madrid. We stopped again at Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1) this time getting excellent close views of a pair of Savi's Warblers nesting east of the road. 3 Purple Swamphen on both side of the road showed well and a Great Reed Warbler was heard singing.

We then travelled south of the NV following up some gen about Black Wheatear. From Km 197 just south of Almaraz take the road south towards Valdecanas de Tajo. The road runs round the west of this village, then continues south. Take the fork towards Campillo de Deleitosa. Follow this road into the valley, the road crosses a small bridge over a tributary then comes to a larger bridge over the main river. Park on the right just before the bridge, then cross the bridge and view back across the valley. A pair of Black Wheatears were present around the walled garden, and gave excellent views. Please view only from the road to prevent disturbance.

Black Wheatear site (AKM)	Female Black Wheatear

Dupont's Lark was a major target for the trip, which required us to leave Extremadura and travel 100km north of Madrid along the NI E5 to the Sepulveda area in Castilla-La Mancha. The Larks breed in the high plains of the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton. To find the site take the SG241 north from Santa Cruz (just east of Sepulveda) towards Uruenas. Take the left towards Castrillo de Sepulveda, then go through the village towards Villaseca. As you enter Villaseca take the wide sandy track that leads right, immediately past the church. The track is signed just before the church to 'Ermita de San Frutos'.

This track leads 3.5km to a car park, from which it is a short downhill walk to the edge of a spectacular gorge that the rio Duraton has cut through the area, and is the reason for the area being a designated natural park. A church (Ermita de San Frutos) is located overlooking the gorge further along the track, and is a popular tourist site.

In the scrub round the path shortly after the car park we found 3 Western Orphean Warblers, which gave excellent prolonged views. Recommended over the Monfrague for searching for this bird. The gorge holds important numbers of breeding cliff nesting birds, which give spectacular close views, often just overhead. We saw 60+ Chough (amazingly a new world bird for AKM, but we won't tell anyone about that.) and 100+ Griffon Vultures plus Egyptian Vulture and Raven. Blue Rock Thrush was present while Iberian Black Redstart and Crag Martin were common. The fantastic scenery and close views of the birds made this our favourite site of the whole trip, and we highly recommend it.

We then searched along the entrance track for Dupont's Lark, from 18:45 to dusk. We found most calling birds between 1km and 1.5km after the 'stream-less valley' that the track crosses, if approaching from the main road. Larks abound in this habitat (we say many Short-toed, plus Crested, Thekla, Sky, Wood and 1 Calandra) and we found 5 Western Black-eared Wheatears and 1 Tawny Pipit. However, we could only hear Dupont's Lark, with a maximum of 3 distant birds.

Gorge and the rio Duraton	Plains home to 'Dupont's Invisible Lark'

Tuesday 13^th May 2003

We returned to the Dupont's Lark site just after dawn and searched until 09:30. Again Dupont's were calling, this time 5 frustratingly all round us, but we just could not see El Diablo (cf. Bannon 2002). We recorded the same birds as last night, with the Tawny Pipit count rising to 2 birds.

A brief look into the 'stream-less valley' produced another Western Orphean Warbler, while Spectacled Warbler was heard singing and a male Dartford Warbler showed well.

The final area of the trip we planned to visit was the Sierra de Guadarrama. Lying just 60km north of Madrid, and being accessible by car up to 1900 metres, it provides some quick and easy mountain birding and is a good site for Citril Finch. It took an hour and a quarter to reach Puerto de Navacerrada from Villaseca, via Segovia.

Puerto de Navacerrada is the high point of the mountain pass on the CL601 / M601. Travelling from the north, as you cross the summit there is a junction with the M604 on the left then immediately an uphill turn on the right, towards a ski lift. Then on the right are 2 bars with outside seating; the latter named 'Venta Arias'. Immediately after this bar there is a car park on the right. Park here, then look south towards a ski-pull. Here we had excellent close views of up to 8 Citril Finch.

Citril Finch site at Puerto de Navacerrada	Record shot of female Citril Finch

We then drove up the road past the ski-lift mentioned above. This eventually ends at some sort of military / air-force building. We parked just before this and explored the trails that start on the left just after a ski-pull, when coming from the main road. We walked to the start of the trails where you enter the coniferous woodland, then took the trails that led left. On a short walk we saw 2 Crested Tits, 1 Crossbill, 4 more Citril Finch and heard Great Spotted Woodpecker. Coal Tit and Goldcrest were common.

Returning to the car we then dropped to Puerto de Navacerrada and turned onto the M604, then took the first signed right turn to Valdesqui. This is a dead-end road that leads to a large car park for ski lifts, closed when we were there. The road to the car park climbs, allowing you to explore a fantastic open valley, getting above the tree line. Parking at the end of the road and walking back along the road we found another 4 Citril Finch, a stunning male Rock Thrush, 6+ Rock Bunting, 3 Northern Wheatear and 1 Grey Wagtail. Others have seen Water Pipit and Ortolan Bunting at this site.

Returning back to the M604 Valcotos is on your right, which has a very large car park overlooking a wooded valley. Birding round the car park produced 2 Citril Finch, 4+ Rock Buntings and 3 Firecrest.

We were ahead of our planned timings so we decided to have another walk along the wooded trails detailed above at Puerto de Navacerrada. Turning left after entering the woodland and following the trail, one crosses a cleared ski run and then a parallel area of cleared trees, home to a ski lift. Looking down the valley we had great views of a stunning male Iberian Pied Flycatcher singing from the cables of the ski lift.

A really distinctive bird, it's a shame that Saetre, Borge and Moum's (Ibis 143: 494-497) review of the black-and-white flycatcher group in Europe, that split the North African form speculigera as Atlas Flycatcher, did not clarify the position of iberiae. 

We then returned south the Madrid Barajas airport for the flight home. This was much delayed due to a French air traffic controller's strike, eventually getting us into Heathrow at 02:00 on the 14^th. After a kip we then headed to Dungeness RSPB reserve when a cracking male Little Bittern put on a good show, avenging the dip at Embalse de Arroyocampo!

Dips

As stated in the introduction we had a very successful trip, seeing 21 of our 24 target birds. We missed White-rumped Swift at the Castillo de Monfrague, but we expected to as we were just too early. We also failed to bump into Iberian Green Woodpecker anywhere, but I had no specific gen. The biggest disappointment, however, was not seeing Dupont's Lark. Always a difficult bird, some recent trip reports had increased out confidence about getting it at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton. So, they are not guaranteed there!

A lack of time and gen in the Sierra de Guadarrama meant we only scratched the surface of what looks like an excellent area for birding. Comparing our systematic list to other trip reports from Extremadura notable dips included no Little Bittern or Black-crowned Night-heron at Embalse de Arroyocampo, no Peregrine or Goshawk in the Monfrague, no Penduline Tit in the rice fields and no Western Bonelli's Warbler anywhere.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Tom McJannet and Graham Cantley for gen before we left, David Cottridge for the Orphean gen and Paul Gale for getting us when the adult Eagle Owl appeared!

Thanks also to all the birders we met during our trip that we chatted to, saw birds with and exchanged gen with. We all saw more because of this.

Further Information

For any further info please contact the author at bamiller@talk21.com

SYSTEMATIC LIST

The following is a full systematic list of birds recorded on the trip. For specific details on sites where the noteworthy birds were recorded, please refer to the Itinerary And Site Notes' section above.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
2 Birds as Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), 5 at Embalse del Salor and 3 other individuals noted in Extremadura.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1) on both occasions and 5 at Embalse de Sierra Brava (M17, 2).

Continental Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
2 flew over Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1) on the 12^th.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Singles and pairs seen at most wetlands sites throughout Extremadura, often with flocks of Cattles. 18 recorded during the trip.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Occasionally noted in Extremadura, but only common at Embalse del Salor.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Only seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), 2 birds on both visits.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
A very common sight on the plains, often in large flocks. Between 200 and 300 seen daily.

Black Stork     Ciconia nigra
Seen mainly the Monfrague (M4) with 8 recorded on the 8^th, breeding pairs seen well at Pena Falcon and Portilla del Tietar. 2 singles seen in flight away from the park.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
A very common sight in Extremadura, away from the Monfrague. 100+ seen daily.

Gadwall  Anas strepera
Only 2 seen at Embalse del Salor.

Mallard   Anas platyrhynchos
Seen frequently at all wetland sites. Most small pools in the plains held a pair.

Black-shouldered Kite       Elanus caeruleus
1 adult bird showed well at the site near Monroy

Red Kite Milvus milvus
Frequently recorded throughout, but in much smaller numbers than Black Kite. Seen daily, trip total 31 birds.

Black Kite Milvus migrans
Seen daily, the most widespread raptor throughout.

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Breeding birds seen in singles and pairs in the Monfrague. Also surprisingly frequently seen singly over the plains. Birds also seen in near the Black Wheatear site and in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton. 13 birds in total.

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Very common throughout, Monfrague breeding birds range widely. Best views, however, in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton area.

Black Vulture  Aegypius monachus
Seen surprisingly frequently at all sites visited in Extremadura. 32 birds recorded. One seen between Sepulveda and Segovia was a surprise.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
7 birds seen in Extremadura including good views of close birds at Punte del Cardenal and Portilla del Tietar in the Monfrague.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Seen on both visits to Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1). One female also surprised us by flying over the Belen Plains (M12) on the evening of the 12^th.

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Commonly seen at all plains sites visited. Best views were at a loose colony south east of SMdM (M10, 1).

Buzzard Buteo buteo
32 birds recorded during the trip. Mostly seen singularly in lowland dehesa habitat.

Spanish Imperial Eagle  Aquila adalberti
1 adult bird watched circling the nest-site at Torrejon el Rubio with one young bird seen in the nest. An adult eventually seen on the nest from the Mirador de la Bascula in the Monfrague, again with a young bird on the nest.

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos       
5 birds seen. A single just north of SMdM, a sub-adult pair over the plains from the track west of SMdM (M10, 9), and adult over Arroyo de la Vid and an adult over the Black Wheatear site.

Bonelli's Eagle  Hieraaetus fasciatus
The highlight of the trip for me. A distant bird was seen displaying from the Pena Falcon viewpoint in the Monfrague was followed by good views of a pair from Punte del Cardenal, Monfrague. When I thought it couldn't get any better a crippling pair were seen low over the EX208 just north of Zorita.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
18 birds seen, predominantly over dehesa habitat.

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Frequently seen in the plains, but distant birds were not always identified beyond Kestrel sp. Best views were the breeding birds at Trujillo Bull Ring (M12).

Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus
Seemed far less common than Lesser in Extremadura.

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
14 birds seen during the trip. Pairs occasionally noted in steppe areas visited, plus 3 calling birds seen when searching for the Dupont's Larks.

Quail Coturnix coturnix
Frequently heard from suitable habitat. Seemingly very common.

Purple Swamphen    Porphyrio porphyrio
1 bird seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1) east of the road on our first visit, 3 there on our second included one west of the road. Easy to get good views at this site.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Noted at most wetland sites visited, very common in the north eastern rice fields (M17, 6-10)

Coot Fulica atra
Only 2 birds seen at Embalse del Salor

Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax
Excellent views of birds on the Belen Plains (M12) and the steppe west of SMdM (M10, 5-8). 19 birds seen in total.

Great Bustard Otis tarda
31 birds seen in total during the trip, again on the Belen Plains (M12) and the steppe west of SMdM (M10, 5-8).

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Common in the northern rice fields, especially in the area south of the village of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6). Also seen at Embalse de Sierra Brava (M17, 2) and just south of Trujillo.

Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Seen on both the Belen Plains (M12) and the steppe west of SMdM (M10, 5-8). 8 birds seen in total.

Collared Pratincole   Glareola pratincola
1 seen in flight from the old bridge over the rio Gargaligas south of Madrigalejo (M17, 7), then a flock of 10 gave excellent views in fields from the road we found south of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6).

Little-ringed Plover    Charadrius dubius
The most frequent wader we recorded in Extremadura, with breeding pairs seen at many wetland sites visited. A flock of 22 in the paddy fields near Los Guadalaperales (M17, 8) were presumably migrants.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
A flock of 9 were seen on a paddy field south of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6).

Dunlin Calidris alpina
2 seen in the northern rice fields. One with the flock of Little Ringed Plovers, one with the Ringed Plovers!

Redshank Tringa tetanus
3 migrants seen in the northern rice fields, one in Muddeman site 17 area 10, the other 2 on the Los Guadalaperales loop (M17, 8).

Greenshank Tringa nebularia
10 migrants seen while birding the northern rice fields.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
9 birds seen at various wetland sites; Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), Embalse del Salor and the northern rice fields (M17).

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Only seen in the northern rice fields where 2 flocks totalling 50 birds were seen south of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6) and north of Madrigalejo (M17, 4)

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
One seen at Embalse del Salor was our only record.

Mediterranean Gull   Larus melanocephalus
A cracking adult summer bird was with the flock of Black-headed Gulls we found on a paddy field south of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6). Only a vagrant in Extremadura.

Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
Common in the northern rice fields, breeding at Embalse de Sierra Brava (M17, 2) and seen frequently at areas M16, 4 and M17, 6. Also two birds on one occasion at FSM.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Only seen from the track west of SMdM (M10, 5-10), as described above. 15 birds seen in total.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
Only seen from the track west of SMdM (M10, 5-6). 7 birds in 2 groups.

Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral'
Common, not religiously recorded.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Occasionally noted.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Frequently seen, 22 birds on 7 days.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Reasonably common, 21 birds seen on 5 days.

Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
4 birds seen. A pair showed very well sat on fence wires on the Belen Plains (M12), then fly-pasts at the Spanish Imperial Eagle site west of Torrejon el Rubio and on the steppe west of SMdM (M10, 6). Listen for their calls.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Frequently heard throughout, 3 birds seen.

Scop's Owl Otus scops
Heard nightly at FSM, with 4 birds simultaneously the high count. 2 birds seen on one occasion. Also heard calling from the gorge at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton in broad daylight.

Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
2 young, and eventually a fantastic adult, seen very well at Portilla del Tietar in the Monfrague.

Little Owl  Athene noctua
5 birds seen at steppe sites visited.

Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis
2 birds seen and 1 more heard at Mirador de la Bascula in the Monfrague. Birds showed from 21:30 onwards.

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Only seen in the Monfrague at Pena Falcon, La Bascula and breeding under the bridge before Punte de Cardenal. Seen in small groups, up to 6 birds at once.

Swift Apus apus
Commonly seen throughout. All Swift sp. recorded as this species, but when searching it did genuinely seemed far commoner than the Pallid.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
15 seen on 4 days. Best views in the evenings opposite the Bull Ring in Trujillo (M12)

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
3 birds seen.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster
A delightfully common sight throughout Extremadura.

Roller Coracias garrulous
2 birds seen roadside posts on the EX390 just before the start of the good steppe track west of SMdM from the western entry (M10, 10) then 2 more just after starting along the track. A pair were seen nesting at the start of this track (M10, 5), and a further 2 birds seen in the Vegas Atlas area of the northern rice fields (M17, 6).

Hoopoe Upupa epops
Seen daily, 36 birds seen. Best views were in steppe and dehesa areas.

Great Spotted Woodpecker   Dendrocopos major
1 heard calling from the walks near the military building, Puerto de Navacerrada in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Calandra Lark  Melanocorypha calandra
Seen in steppe habitat where steppe was good quality. 56 recorded, excellent views at times.

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
In Extremadura 6 birds seen on the good steppe road west of SMdM, mainly between sites M10 7-9. A further pair in Extremadura seen south of Vegas Atlas in the northern rice fields (M17, 6) where we had the Collared Pratincoles. Commonly seen in the plains of the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton, while Dupont's searching.

Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti
A main target bird for the trip, and a disappointing dip. Up to 8 birds heard along the access track to the gorge at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton but none seen.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Common

Thekla Lark Galerida theklae
Neither searched for, nor rigorously identified. Recorded mainly in dehesa, and with excellent views while searching for the Dupont's Larks.

Woodlark Lullula arborea
Regularly heard from suitable habitat. Excellent views of birds at FSM and behind Mirador de la Bascula in the Monfrague (M4).

Skylark Alauda arvensis
Only seen and heard at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton while Dupont's searching (really is an excellent area of Larks!). 6 recorded.

Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris
Seen daily, even 3 birds on two occasions over FSM! Common in the Monfrague and at the gorge at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton

Barn Swallow Huirundo rustica
Very common

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
Quite common, especially in lowland habitats. Excellent views of pairs whenever roads cross small streams, as almost all small bridges on the plains seemed to have hold a breeding pair.

House Martin Delichon urbica
Very common, the most frequently recorded hirundine.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
I thought we were going to dip after not seeing any in Extremadura (few and far between?) until we saw 3 birds well at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton while Dupont's searching.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Seen occasionally at wetland sites and near streams.

Grey Wagtail   Motacilla cinerea
One bird seen in the valley that runs parallel to the road to Valdesqui in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
9 birds seen and heard throughout.

Dunnock Prunella modularis
Only seen in the high Sierra de Guadarrama, mostly around Valdesqui.

Robin Erithacus rubecula
Again only seen in the high Sierra de Guadarrama, mostly around Valdesqui.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Commonly heard in suitable habitat. Occasional birds showed. Most frequently recorded from areas of riverside vegetation.

Iberian Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros aterrimus
Seen in the Monfrague (with best views behind the parking area at Pena Falcon), in the gorge at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton and commonly in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Common in most habitats, especially steppe and cultivated areas.

Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura
One pair seen very well at the site described above near Campillo de Deleitosa

Northern Wheatear   Oenanthe oenanthe
Only seen at Valdesqui in the Sierra de Guadarrama, where 4 were around the car park.

Western Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica hispanica
Seen in small numbers throughout, 15 birds recorded on 7 days. Birds seen around M11 3-7, M10 7-10, near the Black Wheatear site and commonly in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton.

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Excellent views of birds in the Monfrague (Pena Falcon and Castillo best) and in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton. 27 birds recorded on 5 days. Male display flights were great to look down on from the Castillo!

Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis
One male bird showed really well in the valley that runs parallel to the road to Valdesqui in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Blackbird Turdus merula
Noted throughout, especially in dehesa.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Only 6 seen on 4 days. A bird of open wooded areas.

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Frequently heard from riverside vegetation, excellent views at both Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), and the old bridge over the rio Gargaligas (M17, 7) in the northern rice fields.

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Commonly heard in the plains. 38 birds recorded.

Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides
A bird was heard reeling on our first visit to Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), from the reeds east of the road. On our second visit we watched a pair frequently visiting a nest in reeds close to the road.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Only seen at Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1), max count 4 birds, and one in the northern rice fields.

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Single birds heard once at both Embalse de Arroyocampo (M Q1) and beyond the western end of Embalse del Salor. However, this species was common along the rio Gargaligas in the northern rice fields, with excellent views gained from the old bridge (M17, 7).

Melodious Warbler   Hippolais polyglotta
A singing bird seen at the Spanish Imperial Eagle site west of Torrejon el Rubio was our only record.

Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia [hortensis] hortensis
After hard work on two visits we eventually found a singing bird between Arroyo de la Vid to the Castillo car park in the Monfrague. Things were much better in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton where we had excellent views of 3 birds between the car park and the gorge, and one in the stream-less valley'.

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Common in Extremadura, though like all the Sylvia of the region hard to get a good views of.

Western Subalpine Warbler  Sylvia [cantillans] cantillans
Only seen and heard in the Monfrague. Time and effort in suitable habitat brings rewards, suggesting they are commoner than initial feelings suggest. Best views were 3 singing males from the tracks leading southwest from the Mirador de la Bascula car park.

Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata
1 bird heard singing from the stream-less valley' along the access track to Ermita de San Frutos' in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton, but wasn't seen. A theme from that morning. AKM only saw one in scrub behind Punte del Cardenal in the Monfrague.

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
First seen at once at FSM, then a bird seen just before Mirador de la Bascula in the Monfrague. Later two males seen well in the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton; one in scrub behind the gorge and then one in the stream-less valley'.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Only seen in the high Sierra de Guadarrama. Seen near Puerto de Navacerrada and along the road to Valdesqui.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
3 seen together behind the car park at Valcotos in the high Sierra de Guadarrama.

Iberian Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca iberiae
Excellent views of a singing male bird from the trails starting near the military building, Puerto de Navacerrada in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus irbii
Common in the Monfrague, especially around the Castillo. Also seen at FSM.

Coal Tit Parus ater britannicus
Only seen in the high Sierra de Guadarrama, where common and seen & heard throughout.

Crested Tit Parus cristatus
2 seen on the trails leading from the military building, Puerto de Navacerrada in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Great Tit Parus major
Seen in small numbers throughout.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
Seen throughout, commoner than Great Tit

Short-toed Treecreeper  Certhia brachydactyla
Quite common in Extremadura, frequently heard from wooded areas. Very common and seen daily at FSM.

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
13 birds seen and heard on 8 days. Best views at FSM.

Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
A common roadside bird in Steppe habitat. 29 birds seen on 6 days.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Commonly seen in dehesa and scrub habitat. 45 birds seen on all 9 days.

Jay Garrulus glandarius
Only seen in the Monfrague, 8 birds seen.

Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyana
Very common in Dehesa and scrub habitat.

Magpie Pica pica
Common

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Only seen in the gorge at the Parque Natural de Hoces del rio Duraton, where c.70 birds gave a fantastic, close aerial display. None seen in the Monfrague, where others have reported them.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Common

Carrion Crow Corvus corone
2 seen over the fishponds in Trujillo (M12), then the only other bird we saw was in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Raven Corvus corax
Common

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Very common throughout

House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Abundant

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Frequently seen in steppe and scrub areas, best views where birds were breeding around stork and raptor nests.

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Only seen in the northern rice fields where 5 birds were seen across the area

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia
Our first 3 birds were found just south of Monroy at M11, 8. Then birds seen in the Monfrague (M4), one pair at Arroyo de la Vid and one pair on the rock face below the Castillo.

Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Only seen at FSM where two pairs were breeding.

Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
Seen at 3 sites in the northern rice fields. 6 were along track M17, 3 then 20+ were breeding in the reeds below the old bridge over the rio Gargaligas (M17, 7). Finally 10+ were feeding in a crop field east of Vegas Atlas (M17, 6). Red Avadavat breed late in the European season, not until the autumn. Consequently birds had not gained their red breeding plumage (as shown in the Collins Bird Guide) and had red limited to only their rump and upper tail-coverts.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Occasionally seen throughout in dehesa habitat.

Serin Serinus serinus
Common

Citril Finch   Serinus citrinella
Surprisingly common (!) in the high Sierra de Guadarrama. 18 birds seen; 8 around Puerto de Navacerrada town, 4 on the trails near the military building at Puerto de Navacerrada, 4 along the road to Valdesqui and 2 at Valcotos.

Greenfinch   Carduelis chloris
Occasionally noted. 7 birds on 3 days.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Common

Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Occasionally noted. 14 birds on 5 days.

Common Crossbill    Loxia curvirostra
One bird seen from the trails starting near the military building at Puerto de Navacerrada in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Hawfinch     Coccothraustes coccothraustes
One fly-over at FSM was our only record.

Cirl Bunting    Emberiza cirlus
One pair seen at FSM, and one bird heard from the Black Wheatear site. Otherwise only seen and heard in the Monfrague; 2 birds round the Castillo, 1 at Arroyo de la Vid and 1 behind Punte del Cardenal.

Rock Bunting Emberiza cia
Seen well around the Castillo and the Pena Falcon in the Monfrague, then excellent views of 10 birds in the high Sierra de Guadarrama.

Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Abundant.