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Birdingextremadura.com WINTER TOUR FOR DEREK AND JOHN |
Birdingextremadura.com WINTER TOUR FOR DEREK AND JOHN By Martin Kelsey
ITINERARY Day 1: Sunday 20th January Pick-up Madrid: 13.30 Day 2: Monday 21st January Ricefields near Madrigalejo (Palazuelo, Vegas Altas and Casas del Hito) Day 3: Tuesday 22nd January Monfragüe National Park Day 4: Wednesday 23rd January Plains west of Trujillo and Santa Marta de Magasca, Monfragüe Day 5: Thursday 24th January Llanos de Belén and River Tozo. Return to Madrid for check-in at 18.45.
TRIP REPORT Day 1: Sunday 20th January Derek and John were met at 13.30, a few minutes later than expected thanks to a piece of luggage that had disappeared momentarily behind the conveyor belt. We set off from Madrid in glorious sunshine and mild conditions, down the motorway towards Extremadura. Stopping just outside Madrid, we had rolls with the fillings of our choice at a local bar-cum-service station. Back on the road, suitably refreshed, we saw the snow-capped Gredos mountains to the north as we headed into the afternoon sun. A few White Stork and a Red Kite was seen on the journey. We stopped at Arrocampo, the vegetation fringed reservoir built to provide cooling water for a power station. At the first observation point, we saw wheeling Griffon and Black Vulture, and an individual of the latter species on the ground as well, along with Marsh Harrier. We checked out a pool set in the dehesa woodland, which had a couple of Purple Swamphen, Great White Egret, Little Egret, an array of ducks and waders, such as Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, as well as Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. We spent longer standing on the ramp of a hide beside the main body of water, where good views were obtained of Purple Swamphen, a Water Pipit was present and the snipping call of Bluethroat was heard, although the bird in question remained elusive. Cetti’s Warbler sang from the vegetation, and we also saw Zitting Cisticola and Spanish Sparrow. Finally, to complete the visit, we returned to our first stop where well over a hundred Magpies were assembling for their roost, as flocks of Jackdaw passed overhead. The sun was close to setting as we set off for the final leg of the journey, reaching Casa Rural El Recuerdo by 19.00, ready for the evening meal and then the day’s tally as we sat by the log fire. Day 2: Monday 21st January Joined by Karin and Brennan, we set off south after breakfast, passing through Zorita and then beside a region of steppe before reaching the large area of irrigated land, largely dedicated to rice production, but with some maize and fruit trees as well. It was a wonderfully clear, warm morning and the day got progressively warmer, becoming spring-like. Beside the village of Palazuelo we stopped to scan the rice fields before us. A group of Little Ringed Plover fed on the damp mud in a close-by field and a Water Pipit was quickly glimpsed. Small family groups of Common Cranes were scattered across middle-distance and a Cetti’s Warbler sang close by. Chiffchaffs actively searched for insects close to the edge of water and sometimes flitted upwards to catch prey in mid-flight. Driving east of the village, we made several stops to enjoy our first closer views of Common Crane, some feeding beside White Stork in the rice stubble. A distant male Hen Harrier quartered the cultivation and a small flock of passage Black-tailed Godwits were seen in flight. Stopping beside the River Ruercas, we watched a group of at least 40 Azure-winged Magpies stream into a field of maize stubble. A few Siskins flew overhead and further along a track beside more maize stubble we found groups of Brambling amongst Spanish Sparrows. Leaving that zone, we stopped at a point overlooking the Sierra Brava reservoir. Distant duck (Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard and a few Pintail) rested on the millpond calm water, but much closer to us was a Black-necked Grebe. Several Red Kites and then an overwintering Black Kite was seen, as well as a tight flock of Golden Plover. But perhaps most extraordinary of all was an exceptionally early Bath White butterfly. A second was seen as we drove away. Our next stop was an area known for a winter roost of Stone Curlew and about 15 were in view, standing or sitting with eyes half-closed on a stony bank, now starting to shimmer slightly with the warmth. We explored the Vegas Altas region, south of Madrigalejo, stopping for lunch in an area of arable cultivation, eating our sandwiches as we watched 12 Great Bustard on a hillside. Another white butterfly was seen, this time not close enough to identify. Groups of Red Avadavats bounced in front of us in small flocks as we drove slowly along the dirt tracks. Finally, we entered another area of rice cultivation known as Casas del Hito. Water Crowfoot flowers were out on roadside pools and we had a second surprise of the day: a Clouded Yellow butterfly, also extremely early. Southern Grey Shrike appeared quite common, groups of Spanish Sparrow adorned the fences and a pair of Tree Sparrow was seen. Out on the rice fields we found Common Crane in larger flocks and also saw both male and ring-tail Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and a few Grey Lag Geese. We spent the afternoon slowly exploring the area, finishing up at a point from which we could watch the Common Cranes assembling in huge flocks, some over a thousand strong, as they gathered to roost. A distant Black-winged Kite hovered over the stubble and flocks of Black-headed Gulls and Grey Lag Geese headed to the Sierra Brava reservoir to roost. A delightful Little Owl appeared on a nearby tree and watched us motionless for easily half an hour. As we drove back after sunset, two more Little Owls were seen. Just before rejoining the main road, we paused to look at the large Cattle Egret roost, with hundreds of hunched white shapes chattering to each other. An early morning walk near the house produced Hoopoe, Serin, Spanish and House Sparrow, Short-toed Treecreeper and Black Redstart. It was a clear and sunny morning as we set off towards Trujillo and thence across the granite outcrops and dropping into the dehesa oak woodland, on our way to the Monfragüe National Park. Just south of Torrejon El Rubio, we hit a bank of fog which persisted for the rest of our journey. We climbed to the castle in Monfragüe, with the ceiling of the fog tantalisingly close. We then stopped at the famous Peña Falcon Griffon Vulture colony, which was also shrouded in fog, so that only a few close perched vultures could be seen. However, we did have a superb view of a singing Hawfinch, perched close to the top of a tree close to the layby. There was also a Blue Rock Thrush and a multitude of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. As we continued, after coffee, towards the centre of the park, the fog thickened, so we retreated to the road below the castle, which by now was enjoying full sunshine. There was an incredible sight of the fog rolling over the escarpment and lying like a huge dollop of candyfloss in the gorge, whilst above us was a clear blue sky. Where rocks were exposed to the sun, the Griffon Vultures were lifting and joining a large spiralling group. We decided that this was the best place to position ourselves and lunch was organised. No sooner had we food in our mouths than two Bonelli’s Eagles appeared and we enjoyed extraordinarily good views of them circling with the Griffon Vultures, in perfect sunshine. Eventually they glided eastwards, but instead of disappearing they settled on the rocks of the escarpment. This gave us a chance to watch them at rest. After a few minutes, the birds got closer and a copulation was seen. Thereafter, they rested in the sunshine, throughout the entire duration of our lunch stop. The stop proved productive for other birds as well: a single House Martin was seen and we had good views of Black Vulture, whilst a Woodlark sang overhead. With the mist seemingly breaking up, we decided to return to the park. We stopped for a few minutes in a belt of pines, hearing Crested Tit and having more sightings of Hawfinches, which appeared to be in considerable numbers there. We then continued to the gorge at the Portilla del Tietár, but this was where the remaining fog persisted and it seemed likely to be staying put there for the rest of the day. We enjoyed a walk in cork oak dehesa: a beautiful habitat with large, well-spaced trees with a mist making things almost ethereal. Although small birds were few and far between, we did see a Firecrest, two Short-toed Treecreepers and many titmice and Chiffchaffs. At 5pm we decided to call it a day for Monfragüe and headed back to Trujillo, the entire journey through sunlit dehesa! After a brief stop in Trujillo to buy some local produce, we went to Pago de San Clemente and took the dirt track to an area favoured by Long-eared Owl. We did not have to wait long to see an owl fly into a pine and shortly after it started its soft hooting, almost like the sound of someone breathing heavily in their sleep. A second bird started calling nearby and then the first bird was seen again to leave the tree, producing its wing-clapping display. It was a special end to a day, which although frustrated by the weather, still managed to produce some outstanding sightings. Another fine, warm and sunny day. Our first stop was a small reservoir on the outskirts of Trujillo where a small group of Black-winged Stilts fed at its margin and Mallard and Shoveler were lit up beautifully in the morning sun. The sunlight helped us at our next stop on the edge of the plains between Trujillo and Santa Marta de Magasca, where the white bellies of Little Bustards were our first cue to locate this wintering flock of about 90 birds as they fed and rested on a gentle slope. From the same vantage point we watched a group of about six Rock Sparrows and then had absolutely superb views of a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo which appeared almost out of nowhere and then flew within feet from us. There were also flocks of Linnet, Corn Buntings and Woodlark sang, and Crested Lark were found on the track before us. Taking the road a few hundred metres more, we stopped near a roadside pool where nearly 150 Golden Plover and a small number of Lapwing rested. However, the main attraction here were three Great Bustard, fairly close on the skyline, in perfect light conditions. The plumage detail that could be seen was superb. At one point the largest male initiated the early stages of display: dropping its wings and seemingly expanding it bulk. It was a magnificent sight. Eventually they flew off in different directions, one coming so close that it almost filled the field of view of our binoculars! Calls of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse could be heard and soon a dispersed flock appeared, flying high, in twos and threes calling and circling around. We made another stop a little further along, on high ground offering a panoramic view. We located a group of about 40 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse on the ground and although distant, their plumage features could be seen. A Great Bustard stood on the skyline and a very distant group of five Black-bellied Sandgrouse were also seen briefly in flight. After coffee in the village of Santa Marta de Magasca, we visited the Rio Tamuja briefly where the wooded slope opposite seemed alive with Hawfinches, although all were elusive. Crag Martins wheeled above us. We then drove north and stopped at the Rio Almonte for a short walk and lunch. The highlights here included good views of a pair of Black Wheatear and very early Wall and Small Copper butterflies. Thence back to Monfragüe to the Portilla del Tietár, which, unlike yesterday, was clear of mist and bathing in afternoon sunshine. Griffon Vultures were incubating on their nests and on the same cliff face early Pallid Narcissus was flowering in clumps in sheltered spots. Although a single distant call of Eagle Owl was heard mid-afternoon and the Spanish Imperial Eagle was also heard calling at a distance, it was not until dusk that things livened up. Two Merlin flew high overheard, presumably to roost. The eagle was heard calling again, and then a brief view was had of the bird flying to roost, somewhere on the other side of the crag. Then just before 19.00, an Eagle Owl was heard calling to our right and brief views were obtained by some as it moved along the skyline towards the cliffs where a second bird started a deeper and louder hoot. The wonderful sound filled the gorge and when it stopped that was our cue to make the journey back in the dark to Casa Rural El Recuerdo.
Day 5: Thursday 24th January
To the north-east of Trujillo lies the Belen Plains and it was here that we spent most of the morning. It was another warm, sunny day and the light was superb on the plains, with the snow-capped Gredos mountains just slightly hazy. The plains were full of flocks of small birds: Spanish Sparrows, Goldfinches, Corn Bunting, Skylark and Linnet. Calandra Lark song filled the sky, whilst Crested and Thekla Lark were seen along the road. We saw at a distance a flock of Little Bustard feeding in a field and whilst watching them, another group flew over and landed. The first group also took off and landed with the others. We repositioned ourselves and were able to see the birds clearly, counting a total of 270 individuals. Some distant Great Bustard were also seen as we progressed across the plain, so we came across others until we reached a total of 57 individuals seen and all in excellent light. The last two birds in particular were closed of all and we were able to watch them preening, showing their wonderfully rich, patterned plumage. Raptors also were around: several Red Kites, Buzzard and Kestrel, Griffon and Black Vulture. Then, along with a Red Kite, we discovered a curious-looking bird, giving us a hind view only, with a long, hooked bill, black head and broad neck and a patterned back. As it turned round, it became obvious that we were looking at a juvenile Egyptian Vulture, perhaps an overwintering bird. It was joined by two other Red Kites and we watched the Egyptian Vulture turning over dried cowpats to find beetles, presumably, beneath them. In the same field, we watched a male Merlin fly up at close quarters and then fly in a curious fluttering flight, imitating as it were the flight of a passerine (reminiscent of a lark or a Mistle Thrush). Nearby we enjoyed excellent views of a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo courtship-feeding. We then moved to the River Tozo, walking through dehesa woodland to a small reservoir. Close to the road was a fine Great White Egret, appearing to be mainly neck! It was the first of three we found there. There were double figures of Little Egret, Woodlark singing (our fifth lark species of the day) and at the reservoir itself there were Black-winged Stilt, Gadwall, Shoveler and Mallard. The warm sunshine brought out early butterflies: Small Coppers and Small Heaths. We stopped briefly in Trujillo for final shopping before an al fresco lunch at casa Rural El Recuerdo, back to Trujillo for a quick visit to the square and then up the motorway to Madrid, arriving at 18.45, well in time for the check-in.
BIRDS RECORDED Good results were obtained in this short winter break with an overall list of 122 birds species were recorded, as well as surprising selection of butterflies as well.
Other records: Butterflies Bath White: One or two at Sierra Brava 21st January. Mammals Roe Deer
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CASA RURAL EL RECUERDO Apartado de Correos 28 Phone: +34 927319349
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Martin Kelsey |
