I first visited this area at the start of May 2017 and had a wonderful time exploring the area and its wildlife. So when planning this year's visit I decided that I would like to return to this area but at a different time of the year, hence mid-March.
Note on birds mentioned In the daily recording the birds mentioned are those that are either Lifers (LF) or those of the greater interest. Many other birds were seen each day but while not being mentioned have been recorded and will be listed at the end of this report.
Thursday 15nd March
Arrived into Seville mid morning and it soon became apparent that the weather was going to be 'interesting'; one minute sunshine, the next sheets of rain. Made a couple of stops on the way, one being at Valdesalor for the Bustards. However the road through the plains was very soft and muddy from the heavy rain and so I had to retreat.
Thursday 16th March: Caceres and Belen Plains
A bitterly cold morning with the threat of rain. Headed down to the plains around Caceres and Belen to search for Bustards.
First stop was the hide off the road to Santa Marta (39.4771, -6.19334). The bitter wind made observations difficult as it was driving straight into the hide. However got a brief glimpse of two Black-Bellied Sandgrouse before they disappearing leaving just Crested Lark, Corn Bunting and Calandra Lark to help pass the time.
For a bird so big I'm not sure where it came from but a Cinereous Vulture (Black Vulture) walked up a far field to harass a rather ill looking sheep. This continued for at least 45 mins, with Raven joining in.
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| Cinereouus (Black) Vulture |
While scanning a field from the old road to Trujillo (39.44393, -6.11244) a fine Golden Eagle passed over.
Belen Plains: (39.51812, -5.77402) Spotted three Great Bustard circling before they disappeared over a ridge. Shortly afterwards five Little Bustard flew in but sadly landed deep into the fields making them difficult to see and near impossible to photograph. A Great White Egret was found feeding in another field. Throughout the song of Corn Bunting was to be heard. A Short Toed Eagle put in an appearance before heading away over the plains.
Saturday 17th March
Very heavy rain so decided to head for Saucedilla as I could at least drive up to the hides at Arrocampo and so shouldn't get too wet. Arrived just after 10.30, collected the key and that was the last I saw of anyone until I returned the key at 5.15. I seemed to have the whole place to myself which was great as it meant I didn't have to worry about stopping along the lanes whenever I felt like it.
Hide 1: Spoonbill half hidden in the reeds. Purple Heron flew in and a Purple Swamphen was calling nearby. At least seven Kingfisher were very active around the hide.
Hide 2: Three Great White Egret, and a Purple Swamp-hen were showing well. A Savi’s Warbler was calling intermittently.
Hide 3: Sardinian Warbler and Hoopoe present.
Hide 5 (4 not visited): Large number of Swallow and House Martins over the lake. On the small pool on the opposite side of the road held two Black-winged Stilt and a Common Sandpiper. While watching the Stilt a Great Spotted Cuckoo appeared calling from the trees.
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| Great Spotted Cuckoo |
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| Spanish Sparrow |
Sunday 18th March
The weather was much improved over night and the morning was sunny, if still cold, with a fairly strong breeze.
Hinojal: An area good for most of the Plain species. On the way saw plenty of Iberian Magpie (Azure winged Magpie), Black Kite and Griffon Vultures.
However the highlight was a Great White Egret and not a sign of Bustard or Sandgrouse in sight. However, still plenty of Crested, Thekla and Calandra Lark. A single Stone Curlew call was heard but proved impossible to locate. Birds of prey were well represented and included Red Kite and Lesser Kestrel.
The Embalse de Talavan was deserted although a local photographer reported seeing a Spanish Imperial Eagle at the water’s edge, However, nothing observed other than the local White stork.
Headed down towards Caceres and took the Ruta Los Llanos across the plains. This marked trail starts off nicely surfaced but soon becomes a dirt road so progress has to be slow, but this gives plenty of opportunity to stop and scan the plains. This resulted in seeing five Great Bustard again disappearing over the horizon and a flock of nine Black-bellied Sandgrouse. Two Little Owl were showing well.
A large group of Griffon Vulture were spotted loafing in a distant field. A closer look relieved five Black Vulture, in with the Griffon(later to be joined by another) and a flyover from an Egyptian Vulture. Interestingly they all seemed to be waiting for a smaller bird of prey to finish with its victim before moving in. I was not able to identify this bird as the distance was too great. Two Golden Eagle were also seen circling together. Also sighted a Woodchat Shrike, the first for this summer migrant.
At Santa Marta a superb male Montagu's Harrier was showing well and then to top it all a magnificent Spanish Imperial Eagle drifted across the fields.
Monday 19th March
Heavy rain and a strong breeze blowing, so headed down to the Vegas Atlas area as at least I would be able to observe from the car as I passed through the fields.
At Acedera, Lesser Kestrel, that nest in the church, were showing well along with the usual White Stork.
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| Lesser Kestrel |
Driving around the fields large parties of sparrows were forever moving around. Mixed in with them were Red Avadavat (LF). A group of 9 Red Avadavat were observed along one ditch very close to the town.
I was again surprised by how few birds were present. Despite numerous flooded fields there seemed to be very little in the way of birdlife. The area is renowned for waders during the passage season but today there was very little to see. However one field did have a number of Little Ringed Plover and, to add to my list of firsts, three Kentish Plover (LF).
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| Spoonbill |
Tuesday 20th March
Headed over to Serradilla, a town just below the Monfrague ridge. The forest road leads up from the town and although rough in places proved to be one of the highlights of the whole week. The whole area was devoid of people and traffic and the track passed through some wonderful countryside and so I was able to stop and spend time searching for birds. What was planned as a few hours trip turned into nearly a whole day one. This is a great area to visit and I would recommend taking your time through this area.
A large number of Griffon Vultures were cruising along the ridge and had a fleeting glimpse of a male Common Cuckoo. While walking up to the observation tower
a Nuthatch, (the only one seen all week) passed over head and Crested Tit were in the pines along the track. Crag Martin buzzed along the ridge with Swallow and House Martin.
I continued to follow the forest track down from the ridge towards a pool that in the past has been good for Bonelli's Eagles. No luck with that species but a nice female Hawfinch.
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| Griffon Vulture |
Continued along the track passing through some really beautiful area in which a number of Iberian Grey Shrike were present along with Hoopoe, Serin and good numbers of Chaffinch.
Returned to Portilla Del Tietar just before sunset as I'd been told by a local birder that a better location for Eagle Owl. While waiting for the sun to set observed a number of different species heading up the valley towards roosting areas. These included a Spanish Imperial Eagle, five Black Kite, six Little Egret and three Cormorant. After the sun had set a single Eagle Owl (LF) commenced its call. Sadly it proved impossible to locate in the rocks and didn't fly while I was there.
Wednesday 21st March:
A cool and clear morning so set off to cover the northern section of the Caceres Plains. First stop was at the bridge over the Rio Almonte (Roberts Del Almonte). The previous heavy rain made conditions underfoot difficult and the flooded stream cut off the chance to walk along the river bank.
Swallow and House Martin were present and on checking a fence two Red Rumpled Swallow were busy preening.
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| Red-Rumped Swallow |
Also present were Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler and Spanish Sparrow.
Moved on to the Stone Cross Area (39.56515, -5.98706 ) of the Caceres Plains and walked down the track towards the farm buildings.
A really nice male Montagu's Harrier was criss-crossing the fields, before disappearing. While watching the harrier I heard the flight call of a Black-bellied Sandgrouse close by but was unable to locate it. Plenty of Calandra, Crested and Thekla Lark about and a Short-toed Eagle was spotted hunting over a joining field. A flock of seventeen Pin-tailed Sandgrouse dropped in to a distant field. I waited twenty minutes or so hoping that they would move closer but no such luck!
Moved on to the Embalse De Talavan. When visited earlier on in the week there was little about. Decided to park down towards the dam. Just as I was pulling in a Spanish Imperial Eagle flew from the bushes no more than twenty feet away! On checking where it came from a partly eaten Hare was discovered.
Another hour of so spent driving around the Hinojal Plain in the hope of finding Bustards proved fruitless and was only able to add Lapwing to the list of birds already seen in this area.
Thursday 23rd March
Planned Departure from Seville at 4pm so was able to get a couple of hours birding in at the Trujillo Plains before heading home in the hope of getting decent views of either Bustards. I drove up the sandy road that leads in the direction of the motorway and parked on the brow of the hill. Initially no sign of any Bustards but after short while a couple of Great Bustard appeared by a group of rocks.
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| Great Bustard |
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Great Bustard displaying
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| Griffon Vulture |
Summary
105 Species of Birds seen during visit
European Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Black Vulture (Cinereous Vulture) Coragyps atratus
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
Blackbird Turdus merula
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
Buzzard Buteo buteo
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Carrion Crow Corvus corone
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Coot Fulica atra
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Crane Grus grus
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo
Gadwall Anas strepera
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Great Bustard Otis tarda
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
Great Tit Parus major
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Hoopoe Upupa epops
House Martin Delichon urbicum
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Jay Garrulus glandarius
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Little Owl Athene noctua
Magpie Pica pica
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Raven Corvus corax
Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides
Serin Serinus serinus
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Shoveler Anas clypeata
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Swift Apus apus
Teal Anas crecca
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
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