Trip Report: Southwestern Spain, April 16-25, 1998

Participants: Richard Dunn, Alan Jack and Andy McLevy

Having read the trip reports and the sight guides we decided that Spain had a lot to offer, so we booked a flight to Faro in Portugal from Manchester (it was cheaper to fly from Manchester to Portugal than it was to fly from Newcastle to Spain). The cost of the return flight was £139.00. The car hire was £150.00 for ten days (the car was a brand new Ford Escort with less than 500Kms on the clock.)

The route we chose was as follows:
Into Spain via Castro Marim on the Portuguese-Spanish border then on to the Coto Doñana for a couple of days, then drive north through the steppe regions to Extremadura, based in this region at Monfragüe, with one day north into the Sierra de Gredos mountains, then return south back to the Coto Doñana, then out of Spain via Castro Marim again.

Getting around was fairly easy although the Spanish road signs leave a lot to be desired, more than once when following signs (!) we ended up heading in the wrong direction, and the roads that you have to travel to get to the Lucio Cerrado Garrido are appalling with huge potholes and the tarmac crumbling away in places, but the birding made it worthwhile. We used two maps: Michelin map 444 Madrid Castilla - La Mancha Extremadura and Michelin map 446 Andalucia Costa del Sol. For site guides we used Gosney's guides Northern and Southern Spain, these were found to be fairly reliable, and part of a trip report by Tim Allwood which we got from Steve Whitehouse.

Our original plan had been to camp but after a first night in which the wind blew a gale and it rained as well we decided to use pensiones or hostales after that, these worked out to be very good value for what was on offer, the cost was about £7.50 per night, and with cheap meals on offer these were excellent.

Itinerary

16/4/98

Arrived at Faro at around about 11 am, picked up the car and drove straight to Castro Marim on the Portuguese border with Spain. We spent about two hours here and in the area saw over 100 Cattle Egrets at a colony, a couple of Squacco Herons and a Pallid Swift as well as a Bee-eater and small numbers of waders. From here we travelled into Spain and down to the Coto Doñana. We visited the reserve centre at Acebuche, highlight here was a pair of Ferruginous ducks, then on to the bridge at La Rocina the highlight here being over 400 Greater Flamingos on the lagoon. Camped overnight at Rocio Playa, the wind blew a gale, it rained very hard, the Germans arrived to pitch their tents very late and the Spanish partied very loud and late into the night. The weather started out quite good but went downhill after 6pm to the conditions described above.

17/4/98

All day in the Coto Doñana, at La Rocína and on the roads into Doñana to Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre. These areas proved to be excellent, highlights being: Marbled duck, breeding Glossy Ibis, Lesser Short-toed Lark, over 200 Collared Pratincoles standing on the track we were driving on, huge flocks of Cattle Egret and over 300 Greater Flamingos some of which had downy young. Overnight at Pension Cristina in El Rocio. The weather was partly cloudy with a cool wind but dry all day.

18/4/98

AM at La Rocína, then on to Bonanza and Laguna de Tarelo via the Pinzon marshes. Late afternoon and we headed north towards Extremadura. La Rocina was just as good as yesterday, Pinzon wasn't bad either, with good numbers of Collared Pratincole, 4+ Purple Gallinules, lots of Purple Heron and three Night Heron. We weren't impressed with Bonanza so gave it the thumbs down and went for White-headed Duck at Laguna de Tarelo. On the way north we travelled the N630 road from Seville, just before K708, 2 male Little Bustards flew over the road, after an emergency stop, a scan of the area revealed another 6 male Little's and 2 male Great Bustards plus 8 or more Calandra Larks. Overnight in a roadside hotel (the Hotel Zafra). The weather was warm during the day but cool late on and dry all day.

19/4/98

Travelled from the hotel (were we had Great Bustard from the room window) to La Serena via the N432 (K88 male Little Bustard, 2 male Black-eared Wheatear and 2 Stone Curlew) then the C437 (K5 13 male Great Bustard and 3 displaying male Montagu's Harriers) then the C413 (from the bridge were the road crosses the Rio Matachel we had a Black Vulture and 20 Griffon Vultures, then just up the hill were the road levels out and heads into the Dehesa we had a Black-shouldered Kite fly over the road) to Castuera. La Serena was excellent, loads of Bustards (at a lunch stop, we had from one vantage spot 30 Great Bustards). A small wood by the side of the road acted like an oasis drawing in migrants; it had Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler as well as Spanish Sparrows nesting in a Black Kite's nest, this is right next to the road about 20 feet up and the Kite was on the nest being bugged by the sparrows. From here we travelled on to Monfragüe via the Embalse De Zújàr were we had Spectacled Warbler and a large flock of Spanish Sparrows. As we approached Torrejón el Rubio, about 1 Km from the southern edge of the village, a Black-shouldered Kite flew over the road and hovered over the fields to the west. Overnight at Pension Monfragüe at Torrejón el Rubio, the weather was hot all day with rain at dusk.

20/4/98

Monfragüe all day, excellent: 150+ Griffon Vultures in the air together, 4 Imperial Eagles, Black Vultures nest with well grown chick in the nest, Eagle Owl out on the crag seeing off Griffons, male Rock Thrush, Black Storks at the nest and Bonelli's Eagle. Monfragüe is a fantastic place to go birding, the birds are everywhere, look up at any one time and you will see an eagle, kite or vulture, we had 4 species of eagle and 3 of vulture. Overnight at Pension Monfragüe, Torrejón el Rubio. Weather hot all day.

21/4/98

Travelled north-east to the Gredos mountains, here we saw Short-toed Eagles, Egyptian, Black and Griffon Vultures, Bonelli's Warbler, Crested Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Firecrests and Short-toed Treecreepers. Travelled back to Monfragüe from the north just for another look at the Peñefalcón, on the way a Wild Boar was a distraction as it stood in the middle of the road. Overnight at the Pension Monfragüe. Weather hot all day, although for a short time we were above the snow line in the Gredos mountains, and the wind wasn't very warm up there.

22/4/98

Start of a long journey south, headed west from Torrejón el Rubio on the CC912. Before the turning for Monroy there is a line of pine trees which cross the road with nesting White Storks. Tracks head north and south from the road, we took the track to the north and walked for about a kilometre and scanned the area and more or less straight away had Black-shouldered Kite. In this area there were in total 4 Black-shouldered Kites, a pair that treated us to a fabulous display, mating and a food pass plus 1 bird coming to perch at about 150m from us. Also here were Great Spotted Cuckoos (3) Spanish Sparrows (20+) and a singing Golden Oriole. At the bridge over the Rio Almonte there was Alpine Swift (5) and Black Wheatear. Between the river and the minor road that heads towards Trujillo there are nest boxes on the pylons and telegraph poles. These boxes have Rollers, we counted 26 birds. Following the minor road towards Trujillo then towards Santa Marta de Magasca we saw more Great Spotted Cuckoos (4), Little Bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier (10), more Rollers, Black Vulture and over 1000 Spanish Sparrows in three flocks. From here we headed for a couple of tracks mentioned by Gosney as being excellent, here we had Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse (2 male, 1 female) and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (25+) more Montagu's Harrier, Rollers and a Black-eared Wheatear. From here we drove south back to El Rocio in the Coto Doñana, which was a disaster because when we arrived (after midnight) the accommodation was closed, and with nowhere to stay we slept in the car. The weather was rain showers on and off all day, hot when the sun shone, cold when it rained.

23/4/98

Easy birding around El Rocio after a rough night's kip in the car. At La Rocina the Purple Gallinules showed well with the chicks, and after watching an adult eat the reed stems we christened them "Eating Machines", deft control with foot and bill peeling off the outer layer and taking bite size morsels very rapidly. Down the track towards Cañada Mayor, here we had 18 sightings of Booted Eagle in 2 1/2 hours, loads of Nightingale, a couple of Short-toed Treecreepers and found a set of Lynx tracks. A chat with a warden with radio tracking equipment told us that there were 7 pairs in that area. A visit to the grounds of the Palacio de Acebron produced a Melodious Warbler, with another 3 at La Rocina; we believed these to be new arrivals as they weren't present earlier in the week. Overnight at the Pension Cristina. Weather very hot all day.

24/4/98

Birding around the Coto Doñana towards the Lucio Cerrado Garrido Centre following the route in Gosney, Southern Spain. As mentioned earlier in the week these roads are terrible, the birds however are fantastic. Not much different from the first visit but we did have 2 Great White Egrets, and there appeared to be passage happening with at least 37 Griffon Vultures and 2 Black Storks moving through. If following the Gosney route for this area, just before you turn off tarmac and onto gravel there is a pool on your right. This small pool was excellent, on 4 stops as we passed this pool we saw Pin-tailed Sandgrouse twice, loads of White Storks, a Black Stork, large flocks of Cattle Egret, Greater Flamingo, Gull-billed Tern and hundreds of Collared Pratincole. From here we drove towards the Portuguese border to Isla Cristina. On the salt marsh here there was Avocets, Spoonbill and Little Tern. Camped overnight at Isla Cristina. Weather was very hot all day.

25/4/98

As we left the campsite a couple of Stone Curlews could be heard. Over the border into Portugal and a very quick look at Castro Marim again, Curlew Sandpiper 15+, Little Stint 2, Stone Curlew flying, Greenshank and 18 Greater Flamingo, then on to Airport at Faro for a 12 noon flight to Manchester, the last bird seen from the steps of the plane was a White Stork.

From picking the car up on the 16th to returning it on the 25th we travelled 2631 Km (1635 miles)

Classified List

1. Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
   Common in the Coto Doñana.

2. Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
   Common in the Coto Doñana at suitable wetlands.

3. Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
   2, Coto Doñana on 17th at the, single at Laguna de Tarelo on the 18th.

4. Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
   6 at La Rocína on the 17th and a single on the 18th.

5. Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
   40+ in the reeds at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, 2 over La Rocína on the 18th and 3 near Pinzon the same day, 3 over La Rocína on the 24th and only 6 seen at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 24th compared to the 17th.

6. Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
   2 at Castro Marim in Portugal, 1 at La Rocína on the 17th & 23rd, 2 at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 18th & 24th.

7. Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
   Common with some large flocks counted, seen in all areas visited from the Coto Doñana to Monfragüe, with a nesting colony at Castro Marim in Portugal.

8. Little Egret - Egrettta garzetta
   Common, seen in all areas visited from the Coto Doñana to Monfragüe.

9. Great White Egret - Egretta alba
   2 non-breeding plumage birds at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 24th.

10. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
    Common in the Coto Doñana.

11. Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
    Common in the Coto Doñana, with nests noted at Acebuche and Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre.

12. Black Stork - Ciconia nigra
    Nesting birds in Monfragüe at the Peñafalcon and near the Tiétar cliffs also two migrants seen in the Coto Doñana on the 24th, 1, a sub-adult (the other didn't stop).

13. White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
    Very common all areas, even nesting on the overhead road signs on the road to Madrid (NV E 90) and on tower blocks in the centre of Cáceres.

14. Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
    Nesting birds noted at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th & 24th with over 20 birds on both dates.

15. Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
    12 at La Rocína on the 16th & single on the 24th, 20+ at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, single at Pinzon on the 18th and 9 at Isla Cristina on the 24th.

16. Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber
    Common, over 600 birds near the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre (with small young) on both visits, also at La Rocína and at Castro Marim (18) on the 25th.

17. Gadwall - Anas strepera
    Up to 6 at La Rocína, Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre and Acebuche on all visits.

18. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
    Noted at all wetlands

19. Shoveler - Anas clypeata
    Single male on the days at La Rocína.

20. Marbled Duck - Marmaronetta angustirostris
    3, 2 male 1 female on the 17th and 2 male on the 24th at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre

21. Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina
    Common in the Coto Doñana.

22. Pochard - Aythya ferina
    12 at Acebuche on the 16th & 23rd.

23. Ferruginous Duck - Aytha nyroca
    pair at Acebuche on the 16th, male at Acebuche on the 23rd.

24. White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala
    7 male,1 female at Laguna de Tarelo on the 18th.

25. Black-shouldered Kite - Elanus caeruleus
    6 birds seen: 1 flying over the road about 2 Km N from the Rio Matachel on the C413 (19th), this road runs to Castuera at La Serena, 1 flying over the road about 1 Km S of Torrejón el Rubio (19th) and 4 (22nd) birds in one area near the Monroy turn off on the CC912 from Torrejón el Rubio to Cáceres, for this site look out for a line of pine trees on both sides of the road, with nesting White Storks, from the trees walk N for about 1 Km and scan to the N.

26. Black Kite - Milvus migrans
    Common all areas, nest found at La Serena 19th and 13+ scavenging dead fish from a ditch at the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre 24th.

27. Red Kite - Milvus milvus
    Seen on most days but never numerous, at Acebuche, near Trujillo (12), in the Gredos mountains (2), at the Rio Almonte (3), S of Caceres (2).

28. Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
    Seen only in Extremadura, up to 2 at Penefalcon on the 19th - 21st, at the Tajo bridge on the 20th, 3+ at the Tietar cliffs on the 20th, 2 S of Torrejón el Rubio on the 21st, near Extremadura station on the 21st, near Barca on the 21st, 2 S of the Rio Almonte on the 22nd.

29. Griffon Vulture - Gyps fulvus
    Common, seen all areas, 150+ in the air together at the Penefalcon, also nesting here with young noted here and on the Tietar cliffs. Passage birds coming through the Coto Doñana with over 35 birds on the 24th (same day as Black Storks and 2 Great White Egrets).

30. Black Vulture - Aegypius monachus
    Seen only in Extremadura, single birds, on the 19th, S of Rio Matachel going down to land out of sight, N of Rio Matachel, at Penefalcon, on the 20th at Penefalcon, at the White hut site on the nest, at Tietar cliffs, at Tajo bridge, on the 21st at the Puerto del pico pass in the Gredos mountains, 2 near Trujillo on the 22nd.

31. Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus
    Near Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre 17th, N of Seville 18th, La Serena and the Embalse de Zujar on the 19th, 2 at Tietar cliffs 20th, 3 in the Gredos mountains on the 21st.

32. Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus
    Seen only at the Coto Doñana on the 17th, 18th and 24th.

33. Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus
    Locally common near Trujillo with up to nine birds in one small area, seen on the 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th and 25th.

34. Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
    Monfragüe only, single 20th and 21st.

35. Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
    Common seen all areas on all days but the last.

36. Spanish Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca
    Monfragüe only, 4 sightings of three birds on the 20th, juvenile at Penefalcon, pair at the nest at the white hut site and single at the Tietar dam.

37. Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus
    Common, seen all areas, e.g. 18 sightings of at least 10 birds during a 2 1/2 hour walk in the Coto Doñana on the 23rd

38. Bonelli's Eagle - Hieraaetus fasciatus
    Single at Penefalcon on the 20th

39. Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
    Common, large flocks seen near Trujillo and in Cacereas as well numerous small groups and singles. After a while most kestrels sp. were given just a glance

40. Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
    Common, after a while most kestrels sp. were given just a glance

41. Hobby - Falco subbuteo
    Singles Coto Doñana 17th and in the Gredos mountains on the 21st

42. Peregrine - Falco peregrinus
    Penefalcon on the 19th and 20th (2) with food pass seen.

43. Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
    only 3 seen but many heard at birding stops as we travelled north.

44. Quail - Coturnix coturnix
    common, heard all over the place.

45. Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
    common

46. Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio porphyrio
    seen at La Rocina 17th-18th and 23rd-24th, at least 5 adults with young on each date, also 4+ at Pinzon marshes on the 18th

47. Coot - Fulica atra
    common

48. Little Bustard - Tetrax tetrax
    Common, seen in all suitable grassland areas on the 18th, 19th and 22nd, first seen flying over the road, 2 male, on stopping we found another 6 male in a small area of grass next to the road.

49. Great Bustard - Otis tarda
    Common, seen in all suitable grassland areas on the 18th, 19th and 22nd, also seen from our hotel bedroom window on the morning of the 19th, during a lunch stop driving through La Serena from one vantage point we could see 30 birds spread out over the area including males displaying.

50. Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
    Very common Coto Doñana

51. Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
    Common Coto Doñana

52. Stone Curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus
    Two seen at K88 on the N432 near Zafra on the 19th, heard Isla Cristina on the 24th, seen Castro Marim on the 25th

53. Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
    Common seen all areas, with over 200 birds on the track towards Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, very approachable in the car.

54. Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
    Pair at small reservoir by the C413 near Campillo de Llerena, pair at the river behind El Rocio.

55. Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula
    Seen at Castro Marim and at La Rocina lagoon

56. Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus
    Common at Coto Doñana

57. Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
    Seen at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina on the 16th, 24th and 25th.

58. Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
    A few in the Coto Doñana displaying on the 17th and 24th

59. Little Stint - Calidris minuta
    30+ at Algaida salt pans near Bonanza on the 18th

60. Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
    15+ at Castro Marim on the 25th

61. Dunlin - Calidris alpina
    Seen at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina

62. Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
    100+ in the Coto Doñana on the 17th

63. Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
    Single at La Rocína on the 23rd

64. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
    Seen in the Coto Doñana on the 17th and at Castro Marim on the 25th

65. Curlew - Numenius arquata
    Seen at Isla Cristina on the 24th - 25th

66. Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus
    Seen at Castro Marim on the 16th and at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 24th

67. Redshank - Tringa totanus
    Noted at the Coto Doñana

68. Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
    30+ at La Rocina lagoon on the 16th - 17th and in Doñana on the 24th

69. Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
    Single noted at La Rocina lagoon on 16th and 23rd

70. Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
    Seen on passage at La Rocina lagoon and on territory at suitable areas inland

71. Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus
    Seen at the Coto Doñana on the 16th - 17th

72. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
    Noted at Coto Doñana

73. Yellow-legged Gull - Larus cachinnans
    Noted at Coto Doñana

74. Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica
    9+ on the tracks to the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th, with 6+ in this area on the 24th and 10+ in the Pinzon area on the 18th

75. Little Tern - Sterna albifrons
    Common at Castro Marim and Isla Cristina

76. Whiskered Tern - Childonias hybridus
    Common to abundant in the Coto Doñana

77. Black-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles orientalis
    3, 2 male 1 female on the 22nd on one of the tracks near Trujillo mentioned in the Gosney guide.

78. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Pterocles alchata
    Seen at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre on the 17th (2), at the small pool near the turn off for Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre (2) on two dates 17th and 24th and near Trujillo, on one of the tracks near Trujillo mentioned in the Gosney guide on the 22nd (25+)

79. Rock Dove - Columba livia
    Feral birds noted on all dates "real" birds on the 20th at Monfragüe

80. Woodpigeon - Columba palumbus
    Seen all dates in all areas

81. Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
    Heard on the 17th near El Rocio, common at Isla Cristina 24th - 25th

82. Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
    Seen at Rocio Playa campsite on the 17th, heard at Rio Matachel on the 19th, El Rocio on the 23rd - 24th and at Castro Marim on the 25th

83. Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius
    2 at the Black-shouldered Kite site off the CC912, 3 on the minor road to La Encilla farm at the junction with the CC912 and 1 near Santa Marta de Magasca all on the 22nd

84. Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus
    Fairly common, noted in all areas.

85. Scops Owl - Otus scops
    Heard on the 20th at Finca Carrascal, a Black-shouldered Kite site near Torrejón el Rubio.

86. Eagle Owl - Bubo bubo
    Adult seen at Tietar cliffs on the 20th, perched out in the open preening, at one stage a Griffon Vulture landed close by and the owl flew at it chasing it away, others had 2 adults with 2 young here on the same day

87. Swift - Apus apus
    Common all areas

88. Pallid Swift - Apus pallidus
    Single seen Castro Marim on the 16th, "lots" between Lebrija and Trebujena near Bonanza on the 18th and noted in the El Rocio area on the 23rd

89. Alpine Swift - Apus melba
    Large flock in the distance from the Castle at Monfragüe looking east along the ridge on the 20th, 5 much closer at the bridge over the Rio Almonte on the 22nd.

90. Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
    1 - 3 at La Rocina on the 17th - 18th and 23rd.

91. Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
    Common all areas

92. Roller - Coracias garrulus
    Common, south of the Rio Almonte towards Caceres were they use nest boxes on telegraph poles at the side of the road, also towards Santa Marta de Magasca, all on the 22nd

93. Hoopoe - Upupa epops
    Common all areas

94. Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
    Noted on 4 dates

95. Calandra Lark - Melanocorypha calandra
    Common in the Coto Doñana on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre also common at La Serena.

96. Short-toed Lark - Calandrella brachydactyla
    Common Coto Doñana on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre

97. Lesser Short-toed Lark - Calandrella rufescens
    Seen only on tracks towards the Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre, easy to see midway between the end of the tarmac and the centre

98. Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
    Common, even seen at the sides of motorways

99. Thekla Lark - Galerida theklae
    Common, more grey coloured than the rusty Crested.

100. Woodlark - Lullula arborea
     Common in Extremadura and the Gredos mountains

101. Skylark - Alauda arvensis
     Seen only in the Gredos mountains on the 21st on the road to the car park from Hoyos del Espino.

102. Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
     Common around the Coto Doñana

103. Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
     Common in the Extremadura region, nesting on crags and under bridges

104. Swallow - Hirundo rustica
     Common

105. Red-rumped Swallow - Hirundo daurica
     Locally common

106. House Martin - Delichon urbica
     Common

107. Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris
     One seen very briefly on the 17th near El Rocio

108. Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta
     Single at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

109. Iberian Wagtail - Motacilla flava iberiae
     Common in the Coto Doñana

110. Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea
     2 seen on mountain streams in the Sierra De Gredos on the 21st

111. White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
     Common in the Monfragüe area

112. Dipper - Cinclus cinclus
     Seen on mountain streams in the Sierra De Gredos on the 21st

113. Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
     Noted on five dates

114. Dunnock - Prunella modularis
     Common at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

115. Robin - Erithacus rubecula
     Noted in Monfragüe and the Sierra De Gredos

116. Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos
     Common all areas

117. Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros
     Common in the Monfragüe area

118. Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus
     Single passage male in a small wood at the roadside in La Serena

119. Stonechat - Saxicola torquata
     Common all areas

120. Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe
     Noted at La Serena and in the Gredos mountains

121. Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica
     2 males at K88 on the N432 near Zafra on the 19th and 1 male near Trujillo on the 22nd

122. Black Wheatear - Oenanthe leucura
     1 male at the bridge over the Rio Almonte on the 22nd

123. Rock Thrush - Monticola saxatilis
     Single male on the crags below the castle in Monfragüe on the 20th

124. Blue Rock Thrush - Monticola solitarius
     Common in suitable areas

125. Blackbird - Turdus merula
     Common all areas.

126. Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
     Single near Torrejón el Rubio on the 21st

127. Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus
     Noted near Torrejón el Rubio 20th - 21st

128. Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
     Common in suitable areas

129. Fan-tailed Warbler - Cisticola juncidis
     Common all areas

130. Savi's Warbler - Locustella luscinioides
     Common in the Coto Doñana

131. Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
     Noted in the Coto Doñana and near Trujillo on the 22nd

132. Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus
     Single Pinzon marshes on the 18th

133. Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus
     Noted at Cerrado Lucio Garrido Centre, Pinzon marshes and La Rocina

134. Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta
     Single at Palacio de Acebron, with another 3 at La Rocina, we believed these to be new arrivals as they weren't present earlier in the week.

135. Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
     2 - 3 at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

136. Spectacled Warbler - Sylvia conspicillata
     3 - 4 at the Embalse de la Serena

137. Subalpine Warbler - Sylvia cantillans
     Heard at the White Hut site in Monfragüe and at Tietar cliffs on the 20th and seen near El Barco in the Gredos mountains on the 21st

138. Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala
     Common all areas

139. Whitethroat - Sylvia communis
     Single at the summit of the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

140. Garden Warbler - Sylvia borin
     Noted in three areas on the 18th, 19th and 23rd

141. Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
     Noted in the Gredos mountains and near El Rocio

142. Western Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli
     3 singing birds in the vicinity of the campsite near Hoyos del Espino on the 21st

143. Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
     Singing birds noted at Monfragüe on the 19th and at Palacio de Acebron on the 23rd, the song was no different to singing British birds

144. Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus
     Single at La Rocina on the 17th

145. Goldcrest - Regulus regulus
     Single near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st

146. Firecrest - Regulus ignicapillus
     2 - 3 at the Puerto del Pico pass and near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st

147. Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
     Single migrant in a small wood at the roadside in La Serena on the 19th

148. Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca
     One male singing nears the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st

149. Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus
     Noted on three dates

150. Crested Tit - Parus cristatus
     2 at the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

151. Coal Tit - Parus ater
     Noted at the Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

152. Blue Tit - Parus caeruleus
     Common at Monfragüe

153. Great Tit - Parus major
     Common all areas

154. Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla
     Seen well at Monfragüe on the 20th (singing from a concrete telegraph pole), near the campsite at Hoyos del Espino on the 21st and a couple near El Rocio on the 23rd.

155. Golden Oriole - Oriolus oriolus
     Singles, flying N at La Rocina on the 17th, in flight from the C413 near Castuera and heard at the Black-shouldered Kite site near Monroy on the 23rd

156. Southern Grey Shrike - Lanius meridionalis
     Common, noted on every day but the 18th.

157. Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator
     Common, noted all areas

158. Jay - Garrulus glandarius
     1 - 2 seen in Monfragüe on the 20th and 22nd.

159. Azure-winged Magpie - Cyanopica cyana
     Common, easy to see, from 15+ in the first flock on the first afternoon to 20+ on the last morning at the campsite at Isla Cristina.

160. Magpie - Pica pica
     Common

161. Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
     2 - 3 seen around the Penefalcon at Monfragüe on the 19th and 2 at Puerto del Pico pass on the 21st

162. Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
     Common in the Monfragüe and Gredos areas

163. Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
     Noted in the Gredos mountains and in the Cáceres area.

164. Raven - Corvus corax
     Common all areas

165. Spotless Starling - Sturnus unicolor
     Common all areas

166. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
     Common all areas

167. Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
     A small colony noted nesting in a Black Kites nest at La Serena on the 19th and possibly 1000+ south of the Rio Almonte towards Trujillo on the 22nd(in 3 flocks)

168. Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia
     1 - 2 noted south of Penefalcon in Monfragüe on the 20th - 21st

169. Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
     Common

170. Serin - Serinus serinus
     Common all areas

171. Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
     Small numbers noted near El Rocio on the 17th and 24th

172. Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
     Common all areas

173. Linnet - Carduelis cannabina
     Common

174. Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes
     2 - 3 noted in Monfragüe on the 20th

175. Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
     Seen only on the 20th at Monfragüe

176. Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia
     Common in Monfragüe and the Gredos mountains

177. Corn Bunting - Miliaria calandra
     Common everywhere

Return to trip reports.