SPRING TOUR FOR DAVID AND KATH

ITINERARY

Day 1: Tuesday 17th April

Arrival Madrid Terminal 1: 16.00
Arrive at Casa Rural El Recuerdo by 20.00

Day 2: Wednesday 18th April

Santa Marta de Magasca region

Day 3: Thursday 19th April

Jaraicejo and Villuercas

Day 4: Friday 20th April

Monfragüe

Day 5: Saturday 21st April

Belén Plains and Tozo reservoir

Day 6: Sunday 22nd  April

Zorita Plains and ricefields

Day 7: Monday 23rd  April

Santa Marta de Magasca

Day 8: Tuesday 24th  April

Arrocampo, Madrid

TRIP REPORT

Day 1

With the flight from Liverpool arriving early, we were able to leave Madrid in good time. As we headed west on the motorway heading for Extremadura, a  storm developed, with very dark clouds and rather spectacular lightning. Despite the wind and the rain, White Storks were seen en route, as well as Black Kites and up to three Short-toed Eagles. We arrived mid-evening at Casa Rural El Recuerdo, in time for dinner and drinks by the fire.

Day 2

After breakfast we headed west from Trujillo, before taking a minor road towards Santa Marta de Magasca. It was a sunny morning with quite a fresh breeze blowing, which gradually abated during the day. After passing through a belt of woodland we stopped to scan across fields at a edge of the plains, seeing Trujillo silhouetted against the morning sun to the east. We quickly found three Stone Curlew and also a couple of groups of Griffon Vultures standing at the top of the field. Close by a male Little Bustard displayed, revealing its distinctive black and white chevron neck pattern, whilst uttering its far-carrying call. We heard and then saw three Pin-tailed Sandgrouse fly by in front of us, landing, but out of view. Shortly afterwards another three were seen. Meanwhile small flocks of Spanish Sparrows lined up on the fence wires close by.

We stopped again a little further along the road and watched, albeit distantly, a displaying male Great Bustard: its white-plumaged posturing increasing its visibility considerably. A pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo provided prolonged and close views whilst a Booted Eagle soared overhead. We paused to watch the wonderful sight of a herd of cattle being moved along the drover’s trail in front of us, the cowherds standing with their sticks in an almost timeless portrait.

We then headed north of Santa Marta de Magasca to visit a colony of Montagu’s Harriers and watched as males and females drifted, twisted and turned over the cereals. A Montpellier Snake basked on the road. A dark-phase Booted Eagle drifted over whilst shortly afterwards we watched a Montagu’s Harrier mobbing a Red Kite, the latter dwarfing the former. After coffee in the village, we stopped for lunch beside the Rio Tamuja. Here we watched Crag Martins at their nests below the bridge, as well as passing Short-toed Eagles and Booted Eagle. Following lunch, we drove out of the valley and stopped to look at an obliging Woodlark on a roadside wire. As we did so, a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles drifted over, providing superb views.

After lunch we explored a track crossing the steppes west of Cáceres. Lesser Kestrels were seen on wires and hunting over the plains and a pair of Rollers were seen, the male courtship feeding the female. More Montagu’s Harriers were seen quartering the plains. We watched a Black Kite mobbing a Black Vulture, reminding us of the morning’s incident of the Montagu’s Harrier and Red Kite. On both occasions the size difference between the species concerned was enormous. We saw four or five Black-eared Wheatears. The area was productive for Short-toed Lark as well, several feeding on the road just in front of the car. We had good views of a male Ortolan Bunting beside the road.  A Black Stork drifted northwards overhead, whilst groups of White Stork fed in the fields, and we also found further Little and Great Bustards.

Day 3

It was a fine, calm day, although it got cloudier during the afternoon and we had a short shower of rain. We headed first to the lavender and broom heath land near Jaraicejo. As we entered the heath, a Western Orphean Warbler was heard and briefly seen in the isolated holm oaks close to the road. We quickly found Dartford Warblers and Thekla Larks and had excellent views of both. In a cork oak grove we disturbed a couple of female Red Deer and heard a few bursts of Golden Oriole song. Overhead a Short-toed Eagle soared and a couple of Black Stork circled the trees. We obtained initially distant views of Spectacled Warbler, but then found a male quite close to the track, clearly with young birds nearby as it was seen on several occasions carrying small caterpillars.

We took coffee in the shade of some cork oaks beside the Arroyo de la Vid, with Nightingales and Subalpine Warblers singing close by. We then drove east to the Villuercas mountains, stopping for lunch in the narrow gorge of the Rio Almonte. A Cirl Bunting sang nearby whilst a Grey Wagtail was seen flying upstream. Overhead, as well as a Short-toed Eagle, a dark-phase Booted Eagle and vultures. We got brief views of a Golden Eagle flying over. Driving up to the village of Cabañas del Castillo, we found a small flock of Rock Sparrow beside the road. Parking at base of the village, we walked towards the crags which tower behind the houses, to a gap which affords magnificent views to the mountain range to the east. Here we had excellent views of a singing male Black Wheatear, as well as Peregrine, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and a cliff-climbing Short-toed Treecreeper, which sang from the top of boulders.

We drove back to El Recuerdo through the dehesas of Aldeacentera and Madroñera, a wonderful, wild, unspoilt corner of Extremadura.

Day 4

Although starting overcast, the weather cleared later, although there was a thunderstorm over Trujillo in the late afternoon. We drove north from Trujillo to visit the newly designated National Park of Monfragüe, famous for its breeding populations of raptors. At the castle, we obtained superb views of the surrounding landscape, especially the huge expanse of largely uninhabited dehesa to the south. A Red-billed Chough passed by close several times, whilst we also heard Hawfinch, Bonelli’s Warbler and watched an obliging male Rock Bunting singing. A pause at the famous Griffon Vulture breeding colony at Peña Falcon, also produced the view of a copulating pair of Egyptian Vulture, perched atop the impressive cliff face. We then headed straight to the cliffs of the Portilla del Tietár, at the northern edge of the park, hearing Western Orphean Warbler singing from roadside trees as we drove there.

Within minutes of arriving we were treated with the spectacle of an adult Eagle Owl bringing what looked like a dead rabbit to the nest to feed the month-old chicks as well as a fly-over Spanish Imperial Eagle, all whilst we were preparing a quick coffee from the thermos! We saw the eagle pass over again, before we left the viewpoint, stopping to watch Rock Sparrows in the cork oak dehesa close the road heading north.

We stopped for lunch in a belt of pines overlooking the dam of the Rio Tajo. Crested Tits called and we had excellent views of a Turtle Dove, as well as Great Spotted Woodpeckers. From there we stopped to look at the nesting Black Kite opposite the Mirador de Tajadilla. Our final stop was the cliff of Peña Falcon. We had distant views of a juvenile Spanish Imperial Eagle there, as well as excellent views of Blue Rock Thrush.

Day 5

With the weather improving, we spent the morning on the Belén Plains, to the north-east of Trujillo. The stone walls and large rolling fields, with hills and mountains forming a distant periphery, make the Belén Plains a very attractive landscape. We stopped frequently along the quiet minor road crossing the area to scan. Good views were obtained of four Stone Curlew, as well as Little Bustard and about ten Great Bustard, the latter comprising mainly a group of post-lekking males, which majestically strode across the pasture, occasionally feeding, the light showing their rich upperparts to perfection. Calandra Larks chased each over the meadows, and performed their slow-motion flapping song flight. There were also good numbers of Short-toed Lark. We saw two female and a male Montagu’s Harrier, as well as Short-toed and Booted Eagles. We had coffee near a tree-nesting colony of White Storks, where Cattle Egrets (along with Spotless Starlings and Jackdaws) were using the storks’ nests as infrastructure for their own nests. At the edge of the plains we found a large group of perhaps over a hundred Griffon Vultures, as well as several Black Vulture and two Egyptian Vulture on the ground.

We then had lunch followed by a walk in the nearby dehesa close to the reservoir of the Rio Tozo. On the reservoir itself was a Spoonbill as well as several pairs of Great Crested Grebe, about 30 Gadwall, Mallard and Little Egret. Vultures and Black Kites were regularly overhead, we saw a Black Stork on arrival, whilst the vegetation close to the river attracted butterflies such as the Spanish Festoon. Hoop Petticoat Narcissus were still in flower, as were good stands of Barbary Nut Iris.

In the evening, Dave and Kath walked to the Hotel Rural Viña Las Torres (about a kilometre away) and were rewarded with views of Scops Owl.

Day 6

A warm sunny day again, although a fresh easterly wind was a feature most of the time. Our first stop was the Sierra Brava reservoir, which was rather quiet, although we had good views of three Black-eared Wheatears, two Great Spotted Cuckoo and two Great Bustard (from the main road). A Gull-billed Tern patrolled the water’s edge. Descending from the reservoir to the rice-growing area called Casas del Hito, we watched half a dozen Collared Pratincoles on a ploughed field at very close range. A pair of Kentish Plovers were found at the back of the field and on a nearby damp field we were able to watch a Kentish Plover, along with three Ringed Plovers and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers. A small group of Spotted Redshank, in breeding plumage flew off from another field, whilst eight Greenshank fed in an adjacent field. Three Lapwing flew over, stragglers from the large winter flocks here. As we left the area, we had excellent views of a Black-winged Kite in flight, the first of several Rollers for the day and a singing Common Chiffchaff in a holm oak.

After coffee, we drove the explore the arable plains near Vegas Altas which produced more Rollers and Montagu’s Harrier as well as several Tree Sparrow. We found a lunch stop close to the Rio Ruercas, with vegetation full of the song of Nightingales, Great Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warbler. Two Melodious Warbler were found. Red Avadavats formed small flighty flocks in the ditches, whilst a larger channel also supported Reed Warblers. 

Finally we drove up onto the plains south of Zorita. As we entered the area another four Roller were seen on roadside wires, we got distant views of both Bustards and watched Montagu’s Harriers hunting in the afternoon sun.

Day 7

A hot sunny day and we concentrated on the plains to the east of Santa Marta de Magasca, approaching them from the Cáceres side. Stopping to scan a large field, we heard the distant but distinctive calls of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Checking the next, equally large field, we found two Pin-tailed Sandgrouse on the ground, feeding close to a large flock of sheep. Whilst we are watching these we heard the purring call of Black-bellied Sandgrouse and brief views were obtained of one landing close to the Pin-tailed, but out of view behind a ridge. We decided to stay and wait, watching a pair of Stone Curlew, a  Great Bustard in display, calling Little Bustards and Short-toed Lark as we did so. Our patience was rewarded with first the call and then the appearance of another Black-bellied Sandgrouse, which settled close to a ewe which had seconds before just lambed. We got good views of it on the ground, before it took off and flew past, circled and settled again out of view.

Please with seeing both species of sandgrouse on the ground, we proceeded along the road, taking us through wide open plains, with a couple of watercourses, where Crag Martins nested under the tiny bridges and Broad-bodied Chasers, recently emerged, rested on the bank side vegetation. In these areas, the lavender was an intense purple, as were swathes of Purple Bugloss on the plains. We got good views of an Ocellated Lizard and Swallowtail butterfly. Migrant Whinchats and a male Common Whitethroat was also seen.

We had lunch overlooking the Guadiloba reservoir, watching two Little Stint, a pugnacious Common Sandpiper, six Collared Pratincoles, a Lapwing, Black-winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plover, a Lesser Black-backed and a Black-headed Gull all sharing a little island together.

Finally we spent an enjoyable hour or so visiting the historic main square and medieval centre of Trujillo, watching Pallid Swifts amongst the Common Swifts, as well as excellent views of Lesser Kestrels.

Day 8

Our final morning took us to the reservoir of Arropcampo, used to provide cooling water for the power station at Almaraz. It is fringed by reeds and reed mace and is the largest expanse of such habitat in Extremadura. We watched large Purple Swamphen chicks negotiating the reed stems, along with a parent, whilst a very close Savi’s Warbler seemingly sang non-stop. From the same vantage point we also saw Marsh Harrier, three distant Black-crowned Night Heron, and a male Little Bittern. Walking further, we had brief views of Common Waxbill and then excellent views of an adult Penduline Tit feeding two recently fledged juveniles. Further still, we saw a Great Egret fly in to stand beside the reeds, as well as several Purple Heron. A few Sand Martin passed overhead, and good numbers of Bee-eaters busied themselves over the fields. Inevitably, time was running out and we started our journey back to Madrid airport, stopping briefly at a motorway service station which boasts an impressive House Martin colony in its porch, attracting the interest of even the most jaded traveller!

BIRDS RECORDED

After a generally late spring, summer migrants started arriving in strength during the week, whilst some winter visitors were still present and an interesting range of passage migrants were also moving through. This combination of factors helped to make the week’s total of species an impressive 150, all seen within an hour’s distance of Casa Rural El Recuerdo (and most much closer than that).

1. Little Grebe: Singles present on small pools near Trujillo.

2. Great Crested Grebe: pairs present at Arrocampo, and the reservoirs of Sierra Brava, Tozo and Guadiloba.

3. Great Cormorant: small numbers seen at Monfragüe, Guadiloba, Arroyo de la Vid and Arrocampo. About ten flying over the plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April.

4. Little Bittern: A male seen at Arrocampo on 24th April.

5. Black-crowned Night Heron: Three at Arrocampo on 24th April.

6. Cattle Egret: Seen almost daily, with colony on Belen Plains.

7. Little Egret: Seen at the Tozo reservoir and at Arrocampo.

8. Great Egret: One at Arrocampo on 24th April.

9. Grey Heron: Seen almost daily.

10. Purple Heron: Several seen at Arrocampo on 24th April.

11. Black Stork: Singles over the plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April and near Tozo reservoir on 21st April, otherwise three or four at Jaraicejo on 19th April and  Monfragüe on 20th April.

12. White Stork: A common bird seen daily.

13. Spoonbill: One at Tozo reservoir on 21st April.

14. Gadwall: About 30 at Tozo reservoir on 21st April with pairs at Sierra Brava, Guadiloba and Arrocampo.

15. Mallard: Seen almost daily.

16. Black-winged Kite: One seen at Casas del Hito on 23rd April.

17. Black Kite: Very common and seen every day, often in double figures.

18. Red Kite: Seen on just three days, much less common than previous species.

19. Egyptian Vulture: Seen at Monfragüe, near Santa Marta de Magasca and  the Belén plains (when four to six seen).

20. Griffon Vulture: Seen every day, in treble figures on plains of Santa Marta de Magasca, Belén and Monfragüe.

21. Black Vulture: Seen almost daily, often in double figures.

22. Short-toed Eagle: Seen almost every day. Over 12 sightings in Santa Marta de Magasca area on 18th April.

23. Marsh Harrier: Seen on drive down from Madrid, rice fields and Arrocampo.

24. Montagu’s Harrier: Seen in good numbers on the plains near Santa Marta de Magasca (over 30 sightings on 18th April), Belén plains and Zorita.

25. Common Buzzard: Seen almost daily.

26. Spanish Imperial Eagle: An adult bird soaring in Monfragüe on 20th April and a juvenile seen briefly there on later that day.

27. Golden Eagle: One adult over Rio Almonte near Cabañas del Castillo on  19th April.

28. Booted Eagle: Seen almost daily. Pale phase greatly outnumbering dark phase. About ten sightings in Santa Marta de Magasca area on 18th April.

29. Bonelli’s Eagle: A pair near Rio Tamuja on 18th April.

30. Lesser Kestrel: Seen every day.

31. Common Kestrel: Seen almost every day.

32. Peregrine Falcon: Good views of a single at Cabañas del Castillo on 19th April.

33. Red-legged Partridge: Seen most days.

34. Quail: Calling birds recorded almost daily.

35. Water Rail: Heard near pool at Casas del Hito on 22nd April and at Arrocampo on 24th April.

36. Moorhen: Seen almost daily.

37. Purple Swamphen: Good views, including an adult with two chicks at Arrocampo on 24th April.  About ten birds seen overall. 

38. Common Coot: Recorded at Tozo reservoir.

39. Little Bustard:  Calling males and single females seen on plains near Santa Marta de Magasca (ten sightings) on 18th April, on Belén Plains and Zorita Plains.

40. Great Bustard: Seen, including displaying males on plains near Santa Marta de Magasca, Zorita Plains and Belén Plains. Perhaps 30 birds seen overall.

41. Black-winged Stilt: Seen almost daily. About ten at Guadiloba on 23rd  April.

42. Stone Curlew: Three seen near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April, four on Belén plains on 21st April and two near Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

43. Collared Pratincole: About 40 seen at various sites in rice fields on 22nd April and six at Guadiloba on 23rd April.

44. Little Ringed Plover: At least one pair (perhaps two) at Casas del Hito on 22nd April and a pair at Guadiloba on 23rd April.
45. Ringed Plover: Three at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.

46. Kentish Plover: Two or three at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.

47. Lapwing: Three at Casas del Hito on 22nd April and one at Guadiloba on 23rd April.

48. Little Stint: Two at Guadiloba on 23rd April.

49. Spotted Redshank: Five at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.

50. Greenshank: Two birds present on Tozo reservoir on 21st April and eight at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.

51. Common Sandpiper: Seen at Sierra Brava and Guadiloba.

52. Black-headed Gull: Small numbers present Sierra Brava and a single at Guadiloba.

53. Lesser Black-backed Gull: Small numbers present Sierra Brava and a single at Guadiloba.

54. Gull-billed Tern: Recorded at Sierra Brava and on the rice fields on 22nd April

55. Black-bellied Sandgrouse: Two seen west of Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

56. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse: At least six seen east of Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April and two west of Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

57. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon: Seen daily.

58. Wood Pigeon: Seen almost daily.

59. Collared Dove: Seen daily.

60. Turtle Dove: Two at Monfragüe on 20th April and a pair on Zorita Plains on 22nd April.

61. Great Spotted Cuckoo: Two near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April, two at Sierra Brava on 22nd April and a single at Arrocampo on 24th April.

62. Common Cuckoo: Heard and sometimes seen almost daily.

63. Scops Owl: Heard and seen on evening of 21st  April at Pago de San Clemente.

64. Eagle Owl: Excellent views of adult and two chicks in Monfragüe on 20th April.

65. Little Owl: Seen on all visits to plains near Santa Marta de Magasca and Belén. Heard most evenings.

66. Red-necked Nightjar: Heard at sunset on 23rd April at Pago de San Clemente

67. Alpine Swift: Seen at Cabañas del Castillo and Monfragüe.

68. Common Swift: Seen daily. Over a hundred over the plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April

69. Pallid Swift: Seen in Trujillo.

70. Kingfisher: Seen on Rio Ruercas and at Arrocampo.

71. Bee-eater: Seen daily.

72. Roller: A pair west of Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th and 23rd April. Over ten seen on rice fields on 22nd April.

73. Hoopoe: Common and seen daily.

74. Green Woodpecker: One seen at Pago de San Clemente on 21st April.

75. Great Spotted Woodpecker: Heard at Jaraicejo and seen at Monfragüe.

76. Calandra Lark: Common on open plains.

77. Short-toed Lark: Seen near Santa Marta de Magasca, Belén and Zorita.

78. Crested Lark: Common and seen daily.

79. Thekla Lark: Seen at Jaraicejo, Santa Marta de Magasca and Belén.

80. Woodlark: Seen near Santa Marta de Magasca, Tozo Reservoir and also heard most nights from El Recuerdo.

81. Sand Martin: Seen at Casas del Hito and Arrocampo.

82. Crag Martin: Seen almost daily.

83. Barn Swallow: Common and seen daily.

84. Red-rumped Swallow: Seen daily, although in lower numbers than usual.

85. House Martin: Common and seen daily.

86. Tawny Pipit: Brief views near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th and 23rd April.

87. Yellow Wagtail. Two seen near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April and one seen on Zorita plains on 22nd April.

88. Grey Wagtail: Two on Rio Almonte near Cabañas del Castillo on 19th April.

89. White Wagtail: Seen almost daily.

90. Wren: Singing almost daily at Casa Rural El Recuerdo.

91. Robin: Singing at Monfragüe on 20th April.

92. Nightingale: Heard and sometimes seen every day.

93. Black Redstart: Seen at Cabañas del Castillo and Monfragüe.

94. Stonechat: Common and seen daily. Several pairs feeding fledglings.

95. Whinchat: Six passage birds seen on plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April, a single on Zorita Plains on 22nd and two near Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

96. Northern Wheatear: Passage birds seen on plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April (over ten seen) and 23rd April.

97. Black-eared Wheatear: Four or five seen on the plains near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April, one at Monfragüe on 20th April, three at Sierra Brava reservoir on 22nd  April and one near Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

98. Black Wheatear: Male at Cabañas del Castillo on 19th April.

99. Blue Rock Thrush: Seen at Monfragüe and Cabañas del Castillo.

100. Blackbird: Seen daily.

101. Mistle Thrush: Seen in dehesa near Cabañas del Castillo and Monfragüe.

102. Cetti’s Warbler: Recorded at Monfragüe, the rice fields and Arrocampo (where seen very well, singing in the open).

103. Zitting Cisticola: Recorded on plains near Santa Marta de Magasca, the rice fields, Belén and Arrocampo.

104. Savi’s Warbler: Four or five seen singing at Arrocampo on 24th April.

105. Sedge Warbler: One heard at Arrocampo on 24th April.

106. Reed Warbler: Recorded at Arrocampo and Palazuelo.

107. Great Reed Warbler: Singing birds at Arrocampo and Palazuelo.

108. Melodious Warbler: Two seen at Palazuelo on 22nd April.

109. Dartford Warbler: Excellent views on the heath at Jaraicejo on 19th April.

110. Spectacled Warbler: Good views on the heath at Jaraicejo on 19th April.

111. Subalpine Warbler: Males seen at Jaraicejo on 19th April and Monfragüe on 20th April.

112. Sardinian Warbler: Seen almost daily.

113. Western Orphean Warbler: Heard and briefly seen at Jaraicejo on 19th April and heard at Monfragüe on 20th April.

114. Common Whitethroat: Male on passage on plains west of Santa Marta de Magasca on 23rd April.

115. Blackcap: Seen and heard at Monfragüe on 20th April.

116. Bonelli’s Warbler: One singing at Monfragüe castle on 20th April.

117. Chiffchaff: One singing at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.
 
118. Willow Warbler: One singing at Jaraicejo on 19th April.

119. Long-tailed Tit: Seen on several days.

120. Crested Tit: Heard and briefly seen at Monfragüe on 20th April.

121. Blue Tit: Seen daily.

122. Great Tit: Seen daily.

123. Nuthatch: Recorded at Jaraicejo and Monfragüe.

124. Short-toed Treecreeper: Recorded at Cabañas del Castillo and Monfragüe.
 
125: Penduline Tit: Adult feeding fledglings at Arrocampo on 24th April.

126. Golden Oriole: Heard at Jaraicejo on 19th April and seen at Casas del Hito on 22nd April.

127. Southern Grey Shrike: Seen almost daily.

128. Woodchat Shrike: Seen daily.

129. Jay: Seen in Monfragüe and the Villuercas.

130. Azure-winged Magpie: Common and seen daily.

131. Magpie: Common and seen daily.

132. Red-billed Chough: A single at Monfragüe castle on 20th April.

133. Jackdaw: Common and seen almost daily.

134. Raven: Common and seen daily.

135. Spotless Starling: Common and seen daily.

136. House Sparrow: Common and seen daily.

137. Spanish Sparrow: Seen almost every day.

138. Tree Sparrow: Seen in the rice fields near Vegas Altas.

139. Rock Sparrow: Three near Cabañas del Castillo and at least one at Monfragüe.

140. Red Avadavat: Common in reed-filled ditches in rice fields.

141. Common Waxbill: Three or four at Arrocampo on 24th April.

142. Chaffinch: Seen almost daily.

143. Serin: Common and seen daily.

144. Goldfinch: Common and seen daily.

145. Linnet: Recorded Cabañas del Castillo and Jaraicejo.

146. Hawfinch: One seen near Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April and heard (briefly seen) at Monfragüe castle on 20th April.

147. Cirl Bunting: Recorded near Cabañas del Castillo and at Monfragüe..

148. Rock Bunting: Seen at Monfragüe and Cabañas del Castillo.

149. Ortolan Bunting: Male on roadside in plains west of Santa Marta de Magasca on 18th April.

150. Corn Bunting: Common and seen daily.