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Birdingextremadura.com WINTER TOUR FOR ALAN AND LYNN FEBRUARY 2008 |
Birdingextremadura.com WINTER TOUR FOR ALAN AND LYNN FEBRUARY 2008 By Martin Kelsey
ITINERARY Day 1: Wednesday 20th February Pick-up Madrid: 14.20 Day 2: Thursday 21st February Monfragüe National Park Day 3: Saturday 23rd February Plains west of Trujillo and Santa Marta de Magasca Day 4: Sunday 24th February Rice fields near Madrigalejo Day 5: Monday 25th February Jaraicejo, Arrocampo and back to Madrid.
TRIP REPORT Day 1 Martin met Alan and Lynn at Madrid airport, their plane arriving punctually at 13.55. Despite the sometimes threatening clouds, it remained fine all afternoon, with some sunshine by the time we stopped late afternoon for a quick visit to the reservoir of Arrocampo, one of the best wetlands in Extremadura. We went first of all to the pool of Cerro Alto, behind the village of Saucedilla, where groups of Barn Swallows perched on the wires. On the way to Cerro Alto, we had excellent views of a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo, the female settling briefly on a tree, before being chased off by a Magpie. There was a splendid male Stonechat in the some tree and wintering Reed Buntings in the rushes nearby. At Cerro Alto, a pair of Spoonbill afforded us good views along with two Black-tailed Godwit, Green and Common Sandpiper, Lapwing and Shoveler. Raptors included Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier. After stopping for views of roadside Corn Bunting, Crested Lark and Southern Grey Shrike, we checked an area of waterside vegetation where we had close views of several Purple Swamphen, as well as a Great White Egret, Coot and Moorhen. Chiffchaffs darted out of the vegetation to catch flies. There were good numbers of White Storks, their nests balanced high on pylons. Reluctantly we had to pull ourselves away in order to complete our journey, getting to Casa Rural El Recuerdo in time for dinner and an early night. Day 2 With fine weather forecast for the day, we headed north of Trujillo to the Monfragüe National Park. The journey took us initially through the granite outcrops around Trujillo, then across kilometre after kilometre of dehesa (holm oak grazing woodland), until we passed through the small town of Torrejón El Rubio and approached the rocky escarpment of Monfragüe. A bank of fog hung over parts of the ridge, but within minutes it had dissipated, so by the time we reached our first stop, the impressive gorge of Peña Falcón, the cloud had risen to expose almost the whole cliff face. Griffon Vultures were starting to pitch themselves off the rocks and circled gently upwards on a weak thermal. It was not long before the cloud had gone completely and the sky was filled with vultures. We saw a couple of the massive Black Vultures, including one perched on a rock in the sunshine. An Egyptian Vulture also wheeled past, the first of about six that we would see during the day. Closer at hand, Black Redstart, Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush were of interest, as were a pair of Red-billed Chough calling and tumbling above us. Crag Martins wheeled past and then we heard the characteristic barking call of Spanish Imperial Eagles and were pleased to see a pair of sub-adult birds, circling above us, the sun catching the pale leading edge to the wing when the angle was right. A juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle also flew across, appearing very sandy-coloured, with distinct well defined black tips to the primaries. Whilst all of this was going on, a Black Stork stood in a very stately way, on its nest low down the cliff face in small cave. Crossing the River Tajo, we stopped at Villareal de San Carlos and watched House Martins and Swallows collecting mud for their nests. The trumpeting of cranes was heard, and then from the south appeared a ‘V’ formation of about 60 Common Crane. As they approached the formation broke up and for a few minutes the cranes appeared disorientated, almost leaderless. They made a couple of abortive attempts to reform, before circling once more and then heading again northwards in a double ‘V’ formation. It was a wonderful sight. We then drove eastwards, stopping first beside the river and then in a belt of pines. Here we spent several minutes searching for Hawfinches, which were proving elusive, despite showing their proximity to us by frequent calling. Eventually, through perseverance, Alan got a good view of one. We also saw a couple of Red-rumped Swallows. Whilst there, an adult Bonelli’s Eagle swung into view, showing its distinctive plumage clearly. A Peregrine flew below it, dwarfed by the eagle. After lunch there, we proceeded along the road, stopping at a viewpoint to watch a Black Stork in flight and a small group of Azure-winged Magpies. We the proceeded to the gorge at Portilla del Tietár. The highlight here was an incubating Eagle Owl, and we had good views of the bird, especially when it went through an episode of active preening. An adult Spanish Imperial Eagle was also airbourne at one point and there were good numbers of Griffon Vultures. We enjoyed a walk in a nearby Cork Oak dehesa, which seemed full of Chaffinches. We got a glimpse of a Great Spotted Woodpecker and then located by call a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, eventually tracking it down to a bare Ash tree, where we watched it briefly, before it flew overhead. We then returned through the park, making a final stop at Peña Falcon, where we had good views of a perched Red-billed Chough and a pair of Egyptian Vultures with the host of Griffon Vultures. Finally we enjoyed a late afternoon walk beside the Rio Almonte, seeing Thekla Lark, Corn Bunting, Stonechat, Chiffchaff and a very bright male Serin. Day 3 An overnight front had brought high winds and some light rain in the early hours of the morning, and by the time we left Casa Rural El Recuerdo light rain was falling again. However it quickly eased and, apart from a few drops of rain once or twice during the day, we enjoyed dry, if overcast, weather. As we passed through Trujillo three of four Lesser Kestrels were wheeling over the Bull Ring and White Storks were bill clacking from nests perched on most of the old buildings. We took the road west towards Cáceres, leaving it at the junction for Santa Marta de Magasca. After a couple of kilometres of dehesa, we entered open country. We stopped for a scan and fairly quickly found a group of almost 20 Little Bustards, feeding at some distance from us. A pair of Crested Lark was on the ground close-by whilst Corn Buntings appeared to be singing from almost every direction. We drove a little further, stopping beside a large sheep-grazed field. On the sky-line we found a large group of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse feeding and we had good views. Calandra Larks chased each other across the field, whilst nearby an Egyptian Vulture walked purposefully. On the road again, we stopped for a remarkably tame Great Spotted Cuckoo, which sat on the roadside fence right beside us. Nearby was a track from which we scanned the fields. However, a tractor was working, so not much was seen, apart from the White Storks and Lesser Black-backed Gulls following the plough. A fine Red Kite passed overhead whilst Thekla Larks perched on the nearby fence posts. The rain was intensifying slightly, so we moved on towards the village of Santa Marta de Magasca for coffee, but not before getting good views of a pair of Woodlark and our first glimpse of Great Bustard, a rather distant flight view. After our break, we made a stop at the Rio Tamuja, where we enjoyed excellent views of Hawfinches perched non overhead cables, as well as a Kingfisher, Red-rumped Swallows and Crag Martins. Climbing the other side of the valley, we soon entered open country again. A Black Vulture stood massively in a roadside field. Taking a side road, we quite quickly found a small group of Great Bustards and then a larger group (of about 12 birds) which were fairly close and in good light. Nearby a flock of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse settled and we had even better views than which we had been offered earlier on. We then drove to Talaván for lunch, seeing a Golden Eagle in flight whilst driving there, unfortunately from a stretch of road that we could not stop on. However, later we had views of a Golden Eagle in flight and then perched on a nearby small pylon. It was hard to imagine getting closer views of this powerful bird. At a reservoir there were Little and Great-crested Grebe, Teal, Shoveler and Mallard. A female Sardinian Warbler skulked in the bushes close to the car. Thence to Monroy, passing a small group of Common Crane in dehesa close to the road and a female Hen Harrier. South of Monroy we stopped at the Rio Almonte, and one of the first birds seen was a male Black Wheatear, the browner female being seen a few minutes later close by. Overhead an Egyptian and several Griffon Vultures soared, whilst beside the river Chiffchaffs flew upwards in search of insects, and both White and Grey Wagtails patrolled the riversides. A Black Redstart was also present. From the valley we crossed a plateau of open country again, seeing a group of Hen Harriers (two males and two females) heading east, with a large female Sparrowhawk warding them off. At a further stop, we came across a large flock of Linnets, with Greenfinches and Goldfinches, whilst there were also flocks of Skylark and Calandra Lark, the latter showing-off their dark underwings and white training edges. A few minutes at the Rio Magasca yielded a fine male Cirl Bunting, whilst a few minutes later two Black Stork flew over. Finally a return visit to our first stop of the day, gave us an opportunity of closer views of a small group of Little Bustard, including the fine sight of one flying in to join them.
Day 4 A damp and windy start to the day, but following rain in the morning, we enjoyed a progressively sunnier and calmer afternoon. We took the road south, through Zorita and then to the rice-growing region near the town of Madrigalejo. Stopping first near the village of Palazuelo, we watched large flocks of Spanish Sparrows, with males coming into pristine breeding plumage. A female Merlin swept past in its dashing flight. Small parties of Red Avadavats and Common Waxbills bounced ahead of us in the roadside ditches as we crossed the rice fields. Groups of Common Crane were scattered in the area, some close to the road and affording us excellent views. Hoopoes were very common: twos and threes frequently flying up from the roadside. Beside the Rio Ruercas, we took a short walk. Four or five Cetti’s Warblers were singing from dense vegetation, whilst Azure-winged Magpies trooped through the gallery woodland. But the rain at that stage was fairly persistent, so we repaired to a bar for some coffee, but not before spending a few minutes watching about six Stone Curlews at their roost. We then visited another rice-growing area south of Madrigalejo, near the village of Vegas Altas. Here a mosaic of cultivations provided a variety of terrains: maize stubble, rice, cereal crops, plough and fallow. We had just left the main road, when we saw four Black-bellied Sandgrouse in flight. A further exploration there revealed five more sandgrouse and five male Great Bustards, rather distant but well worth studying at length because three of them were already engaged in some lekking display. Whilst we watched them a party of about a hundred Black-tailed Godwit flew over. We checked some wetter fields and found a small group of godwits, as well as Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and many Common Snipe. Whilst we were there four male Great Bustards flew past at incredibly close range and settled nearby to feed. In a flooded field nearby a Water Pipit was found, its plumage changing to summer dress. We then drove onto Moheda Alta for lunch. Common Cranes were in the dehesa woodland as well as the rice and maize stubble. We climbed the embankment of a large pool and were delighted to find a group of 16 Garganey (14 drakes and two ducks). A Little Ringed Plover and three Common Sandpiper provided additional interest, whilst Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were overhead. Following lunch we spent the afternoon in the rice fields around Casas del Hito. Approaching the area, we had wonderful views of a pair of Black-winged Kite. Hundreds of Common Cranes were on the rice stubble, taking off as we approached to settle nearby on out-lying stubble fields or on pasture. Marsh Harriers quartered the area. A party of about 15 Avocet was on the pool of water there, along with Shoveler, Mallard and a few Pintail. On flooded fields a few Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank were present, along with gulls and Lapwing. We returned to the car, walking beside a ditch along which there were no fewer that four Bluethroat, although almost all of our views were of birds in flight., Good numbers of Reed Buntings were also present. We made a final stop at the reservoir of Sierra Brava. The water was quite choppy, but we saw groups of Great Crested Grebe, some Gadwall and a party of Tufted Duck on a small pool. A pair of Lesser Kestrel gave their soft chattering call from a derelict barn. Day 5 Despite night rain, it dawned bright, albeit with a fresh breeze. Farewells were made at Casa Rural El Recuerdo and we headed to Trujillo and then up the motorway to Jaraicejo to make a brief visit to an area of heath. Our target was Dartford Warbler and birds were seen twice in flight. The place was full of Thekla Larks, Corn Buntings and Meadow Pipits. We then made a return visit to Arrocampo and spent about an hour tracking down Penduline Tit. A singing bird was located, but it proved quite elusive in a rather densely foliaged tree, before flying off. However we had good views of Zitting Cisticola, Purple Swamphen, Marsh Harriers and Great White Egret. Soon it was time to make the journey north-eastwards to Madrid and we reached the airport as planned at 13.00, in good time for the check-in and a few minutes to reminisce over the trip’s highlights. BIRDS RECORDED Excellent results were obtained in this short winter break, despite juggling plans to suit the weather, with an overall list of 130 species were recorded.
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CASA RURAL EL RECUERDO Apartado de Correos 28 Phone: +34 927319349
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Martin Kelsey |
