Birds near Madrid

[Nick-on]

This Saturday (6th) off to sunny Spain, flying to Madrid, for four days birding. Main purpose of the trip is to see Gt Bustards displaying along with showing my son as many birds of prey & owls as possible. However would also like to see White-headed Duck and Cranes (if they are still in the area). Questions are
1. Do you still get WhD in the area S of Madrid, if so where ...
2. Any sites/info on cranes (did read somewhere that there was a Demoiselle crane in spain but can't remember where it was)
3. anything vaguely relevant/recent concerning the Madrid area.
Don't want to travel too far although may go to Monfrague, but that would be the limit.

TIA


Nick

[richard dunn]

Have a look at this web site plenty of info http://www.rarebirdspain.net/home.htm

[Steve G]

Hi Nick,
The Demoiselle crane was found near Valladolid in Castile y Leon to the northwest of Madrid-don't know if it's still there but if it is it will soon be "sucked" north with the Common Cranes as they move out. Cranes will be starting to leave central Spain in numbers now & will soon be harder to find.
White headed duck is now (allegedly) breeding at some sites in Castilla La Mancha -I think between Toledo & "Royal City" but will be hard to find. There may be some at Las Tablas de Damiel not sure about the immediate vicinity of Madrid however.
For what it's worth I think you would be better to head along the unclutterred NV from Madrid airport to Extremadura which will take 3 hrs of fairly easy driving, taking in the Embalse de Azutan near Calera y Chozas for birds such as Purple Gallinule, Penduline Tit, Marsh Harrier & possible passage Osprey. It takes about 2 hrs to get to Calera y Chozas & a further 1 hour from there to Monfrague. You can stay in the Carvajal hotel in Torrejon el Rubio next to Monfrague NP very cheaply & being right next to the National Park you will maximise your chances with Birds of Prey. At this time a few Black Storks, Short-toed Eagles & Egyptian Vultures should be back though it's probably too early for Booted Eagle or Montagus Harrier though you may be lucky as Monfrague holds quite a few Booted Eagle so an early bird is possible. Span. Imp. Eagle, Golden & Bonelli's should be around with a bit of luck & Black-shouldered Kites will be on territory near Monroy-15 mins drive from Torrejon El Rubio.
Steppe birds such as Sandgrouse & both species of Bustard(displaying) should be had on the Santa Marta de Magasca plains south of Torrejon off the Torrejon-Caceres road about 40 mins drive from Torrejon where Gt. Spotted Cuckoo & Little Owl should be apparent. As the population of Montagus Harrier is so high here there is a real possibility of an early male & if not Hen Harriers will probably still be around. A few early Black Kites should also be around as well as resident Red Kites whilst Griffon & Black vultures will be in the skies in this whole area & Lesser Kestrels should be evident in Trujillo or Caceres.
It should be possible to see Eagle owls at the well-known site at Portilla del Tietar in Monfrague & I've also seen one at the Mirador de La Trajadilla just before the Tietar dam in Monfrague. Scops owl may already be singing & the Arroyo de La Vid is a good site for them where the road from Torrejon to Monfrague crosses this stream. Finally passage Cranes should hopefully still be apparent & small flocks may linger a little longer in the Madrigalejo area south of Trujillo.
Best of luck wherever you go.
Steve

[Nick-on]

Thanks for the info Steve/Richard

Looks like I'll stick to Monfrague, haven't been there since April 93 (1st wedding anniversary present for the wife, funny she wasn't as pleased as I was!) and didn't get Eagle Owl or BS Kite so fingers crossed this time. What's the Carvajal Hotel like? bearing in mind that I'll have my 8yr old son with me. Lots of wine women and song etc. would be OK with me but not so much with him, and not with my wife if he tells her about them. will definitely try for the Cranes not sur about the WH Duck as it is a bit out of the way.

Thanks again

Nick

[richard dunn]

Nick
have just been (february) to Extremadura mainly to see Cranes and flocks of Bustards we didn't stay at the Carvajal hotel in Torrejon el Rubio but you wont need to worry about "Lots of wine women and song etc." (we stayed just down the road at Pension Monfrague) Anyway, birds, we did have a pair of Black-shouldered Kite at the Monroy site and also from here had distant Crane (just up the road, Talavan did have Crane) Great Bustards (25) seen on the fields to the right of the road (CC912) before you reach the Rio Almonte and along the track towards Santa Marta de Magasca (30) also 150 approx Little Bustard along this road no Montagu's Harrier in feb but Hen Harrier (male) many Red Kites and a fantastic Golden Eagle, also from this track both sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, hundreds of Corn Bunting and large flocks of Larks including Calandra, Crested and Short-toed.
Hope you have a good time and good weather we lost 1/2 day to fog

Richard

[Steve G]

Hi Nick,
The Carvajal seems to be a clean quiet pleasant family run affair with little in the way of wine,women or song.Staying there with your lad will probably endear you as they seem to like kids. I do remember there being a very amorous burro however who lived in the adjacent field & who despite his shackled front legs managed to switch fields & mount a nearby (presumably female) donkey with much braying in the process!! Check out their website on: www.monfrague.net/ingles/index.html
Steve