DAY 1: SATURDAY, 2ND APRIL HEATHROW/MADRID/TRUJILLODepart London Heathrow lunchtime. Arrive Madrid late afternoon. We then make the pleasant approximately 3-hour journey to our base in the delightful old town of Trujillo which is a perfect base for exploring the surrounding area. En route we pass through rolling grassland where we may have our first sightings of White Storks and Montagu’s Harriers before our evening arrival at our hotel - a beautifully converted 16th Century convent which is now a Parador. This is where we will stay for the whole holiday.
DAY 2: SUNDAY, 3RD APRIL BELÉN PLAINWe will spend the day exploring the fabulous hinterland around Trujillo including the vast Belén Plain. In the more open areas, we will have our first chances to see Great and Little Bustard, Stone Curlew plus Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. The whole region is renowned for raptors and we can expect to see Cinereous, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, plus Montagu’s Harrier. Hoopoes and Iberian Magpies are present in the cork oak woodlands along with Great Spotted Cuckoo, Spanish Sparrow, Woodlark and Thekla Lark. We may also see other migrants arriving such as Bee-Eater, Golden Oriole and Roller.
DAY 3: MONDAY, 4TH APRIL PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜEOur destination today is the Parque Natural de Monfragüe, north of Trujillo. Because of its vastness and great ornithological importance we will be devoting two whole days of the tour to this fabulous area, giving us the opportunity to scan properly from some of the many vantage points. Rolling oak woodlands and scrub-covered hillsides are punctuated by dramatic cliff edges and shimmering embalses. This is perhaps the best raptor site in the whole of Spain if not Europe, with five species of eagle – Booted, Golden, Imperial, Short-toed and Bonelli’s plus Cinereous, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures. Add to this incredible list Red Black and Black-winged Kites, Lesser Kestrel, Peregrine, Hobby and Goshawk and it is a haven for any ‘raptorphile’. In addition, other highlights of the park include Eagle Owl, Black Stork, Black-eared Wheatear, Red-billed Chough, Hawfinch, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow and Alpine Swift.
DAY 4: TUESDAY, 5TH APRIL SANTA MARTA DE MAGASCA/GARCIAZ The countryside between Trujillo and Santa Marta de Magasca is another area of dehesa (lightly wooded savannah) specialities. Iberian and Great Spotted Cuckoos are found typically together while Montagu’s Harriers float lazily over open country which at this time of year is a sea of wild flowers. Crested, Thekla and Calandra Larks are all present and singing and there are good chances for all five eagle species. Depending on timings, Rollers might have just arrived from migration and special nest boxes attached to telegraph posts act as a magnet to these exotic visitors, along with resident Little Owls. We will then head onwards towards Garciaz where secluded river valleys provide further opportunities for typical species of the area.
DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, 6TH APRIL RIO ALMONTE/ PUERTO DE MIRAVETE The Rio Almonte is one of many river systems which traverse the area just north of our base. We will take our time exploring the area where warblers including Melodious, Sardinian, Subalpine and Orphean can be found. Stands of Poplars are home to dazzling Golden Orioles while Woodchat and occasional Great Grey Shrikes hunt from exposed perches and Hawfinches bounce across from one tree to the next. The scrub-covered slopes of Puerto de Miravete provide a perfect habitat for both Spectacled and Dartford Warblers while newly-arriving Hobbies hawk for dragonflies.
DAY 6: THURSDAY, 7TH APRIL TRUJILLO, CAMPO LUGAR & EMBALSE DE ALCOLLARINWe will spend more locally to Trujillo, not forgetting the old town itself which, apart from its ornithological riches, is also steeped in history, reflected in statues of Conquistadors and ancient battlements. It will also provide an opportunity to relax in the central square while White Storks, Common and Pallid Swifts and Lesser Kestrels sail overhead. It is not unusual for a marauding Booted Eagle to join the scene and terrorize the local Jackdaws. We will also travel a little further south towards Campo Lugar where the journey crosses plains and river valleys, good for more sightings of both bustards, Spanish Sparrows and larks. The nearby Embalse de Alcollarin is another excellent site for a wide variety of species including Spoonbills, waders, gulls and terns.
DAY 7: FRIDAY, 8TH APRIL PARQUE NATURAL DE MONFRAGÜEFor contrast we will spend the morning at the wetlands of the Embalse de Arrocampo-Almaraz. This is a great area for a wide range of water birds including Squacco and Purple Herons, Spoonbills, Savi’s Warbler, Gull-billed Tern, Marsh Harrier, Purple Swamphen, Yellow Wagtail and Zitting Cisticola to name a few. It also provides a reasonable chance for the scarce Black-winged Kite. We will then return to Trujillo via the Parque Natural de Monfragüe for further opportunities to enjoy some of the best raptor-watching in Europe.
DAY 8: SATURDAY, 9TH APRIL MADRID/HEATHROW After a relaxed start with further opportunities for some local birding we will be setting off to Madrid, stopping for lunch on the way. The journey will no doubt involve some last scanning as we travel before checking in for our early evening flight back to the UK.