Gredos
Birdwatching in Spain | Birding in Spain | Birdwatching tours in Spain
THE SIERRA DE GREDOS AND THE NORTHERN PLATEAU (6 days)
A land of stunning contrasts: discover the mountains and the steppe-like landscapes of central Spain
Dates: 16-21 May 2008
Day 1 : We set off from Madrid airport around midday, heading towards the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares north of Madrid on the foothills of the Guadarrama Mountains. We eat our first packed lunch in these rolling hills studded with western holm oaks and beautiful specimens of prickly juniper and, time permitting, we go for a short walk for a first look at the local birds such as Corn Buntings, Woodchat Shrikes, Bee-eaters, Griffon and Black Vultures, Booted Eagles, Black Kites and others. Having stretched our legs, we continue our journey towards the medieval walled town of Ávila with its hundreds of swifts circling overhead, together with its many white Storks, Spotless Starlings, House Martins and Barn Swallows, and reach our country hotel a little further north where the cereal growing steppes start.
Day 2 : Today is spend touring this part of the Northern Plateau situated to the North of the Gredos Mountains, best described as a sea of cereal-growing fields interspersed with tiny pine woods acting as breeding islands for many birds. This steppe-like habitat is home to the magnificent Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Lesser Kestrel and various species of larks. The Spanish Imperial Eagle breeds here. At the end of the day we return to the same hotel as the previous night.
Day 3 : We move on towards the Gredos Mountains, exploring some Celtic settlements which provide very good birdwatching and where birds such as Thekla Larks and Black-Eared Wheatears can be spotted.
Having reached the small village of Navalperal in the heart of the Gredos, we settle in our beautifully located hotel which overlooks the valley of the river Tormes. Then, for those who wish to do so, the rest of the day can be spent exploring the nearby oakwooks and river banks.
Day 4 : We explore the various habitats and wildlife of the area of the gently rolling hills of the northern side of the mountains where the climate is globally cool and dry, and characterised by small oak woods, Scots pine forests, mountain streams, mountain pastures, heaths, and scrubland where Bluethroats, Ortolan, Rock and Cirl Buntings, Dippers, Golden Orioles, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes, Skylarks, Crossbills, Crested Tits, Pied Flycatchers as well as many birds of prey breed.
Day 5 : The day is spent exploring the southern side of the mountains. In contrast to the northern slopes, typically Mediterranean vegetation grows at the foothills of the southern slopes which are characterised by sheer drops of several hundred metres and act as a barrier against the cold winds from the north. The cluster pine may be found here and evergreen holm oak starts to appear together with the sweet scented daphne and rockrose. There are also important plantations of olive, cherry and fig trees on terraced grounds. Azure-winged Magpies, Bee-eaters, Great-spotted Cuckoos, Red-rumped Swallows, Shrikes, Hoopoes and many other birds frequent this area. We return in the evening to our hotel in Navalperal.
Day 6 : We leave the Gredos driving through a mountain pass with magnificent views over the never-ending plains of the Northern Plateau and stopping along the way to admire Griffon and Black Vultures, Booted Eagles, Ravens as well as Bluethroat, Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Skylark, Melodious Warbler, Whitethroat that can be found here. We shall aim to be at Madrid airport by 15.00 hours.
Cost per person : 1.000 Euros