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 Bunting; 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. 37.5°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)
