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Spain Extremadura
Extremadura remains, perhaps, one of the richest regions of all Europe. Of course we express richness not in economic terms, but in a healthy environment, traditions, gastronomy and cultural & historic heritage. Mixing features of Andalucía and the two Castillas regions in Spain with the Alentejo region in Portugal, is a land waiting to be discovered with huge and extremely important bird populations and an incredible variety of species. Extremadura and its wild and unspoilt nature covers 41,602Sq Kms of the Iberian Peninsula`s surface, of which more that 30,000Sq kms have been catalogued as IBAs (Important Bird Areas). More than 75% of the territory! Extremadura has almost all the ecosystems represented in the Iberian Peninsula, except for coastline and seashores. High mountain ranges with altitudes above 8,000 feet, highlands, rice fields, wide steppe areas, isolated relict Mediterranean jungles and the most extensive Cork forests in the world. From North to South, or East to West, you will discover one of the richest places in Europe for birding. Thousands of Common Cranes and raptors know it, coming back every year to over-winter or breed. But which areas do they prefer? See the top sites below. |
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top sites |
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Jerez de los Caballeros (Dehesa Woodlands)
Southern Extremadura, where villages climb up the hills, and impressive castles nestle on the peaks. Birdwatchers sitting here can explore the horizon with their binoculars, all you can see around are Dehesas. The Dehesa woodland is an open Oak tree forest where traditional human activities are still going on. It is so extensive that you would think that our old continent has no forestry problems at all! Miles and miles of Dehesas supporting extremely rich bird communities: Black Storks have their largest populations, a high density of forest raptors, Hawks and Kites all abound. Abandoned & collapsed houses are shelter for European Rollers, Hoopoes, Thrushes and Wheatears. And if you close your eyes and just listen, you will discover the flying calls of European Bee-eaters and the non-stop song of Red-necked Nightjars.La Serena Steppes
Some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Extremadura are the huge grassy plains and wide open steppes. These lands, apparently dead during the hot Iberian summer, sustain the most important breeding populations of Little and Great Bustards in Europe, the unforgettable silhouette of Montagu`s Harriers, Lesser Kestrels and hundreds of Collared Pranticoles, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.Monfragüe Natural Park
What Doñana is to Andalusia, Monfragüe is to Extremadura: A sanctuary for birds! An area where one can still enjoy the best Iberian Mediterranean woodlands spotted with rock cliffs and deep gullies. The best site for searching some of the most endangered species: the biggest breeding colony of Monk Vulture in the world, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black Stork, Bonelli`s Eagle, and many others. This is a mountainous area alongside the rivers Tajo and Tiétar, about 30 Km in length and with peaks reaching 300m to 700m. It includes two distinct landscapes, precipitous ridges and an extensive area of plains. The two areas are quite distinct, and offer quite different types of birds. It is remarkable for the presence of birds of prey and is considered the best area in the world to see Black Vulture (225 pairs - these birds may be seen at almost any point in the park); Black-winged Kite, Black Kite (abundant); Egyptian Vulture (10 pairs); Griffon Vulture (400 pairs); Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle (4 pairs); and Imperial Eagle (12 pairs). One can also see White Stork (with a high population density); and Black Stork (at 10 pairs it is the best area in Spain).Vegas Altas of the Guadiana River
The third most extensive rice fields in Spain can be found here. A highly cultivated area, mixed with extenses open Oak woodlands or Dehesas, and huge reservoirs including Orellana – the inner sea - the only Ramsar zone of the region. An impressive landscape which feeds thousands of Common Cranes every year. Winter is the more interesting season for birding, although it is a very cold land, commonly known as Siberia by the locals. Huge populations of Herons, Egrets, Ducks, Plovers, Sandpipers and Raptors can be found here and it is a perfect place to see the beautiful flight of our beloved Merlins and Black-shouldered Kites, in comfort.Villuercas Ranges
Not far from Monfragüe the horizon has extensive mountain ranges and hidden valleys where the Guadalupe Monastery stands. The surrounding areas are covered with Mediterranean and deciduous forests resembling northern latitudes vegetation such as Walnuts, Silver Birch, Sweet Chesnut and Oaks. Due to the mixing of features of Mediteranean and Atlantic flora, it is a paradise for warblers, passerines and forest birds. At the same time European Honey-buzzards, Black and Red Kites, Short-toed eagles and Egyptian or Eurasian Griffon Vultures fight to establish their own flight territories in the skys!contributor |
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Jorge Garzón
Coordinador - Investnatura - Observación de aves
(Andalucía - Extremadura - Portugal - Marruecos)
nature@investnatura.org
http://www.investnatura.com/
useful reading |
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Birding Extremadura ? Azure Wings in the dogs bowl
by Malcolm Rymer DVD ?19 [also available on video at ?17] 90minsSee Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 142198
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Where to Watch Birds in Southern Spain
Ernest Garcia & Andrew Paterson Helm (1994)ISBN: 0713638591
Buy this book from NHBS.com
clubs |
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ADENEX - Association for the Defence of the Nature and the Resources of Extremadura
http://www.bme.es/adenex/ingles/indiadex_in.htmlAmongst ADENEX`s best known campaigns, we should mention: campaign in defence of Extremaduran holm-oak woods; campaign against Valdecaballeros`s nuclear plant; establishment of a vulture`s feeding places network; campaign against Great Bustard hunting; campaign in defence of birds of prey; campaign for the rescue of the Montagu`s Harrier young; campaign in defence of White and Black Storks; campaign for the conservation of the Crane`s wintering habitats in Extremadura; campaign in defence of the Jerte Valley; campaign for the adaptation and re-arrangement of high-tension lines in Extremadura; campaign in defence of the International Tajo river; campaign for the rescue of Roman Forum of Mérida; campaign for the conservation of the historical centre of Badajoz; campaign Close Almaraz, etc...
festivals |
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Extremadura Birdwatching Fair
http://www.fioextremadura.es/28th February to 4th March 2007 - La Junta de Extremadura, the local government of the region of Extremadura in Spain, is organising the second edition of FIO, the Extremadura Birdwatching Fair. FIO is the first fair of its kind in Spain and has become a meeting point for travel agents, services, destinations, ornithologists and amateurs of birdwatching who take part in this exciting tourist segment...
reserves |
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La Naturaleza de Extremadura
http://www.bme.es/adenex/naturaleza.htmlLa Avutarda es el ave mas representativa de los llanos extremeños, que mantienen la cuarta parte de su población mundial. Son tambiénabundantes otras especies de aves esteparias, adaptadas a los medios abiertos, como el Sisón, el Alcaraván, la Ganga la Ortega, el Aguilucho Cenizo o el Cernícalo Primilla...
Monfrague
http://www.monfrague.com/El Parque Natural de Monfragüe, referencia obligada del bosque y matorral mediterráneo, se encuentra en la provincia de Cáceres, en el centro del triángulo formado por Navalmoral de la Mata, Plasencia y Trujillo...
Parque Natural de Monfragüe
http://www.turismoextremadura.com/ecoturistica/index.php?id=16En los roquedos encontramos buitre leonado, alimoche, águila real, halcón peregrino, cigüeña negra o búho real. En la espesura anida el buitre negro, águila imperial, águila calzada, águila culebrera, azores, gavilanes, etc. Aquí también podemos intuir la presencia de los abundantes mamíferos de Monfragüe, como la gineta, el gato montés, la garduña, el tejón o los lirones caretos. La tranquilidad del Parque nos permitirá contemplar el pastar de ciervos y jabalíes. Durante el invierno, nuestros pantanos y charcas se llenan de garzas, cormoranes, porrones comunes y moñudos, cercetas, patos cucharas, gaviotas y multitud de aves acuáticas...
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
1998 [May]- - John van der Woude
http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~jvanderw/spain98/extr98a.htmlExtremadura in mid-West Spain was extreme for us mainly in the sense that the roads were nearly all extravagantly good, and that the birding was extremely interesting. With some short trip reports, personal advice and Garcia & Paterson`s Where to watch birds in Southern Spain we set off in our cheap Avis rental car from Madrid airport in the late afternoon of 30 April. Via the Escorial monastery (photo below) we drove West through the scenic lower reaches of the Guadarrama and Gredos mountains to the town of Arenas.
1999 [April] - Simon Woolley - Andalucia and Extremedura
http://www.jjcskw.demon.co.uk/Spainwebrep.htmThis is the systematic list for our ten day trip in southern and central Spain earlier this month. We covered most of the best and recognized sites in the region, and saw most of our target species. Our major (but understandable) omissions, not for want of trying, were Marbled Duck, Crested Coot and Red-necked Nightjar, although we were surprised not to see a Tawny Pipit either! Sites visited : Teba Gorge, Lagunas Dulce, Fuente de Piedra, Utrera and Espera, La Serena, Trujillo, Belen steppe, Monfrague National Park, Coto Donana, east bank of the Guadalquivir. We hope you enjoy browsing through this list - please e-mail us at the address at the foot of the list if you have any comments, or would like any advice re. sites etc.
2000 [June] - Ian Reid
http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~ian/Birding/Spain/Text/report2.htmlWith possibly my last work trip to Madrid for some time due by end of May at the latest, I decided to tack a few days on to the end in order to try to relive the excellent birding that mate Steve and I had enjoyed in Extremadura in May 1999. Work constraints forced me to visit later than I had hoped, but early June was potentially still a good time...
2002 [January] - James Eaton
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/spain/tour2/s&w-spain-jan2002.htmWith the cold and birdless days of winter in Derbyshire, We decided to soak up the sun and go birding for a week in Andalucia and Extremadura. We flew from Stansted with Go to Malaga, at only £50 return, you certainly can`t go wrong, and the birds didn`t disappoint. We hired a Citroen Xsara with National, which was adequate, as we did about 1500 miles, luckily it was a diesel, and fuel costing €0.67 a litre, in other words, a lot less than Britain...
2003 [April] - Honeyguide
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/2003extremadurasdnhs.pdf2003 [April] - Lutz Lücker
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/spain/extra7/extre-ap-03.htm...Having nothing special to tick off in the Extremadura area, my main aim was to get GOOD views of certain raptors and steppe birds...
2003 [March] - Honeyguide
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/2003extremadura.pdf2003 [May] - Ben A Miller - Central and Western Spain
http://www.beolens.co.uk/trip-reports/SpainBM.htmlMay 2003 my father, Alan (AKM), and I were due to travel to Beidaihe, China, for a 3-week birding trip. Unfortunately this trip was cancelled with just over a weeks notice due to the spread of the SARS disease. With time booked off work, we both wanted to arrange an alternative birding trip. We identified the Extremadura area of Spain to provide a quick and easy-to-plan replacement with the opportunity of new birds....
2003 [November] - Paul Bowyer
http://www.birdlist.co.uk/spain2003.htmThis was a short break trip intended to see a few target species – the participants were Paul Bowyer, Stuart Holdsworth and myself, Julian Thomas. There were 7 species (Spanish Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Black Vulture, Great Bustard, Azure-winged Magpie, White-headed Duck, and Marbled Duck) needed by some or all of us and available at this time of year, plus Eagle Owl, which Paul and I had only heard. Of these we saw 6, but missed Marbled Duck and Eagle Owl. In addition Paul and I saw our first indisputably wild Red-crested Pochards. In all we recorded just over 100 species in 4 days birding, and all of us agreed it was a successful trip. Cost (excluding meals, drinks etc) was approx. £250.
2004 [April] - Greg Anderson
http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Spain%202004.htmThe holiday duration was 12 days, 8 days in Fuengirola with the mother-in- law in her apartment. Then with my wife Linda and two children Katherine 14 and Daniel 12 we departed to our country home for the next four days...
2004 [March] - Honeyguide
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/extremadura2004.pdf2005 [April] - Audouin Birding Tours
http://www.audouinbirding.com/index.php?id=extremaduraapril0The arrival to Madrid airport was problem free, and we started going towards Silos reservoir. The journey was smooth and without much traffic. On our way we stopped for views of some raptors, and we saw our first Griffon Vultures flying above the Evergreen Oak forests...
2005 [March] - Honeyguides
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/Extremadura-2005.pdf2005 [May] - Hans Schick
http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Trip_Reports/Spain-Extremadura2005/Extremadura2005_Excursions.htmI observed 96 bird species in the steppelands, dehesas and national parks of Extremadura. 9 of these species could be documented by digiscoping and are displayed in the Species List of this report...
2005 [May] - Honeyguides
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/ExtremaduraCNHS-2005.pdf2005 [May] - Jono Leadley
http://www.indybirder.com/spain05.htmlList, log and lots of photos...
2005 [May] - Ray Wilson
http://www.raywilsonbirdphotography.co.uk/Foreign%20Trips/Extremadura/Extremadura1.htmlExtremadura, located in central Spain, is a popular destination for birders wanting to see many of the Iberian peninsula's speciality birds, such as Spanish Imperial Eagle, Great Bustard and Azure-winged Magpie. The following pages give a taste of many of the species you are likely to encounter on a spring trip...
2006 [April] - Audouin Birding Tours
http://www.audouinbirding.com/index.php?id=extremaduraapril0The arrival to Madrid airport was problem free, and we started going towards Silos reservoir. The journey was smooth and without much traffic. On our way we stopped for views of some raptors, and we saw our first Griffon Vultures flying above the Evergreen Oak forests...
2006 [April] - Lutz Lucker
http://louiscrex.skyblog.com/Extremadura and northwestern Spain,12th to 23rd-April 2006 (deutsche Fassung)- First nights camping rough , then Hotel Rosales in Malpartida de Plasencia and Motorway Motel El Cruce, 10 kms north of Trujillo between la Aldea and Torrecillas...
2006 [June] - Clare Miller
http://b-ird-log.blogspot.com/2006/06/trip-report-extremadura-april-2006.htmlMonfragüe Nature Park, La Serena plains, Badajoz Reservoirs - A group of us (living in Paris, Brussels and London) decided we would take a birding holiday at Easter to see some Spring migrants and catch some sunshine. After extensive consultation with friends and fellow bird enthusiasts, we decided to head for Extremadura...
2006 [March] - Honeyguides
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/2006Extremadura.pdf2006 [May] - David Mason
http://www.realbirder.com/Spain2006.htm...having enjoyed Spain in 2003, particularly Extremadura, we decided to return and visit some new sites and combine the trip with a visit to the Donana National Park, a new area for us. In Extremadura I particularly wanted to find Rock Thrush, whilst the attractions in Donana were Marbled Teal (Duck), Red-knobbed Coot and White-headed Duck, all of which would be lifers for me...
2007 [April] - Cristian Jensen Marcet - Audouin Birding
http://www.audouinbirding.com/index.php?id=extremadura2007...This area hosts some of the best Umbrella Pine forests of Spain and also a good representation of dehesa and other Mediterranean forest types. During our first stop we stretched our legs while watching a Crested Tit followed by the "Speedy Josele". Short-toed Treecreper, Blue and Great Tits, Serin, Chaffinch, and Spotless Starling, were among the birds that we were warming up with. The day was unusually cold for this time of year in Spain...
2007 [January] - Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com/tripreports/view_birding_tripreport.php?id=179... That morning was clear and sunny, far from the miserable weather in that moment in England. We saw very soon our first Corn Buntings and Crested Larks of the trip, lots of Lapwings were also very distinctive almost everywhere, and dozens of Spotless Starlings were going back and forth in the fields. In less than 10 minutes and in one of the traditional places where males display in Spring we found a party of 14 Great Bustards, all of them males but one, a solitary female...
2007 [March] - Honeyguides
http://www.honeyguide.co.uk/pdfs/2007Extremadura.pdflocal guides |
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Birding in Extremadura
http://www.ExtremaduraBirding.co.ukVisit with people who really know the area... we only work in Extremadura and know the area and its birds intimately...
Birding Pal
http://www.birdingpal.org/Spain.htmLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Cygnus Bird Tours
http://www.cygnusbirdtours.com/Cygnus Bird Tours has been providing high quality birding holidays since 2001 for a host of guests, many of whom return again and again. We use our knowledge of birds and the local areas along with our bird watching skills to provide a memorable experience for people who want to make the most of both bird watching and their holiday time. Whether you are experienced or a beginner in bird watching you will be delighted with our tours. We go the extra mile to ensure that our guests enjoy every aspect of their holiday. Our aim is to have you wanting to come on more of our tours...
Gone Birding
http://www.gonebirding.orgThis six day tour will be based close to Trujillo, centrally located to the plains, and close to Monfrague National Park. Accommodation will be in a converted farm, with bed, breakfast and evening meal supplied...
Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays
http://www.honeyguide.co.ukIf you are looking for a quality natural history holiday, this is a great place to start. The Honeyguide programme offers a mix of the very best of wildlife in fascinating parts of Europe..
Iberian Wildlife Tours
http://www.iberianwildlife.com/extremadura/extremadura-birds.htmThe combination of such diverse geography and habitats in the Extremadura region make it one of the best in Europe for wildlife, especially birds...
Investnatura
http://www.investnatura.com/Investnatura are the specialists on Doñana, Tarifa & Andalucian Birdwatching, Botany and Natural History Tours & Outings. They are strongly linked to Conservation projects and soustainable tourism through Nature watching. Jorge Garzón personally host most of the Trips & Outings...
Josele J. Saiz
http://www.boletas.org/Better known for his wonderful birder's guesthouse in the Pyrenees [Boletas]; Josele guides throughout Spain and Morocco...
Naturetrek
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/PDFs/61-Europe%202003-4.pdfSpain Birds
http://www.spainbirds.com/SPAINBIRDS is a small company which efforts are appointed to organize ornithology tours over all spanish geography. Its expert leader, Santiago Villa, has a deep knowledge about iberian birds. Natural Parks as Doñana, Cabañeros and Monfragüe are his favourite spots, in which he has spent unforgettable moments, and also there, there is one of the most vulnerable raptors of the world: Spanish Imperial Eagle. Species that he knows very well, in fact he controlled a pair for two breeding season in the Monte de El Pardo. In spite of that he was born in Madrid, he is very bound to Extremadura by strong affection since he was a child, due to his parents were born in Membrio, a little village placed between Sierra de San Pedro and Llanos de Brozas, with no doubt, two of the best conserved places in Europe.
places to stay |
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Casa Rural El Recuerdo
http://www.birdingextremadura.com/web/inicio.htmRun by birders, for birders...
El Tenado
http://www.eltenado.com/Casa Rural con encanto en Extremadura Para disfrutar de la naturaleza y los placeres rurales...
Finca Al Manzil
http://www.finca-al-manzil.com/Finca Al-manzil is 22 hectare finca on the S.W. slope of the Sierra de Montanchez. One approaches the finca along a winding lane, part of the ancient system of communication that link even the most remote parts of the sierra...
Hacienda de Cuacos
http://www.haciendadecuacos.comThe hacienda is situated next to the famous Yuste Monastery, only 3Km from the village Cuacos, …close to Plasencia and the National Park Monfragüe, …just a step away from the Jerte Valley and Ambroz, …and not far from Cáceres, Villuercas, Guadalupe, etc...
La Lagunilla Cottage - Candeleda, Avila
http://www.spanishcottage.com/A house which is rented out to birders. It is about 4 miles from the village of Candeleda in the central part of Spain in the Gredos Mountains (just over the Extramudura border in Castille-Leon) where the owners based themselves for many years making Survival TV documentaries. Up in the mountains, which are now part of the Gredos Regional Park, it is common to see Ibex jumping around the crags, and Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Black & Griffon Vulture, etc. Flitting along the garganta you will see Dipper, and there are still otters in some places...
Ornithological Rural Houses of Extramadura - El Tanado
http://www.casarural.netOrnithological Rural Houses of Extremadura
http://www.eltenado.comVina las Torres
http://www.birdwatching-extremadura.com:80/You could not wish for a better base for exploring Extremadura - Vina las Torres is a comfortable, family run, rural hotel situated in the heart of the Lagares Mountains, in the province of Caceres, Extremadura, just 10 km. outside Trujillo - what an unexpected and delightful surprise. It is a stately home, which has been carefully restored to provide a warm and comfortable environment…
other links |
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Extramadura
http://www.bme.es/adenex/There are more than 420 different species of birds found in Extremadura, at least 375 of which breed in the region, and the rest over winter or occur on passage. These figures acquire a greater significance when you consider the rarity of certain species and the density with which several of them can be found in Extremadura.
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