BIRDWATCHING TRIP REPORT Extremadura April 27 th 4 th May 2015

Transcription

1 BIRDWATCHING TRIP REPORT Extremadura April 27 th 4 th May 2015 Tour leader Chris Mills Participants:- Sally & Reg Dearden, Richard Horton, Philippa Randall & Marian Wootton Roller Chris Mills

2 ACCOMMODATION Our trip was arranged on a Self-catering basis with a continental breakfast provided. We stay in a 3 storey white washed house in a small mountain settlement, there are 2 double rooms with en-suites, plus 2 Twin en-suite bedrooms & 1 single room. The house is a lovely traditional example set in a typical white walled, narrow streeted, Spanish mountain village. Evening meals were not included in the cost of the tour, but were arranged each evening at the local bar & on average a 3 course meal (simple Spanish food) with a couple of glasses of wine cost 15 euros per person. Packed lunches were also provided by the bar at 8 euros per day. FLIGHTS Easyjet flights from Luton & Heathrow to Madrid are reasonably cheap and everyone arrived via Easyjet. MONDAY 27 th APRIL Everyone s afternoon flights arrived at Madrid-Barajas airport on time so by midday we had picked up our 9-seater minibus and were heading south west. En-route Griffon Vulture, Black Kite, White Stork, Marsh Harrier kept us all scouring from the windows of the minibus! A couple of hours later we made our first stop, for a light lunch, but we didn t quite make it directly to the café though! Bee-eaters hawking across the road stopped us in our tracks and we jumped out to enjoy lovely flight and perched views through the scope. Also Quail calling in the nearby field, plus Cattle Egret, Black Kite & White Storks atop their nests. Over a lovely Spanish lunch we watched a lovely singing Serin and our first really good views of Spotless Starling. After lunch it was a short drive to an area of large arable fields, that is interspersed with some remnant steppe habitat, just off the main road. We were soon enjoying views of a range of good birds, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, White Storks, Spotless Starling, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark and Zitting Cisticola were all lovely introduction. Even better were our first Spanish Sparrows, which showed very well, nesting in a nearby well. Another lovely flyover group of Bee-eater, plus a Marsh Harrier and then a pair of Hen Harrier were watched hunting low over the fields. Good birds, if a little frustrating were 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouse that were seen in flight. We reached our base for the week in the delightful hillside village of Cabezabellosa, before we reached the accommodation we saw a Blue Rock Thrush! Then there was time after a cup of tea for some light birding from the accommodation balcony! Most notable was the incredible number of Nightingale singing, from every 50m of vegetation! Also Golden Oriole could be heard nearby, as could 2 Cuckoo. Flying around the buildings were several Pallid Swifts and higher up along the mountain ridge were Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture and numerous Black Kite. We had a nice evening meal at the local bar in Cabezabellosa

3 TUESDAY 28 th APRIL We had a breakfast at 7.30am. We briefly watched a smart male Black Redstart performing and singing from nearby rooftops. We then headed out into the bright morning full of warm sunshine. We headed down the mountain. We drove slowly down, stopping off on the edge of the town, numerous Nightingale and eventually we saw two briefly, followed by lovely views of a singing male atop a bush. We also watched our first Azure-winged Magpie, building a nest, and also one of several singing Golden Oriole perched in view. We stopped again for a pair of Cirl Bunting, plus our first Red-rumped Swallow. There were lots of Serin singing and showing very well and we also noted 2 Raven. We then took a minor lane on the opposite side of the highway making a series of successful stops, here the weedy verges abound with insects and sparrows, finches, corn buntings & larks seem to appear from every roadside verge! We had soon had good views of Crested Lark, Cuckoo, Corn Bunting, Goldfinch and Serin these species are all super abundant! There was also a singing Woodlark, and nice views of Short-toed Treecreeper. One of the target species in this area, gave brief views before a further stop provided everyone with excellent scope views of Rock Sparrow! Just before making our next stop we watched a Black Stork take flight from a stream. We then viewed a series of small pools, there was a good selection of birds - Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, White & Grey Wagtail and Little Ringed Plover. A Black Kite was back and forth from it s nest and on the pools we great scope views of 3 Otters. The nearby fields were alive with larks and bunting, plus we had nice views of Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Grey Shrike and Cuckoo. Following this excellent start, we journeyed the short distance to the world-famous, scenic and bird-rich Monfragüe National Park. Having lunch at Pena Falcon was spectacular, raptors were in profusion, great views of 100 s of Vultures. Griffon, Black and Egyptian Vulture, Booted Eagle, and numerous Black Kite. A Peregrine also announced it s present screaming high above as it circled the rock stack, we also had much improved views of Black Storks, including one sat on a nest on the rock face. Also notable here was a several thousand House Martin, plus Crag Martin, good views of Redrumped Swallow, plus 2 Blue Rock Thrush, great views of Rock Bunting and several Black Redstart. We then headed over to the east side of the park. We were fortunate as we watched many more Griffon and several Black Vultures to start chatting to another birder who was able to point out a Spanish Imperial Eagle. It was a great scope view of the female Spanish Imperial Eagle sitting on the nest complete with a single chick! After a very successful afternoon, we drove south out of the park, briefly stopping for more Golden Orioles and Azure-winged Magpie. We enjoyed a nice evening meal at the local bar before heading back to the accommodation.

4 Egyptian Vulture Chris Mills Griffon Vulture Chris Mills

5 Montagu s Harrier Chris Mills Calandra Lark Chris Mills

6 WEDNESDAY 29 th APRIL Today we were joined by local birders and friends Michel & Jenny Viskens, there local knowledge of the birds and area made for an excellent day. We started the day in some lovely cork oak forest and dehesa habitat. Nice views of several Hoopoe, singing Woodlark and Mistle Thrush, 2 Rock Sparrow, Azurewinged Magpie, a Short-toed Eagle overhead and nice close views of Woodchat Shrike. We then explored an area on the edge of the wetland area of Arrocampo, Michel had found a pair of Black-winged Kites nesting in this area and we were rewarded with excellent views as the birds perched and hunted along the fields. Not too faraway we also found a Stone Curlew, whilst 3+ Quail monotonously called from nearby meadows, despite sounding as though we could reach out and touch them we still couldn t see them! We then moved on to the main wetland area, herons, egrets and other waterbirds were plentiful. Several Purple Heron were beautiful to watch in flight and fishing. A short vigil and we were soon watching a lovely view of a Little Bittern. Nearby Reed warbler, Great Reed Warbler and Savi s Warbler were all vocal but difficult to see in windy conditions. From the next area several Great Egret, Little Grebe, and Purple Swamphen appeared and disappeared amongst the reed beds and pools. Out over the open water c15 Gull-billed Tern gave fly-by views. After a high level lunch stop with great views over a dam area, we headed to a quarry area, where we eventually located Black Wheatear, also here great overhead views of Egyptian and Griffon Vulture. We then drove west to an area near Gallisteo arriving there late afternoon, after a frustrating wait, a calling Penduline Tit eventually showed well, along with a Great Reed Warbler. Lots of Nightingale, Red-rumped Swallow, Golden Oriole and a Bee-eater colony added to the enjoyment! A short drive to some more pools produced 10 Black-winged Stilt, 14 Spoonbill, several Iberian form Yellow Wagtail, Woodchat and Iberian Grey Shrike, plus c20 Red Avadavat and a Little Owl. We finished the day off in Plasencia with White Storks and Lesser kestrel colony, before having dinner in a riverside restaurant. Plus 4-5 calling Scops Owl as we left the restaurant later! THURSDAY 30 th APRIL Today we headed to the steppes! Picture vast, flower-filled meadows, wide open, sun-soaked vistas, the buzzy, mimicry-rich songs of countless Calandra Lark. Every stop we made seem to yield great views of spectacular species!! We started with a Great Spotted Cuckoo which after being heard eventually showed well, flying right past us. The next stop was special a Little Bustard eventually appeared after just head top views, then 3-4 Great Bustard all to the back drop of least 10 Montagu s Harriers, over the area, surely the most graceful of all raptors. We enjoyed lunch here as overhead the numerous Larks and Corn Buntings were singing, serenading as we watched the spectacle that was in front of us. After lunch a short drive and we were watching the awesome Rollers, these are truly spectacular birds, and every third pole seemed to be occupied with a Roller or Lesser Kestrel, wonderful! As we slowly moved along the lanes, we were next stopping for a large raptor that came up off the ground a young Spanish Imperial Eagle, it was quite close and we had good flight views. Late afternoon we searched for Sandgrouse but it was probably too hot and late in the day, but we did enjoy more Larks, Shrikes and also several Short-toed Lark. After a hot day in the steppe we enjoyed the evening with cool beers and tapas in the local bar.

7 Iberian Grey Shrike Chris Mills Rock Bunting Chris Mills

8 Corn Bunting Chris Mills Hoopoe Chris Mills

9 FRIDAY 1 ST MAY We started today by walking in the beautiful wooded hillsides of Cabezabellosa. The woodland afforded good and improved views of some of the commoner species, Short-toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch. But will be best remembered for great views of several target species! Several Thekla Lark, were singing and unusually easy to see, this was shortly followed by good views of several Melodious Warbler and then quickly followed by Spectacled Warbler, a Dartford and Sardinian Warbler proved less obliging providing brief views, but this was more than compensated by stunning views of a male singing Black-eared Wheatear! This was then followed up with a singing Pied Flycatcher the Iberian form. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard briefly and also more views of Black Kite, Nightingale, Short-toed Treecreeper, Serin, Cirl Bunting, and Hoopoe. We then headed north and took a minor road up into higher woodland, this first area produced wonderful views of a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, we heard Iberian Green Woodpecker but it refused to show itself. Here we also had good views of Cirl Bunting, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, all in a beautiful blossom-filled setting. We then headed into higher conifer forest and after a couple of stops we eventually secured good views of Coal and Crested Tit. Then a little higher, we had a stunning close up of a singing male Firecrest. We continued heading up, the valley was beautiful with hilly deciduous woodland, meadows and pine. Another stop and this time great views of a singing Western Bonelli s Warbler, this bird eventually showing at close range, plus Common Whitethroat. Climbing further up and out into the high altitude scrub we were met with low cloud, and cold conditions. Plenty of singing Skylark, a Northern Wheatear but no sign of our other target species so I decided we would drop back down and return tomorrow when much better weather was likely. Evening meal at Cabezabellosa. SATURDAY 2 ND MAY Before heading back up to the mountain resort area, we explored the woodland just below our village at Viller de Plasencia. A good selection of repeat views of many species in this area, but we did very well in securing good views of a pair of Orphean Warblers, probably at a nest site, plus another singing male was heard as well. We then headed back up to the high mountain area, this proved to be a good decision in much better weather conditions. We started off with nice views of a Subalpine Warbler, this was nice, but was soon surpassed by a stunning male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, it gave lovely scope views and a female was present as well. Higher up we came across numerous Northern Wheatear and 2 Tawny Pipit. The main target species in the high areas is the beautiful form of Bluethroat azuricollis ( Gredos Bluethroat, these were proving elusive! I took a long loop walk and located a male Ortolan Bunting. I fetched the group down to see this and incredibly as we arrived back at this point a male Bluethroat rose up, displaying and singing, only to disappear again into vegetation. But we were soon ecstatic as not only the Ortolan Bunting re-appeared but was sat just a few feet from a singing Bluethroat! Both in the same scope view. Feeling very satisfied we headed up to the top for a late lunch. After lunch we saw several more Wheatear and eventually located a Water Pipit in the high boggy pools. We dropped back down the mountain, 1-2 Woodlark, plus great views of another singing Subalpine Warbler and Whitethroat. We then stopped off in Hervas where we had easy and great views of a pair of Black-bellied Dipper. We finished the day off at the pools previously visited, but it was quite hot and clearly much quieter we did enjoy lovely close flight views of a pair of Red-rumped Swallow back and forth from their nest. Evening meal at Cabezabellosa

10 Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Chris Mills Brown Hare Chris Mills

11 Red-rumped Swallow Chris Mills Lesser Kestrel Chris Mills

12 SUNDAY 3 rd MAY With most of our target species now safely under the belt, we decided that we would re-visit the plains with the hope of securing Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. We arrived early in the Hinojal area and after several stops and scanning, I was fortunate to locate a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse on the ground less than 150m away and once everyone had their scopes trained on the bird we had lovely views. It eventually got up and moved giving brief full views before disappearing from view. We again enjoyed the proliferation of Larks and also enjoyed a further 15 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse in small flights, their calls drawing attention to them. Also in this area ringtail Hen and Montagu s Harriers. An interesting and unusual observation was a group of flyover migrant 7 Gull-billed Tern. We returned to Monfrague NP in the afternoon to try for the one species that had eluded us Bonelli s eagle, unfortunately the weather was not ideal. We did enjoy lovely views of four purring Turtle Dove, plus in flight Alpine Swift, 2 Egyptian Vulture, close views overhead of Black Stork. En-route back to the accommodation we had brief views of Hawfinch and back at the accommodation we watched a male Blue Rock Thrush, sheltering from a late afternoon shower under the roof tops of a village house! We had a wonderful Paella in the local bar and we all said our farewells to Miguel and his family, who had provided such great meals and packed lunches. MONDAY 14th APRIL On our way back Madrid airport, we visited the large reservoir area of Embalse de Valdacanes, this proved a good choice with a good array of wetland birds Greylag Goose, Shelduck, 10+ Gadwall, Purple Heron, 2 Marsh harrier, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser kestrel, 20+ Black-winged Stilt, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 6+ Common Sandpiper, Redshank, a Wood Sandpiper. Plus Yellow-legged Gull and c40 Gull-billed Tern. The surrounding areas also held c20 Bee-eater, c10 Golden Oriole several showing extremely well here, also a calling Iberian Green Woodpecker. TOUR OVERVIEW An excellent tour with a total of 150 bird species recorded. Also Rabbit, Brown hare, Red Deer, Otter, European Terrapin, Common Lizard and Oscillated Lizard Future Tours If you are interested in joining us in Extremadura then we have tours in May 2016, please contact us for details. Norfolk Birding chrismills@norfolkbirding.com mobile