Gredos
Birdwatching in Spain | Birding in Spain | Birdwatching tours in Spain
EARLY SPRING IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF MONFRAGUE AND SURROUNDING AREAS - 5 days
An early spring holiday based in a single hotel exploring the wide diversity of birds in and around the stunning landscapes of the National Park of Monfragüe, Extremadura
Dates: 31 March - 4 April 2008
Day 1 : Meeting at Madrid airport around midday, we head straight towards our base for the duration on the tour, the small country hotel of El Alcaudón, in the small village of Serrejón located on the edge of the National Park of Monfragüe, amidst extensive plains of dehesas. Having settled and rested in the hotel, we will start exploring the area around the village which holds a range of warblers, larks, shrikes and raptors.
Day 2 : The whole day is spent in the National Park of Monfragüe, one of the best areas in Europe to watch raptors. It is a magnificent example of the genuine Mediterranean forest and scrubland interspersed with impressive rocky outcrops which rise above the rivers of the Tajo and Tiétar. Griffon, Black and Egyptian Vultures, Spanish Imperial, Bonelli's and Golden Eagles, Eagle Owl and other raptors can be found in the reserve as well as Choughs, Alpine Swifts, Blue Rock Thrush and the shy and scarce Black Stork. Sardinian, Sub-alpine and Dartford Warblers are often seen in the bushes of sweet scented daphne and rock roses.
Day 3 : We spend the whole morning on the shores of the nearby Arrocampo reservoir which has an interesting community of wetland birds such as Purple Gallinule, Little Bittern, Night and Purple Heron and Marsh Harrier among many others. After a midday rest at our hotel, we set out again in the afternoon for a tour through the beautiful surrounding dehesas in search of their typical birds such as the Hoopoe, Azure-winged Magpie, Woodlarks, Bee-eaters, Great-spotted Cuckoos, Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrikes and the elusive Black-shouldered Kite.
Day 4 : A day spent touring the huge expanse of rolling plains which surround the monumental town of Trujillo, South of Monfragüe. This is a steppe bird paradise where Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied and Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse are found. Other birds such as Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Roller, Thekla and Calandra Lark, and Spanish Sparrow to name a few also breed here. Time permitting, we shall visit a small reservoir where Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kingfisher, Sand Martin and Fan-tailed Warbler nest.
Day 5 : We drive back to Madrid airport aiming to arrive there at 15h00, making various stops along the way and keeping an eye open for the many raptors that soar through the sky above these vast plains of Extremadura and Toledo, with the Gredos Mountains in the background. Our final halt before heading towards the airport will be for a drink and some typical Spanish tapas by the medieval castle of Oropesa from which we shall enjoy spectacular views of the landscape and the acrobatic displays of many Swifts, Swallows, Martins, and Jackdaws.
Cost per person: 900 Euros