Birding in Extremadura (1 Viewer)

Dutch Birder · Sep 28, 2012

Who says Extremadura - says Birds!
With famous hotspots as there are Monfragüe, La Serena, Arrocampo,
Moheda Alta, Geopark Villuercas and many others, it's time to
start a thread - don't you think?

Hope you will join in!
Henk Zweers - alias Dutch Birder

Jeanie · Oct 18, 2012

Am in the process of booking a trip with Norfolk Birders to Extremadura in April next year.
Really looking forward to going.

Dutch Birder · Nov 17, 2012

Trip to Extremadura

Jeanie said:
Am in the process of booking a trip with Norfolk Birders to Extremadura in April next year.
Really looking forward to going.

Hi Jeanie, sorry for the late response.
April is an excellent month for birding here!
Is your group familiar with Extremadura?
If I can help you to seek locations for birding, for accomodation
(I have 2 apartments for rent in Las Villuercas), guiding, etc.

Let me know
Dutch Birder - Henk - www.discover-extremadura.com

Dutch Birder · Nov 17, 2012

Dutch Birder said:
Who says Extremadura - says Birds!
With famous hotspots as there are Monfragüe, La Serena, Arrocampo,
Moheda Alta, Geopark Villuercas and many others, it's time to
start a thread - don't you think?

Hope you will join in!
Henk Zweers - alias Dutch Birder

A good start for the Extremadura Birding thread is this photo of the first annual meeting of the members of the club "Birding in Extremadura", formed by professional bird-guides, accomodation-owners, travel agencies and bird-photographers.

Me myself act as guide and photographer at Discover Extremadura.
I hope we can built an active thread on this forum!

Jeanie · Nov 17, 2012

Many thanks Henk,
The group is being led by Chris Mills who runs Norfolk Birding. He has run the trip several times.

Dutch Birder · Nov 18, 2012

Ok Jeanie, than you are in good hands!
Nevertheless, if you need some info, help, assistence...

Dutch birder - Henk - Discover Extremadura

Jeanie · Nov 19, 2012

Many thanks.

Dutch Birder · Nov 19, 2012

Cranes in Extremadura

Since medio Octobre Cranes are coming in, this year in large numbers.
Superb location to see these trumpetting birds is Moheda Alta.
There is an Information Centre, and every year there is a "Crane festival",
this year from 1 - 4 december. See www.festivaldelasgrullas.com, see also flyer.
The other photo, of the group of Cranes, was made last year from my hide, somewhere in Moheda Alta.
The Cranes stay here till the end of March.

Dutch birder - Henk - Discover Extremadura

Dutch Birder · Nov 20, 2012

Bird calls 20-11-2012

Moheda Alta - Reservoir Cubilar - Las Villuercas (among others):
Red-crested Pochard 4 x
Osprey 2 x
Black-shouldered Kite 2 x
Pintail xxxxx

Dutch birder - Henk

Dutch Birder · Nov 25, 2012

bird calls 25-11-2012

Arrocampo:
Black-crowned night Heron
Great Bittern
Squacco Heron

Campo Lugar (one of my favorites):
Cranes, Great Bustards , Little Bustards: many
Black-shouldered Kite 8x
Stone Curlew 40 x
Golden Plover 15 x

Alcollarin:
Curlews
Ruff 1 x

Torrejoncillo/Coria:
Crossbill

Plasencia:
Brambling

Source: diverse local birders
Dutch birder - Henk

binus1963 · Nov 28, 2012

just to add to bird sightings

don't forget red avadavat near solar power plant.

Dutch Birder · Dec 2, 2012

Selection of Bird sightings 02-12-2012

Moheda Alta / Sierra Brava (my favorites):
Red Avadavat :t:
Shoveler : thousands
Cranes: thousands
Black-necked Grebe : hundreds
Tufted Duck: many
Teals: many
Wigeon: many
Black-shouldered Kite: 2 x
Marsh Harrier: 2 x

Special:
Black Stork 3 x Villanueva de la Vera
Booted Eagle 1 x Galisteo
Pallid Swift 3 x Alange

Own observations and thanks to local birders.

Dutch Birder · Dec 3, 2012

Eagle Owl woke us up

We had already some sightings by daytime a local Villuercas Eagle Owl,
but this morning at 6 is was singing upon our roof.
Time to go out for a walk at Ruecas Azúd, a wetland near Logrosán:
Great Egret 4 x
Little Egret 5 x
Cattle Egret: many
Kingfisher 4 x
Hoopoo 2 x
Green Sandpiper 4 x
Snipe: 3 x
Little ringed Plover: 2 x
Cormorant: many
Little Owl 2 x
Cetti's Warbler: many (and singing!)
Yelow Wagtail: 5x
Griffon Vulture: many, Black Vulture: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1 x
to mention any.

See you.

Dutch Birder · Dec 8, 2012

bird sightings 08-12-2012

Yesterday I visited "Estrecho de la Peña amarilla", a famous rock formation
in the Geopark Villuercas, breeding area for Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Black Stork. Good place for birding, easy acces.

It was dull weather, nevertheless:
Griffon Vulture 22 x
Blue Rock Thrush 2 x
Rock Bunting 1 x
Peregrine Falcon 1 x
Raven 4 x
Red-billed Chough 15 x
to mention some sightings.

Other calls from local birders:
Arrocampo: Penduline Tit
Guadiana River, near Mérida: Purple Swamp Hen (6 x) and
Lesser Black-backed Gull (many).

News:
This winter the French counted a 140,000 móre Cranes flying
direction Spain than in 2011!

In 2012 breeding succes in La Serena for a pair of Hen Harriers.

dutch birder - Henk - Discover Extremadura: routes, hides, holiday-houses.

Dutch Birder · Dec 20, 2012

bird sightings 20-12-2012

the exciting thing last week:
a call for a Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) at Talaván.

Furthermore large numbers of Cranes and Red Kites.

Dutch Birder · Dec 25, 2012

bird sightings 25-12-2012

The White-tailed Eagle (Sea-eagle) of last week in Talaván was not confirmed,
but we have now a confirmed call of this bird in Monfragüe!

We visited some paddy-fields and reservoirs near Madrijalego, with more or
less the same results like other wetlands in Extremadura:
Teal: hundreds
Shoveler: thousands
Wigeon: many
Great Bittern: few
Spoonbill: few
Cormorant: all over the place, even in drinking pools of cattle
Marsh Harrier: many ( we counted 8, more than last years)
Hen Harrier: few (3)
Lesser Black-backed gull: hundreds
Black-headed Gull: thousands
Snipe: many
Lapwing: thousands
Golden Plover: many
Greenshanks and Green Sandpipers: many
Blackwinged Stilt: few

besides that: Chiffchaffs, Robins, Goldfinches, Chaffinches in large numbers;
in whole Extremadura must be millions of these species.

Not to forget: Red Avadavat and Waxbill....

Dutch Birder · Jan 13, 2013

bird sightings 13 jan 2013

Still many Cranes all over the place, already becoming into the mood (see photo).
Also heard of a sighting of a ringed Crane of 23 years old! was ringed in 1989 in Sweden.

Furthermore many Brambings, Redwings, and migration of Rock Trushes.

Also migration of Black-tailed Godwit (130 ex at Santa Amalia) and House Martin (first sight 11 -01-2013).

I have seen Griffon Vultures flying with nest material, also do the White Storks. Spring is in the air?!

Interesting numbers:
Cormarant: 390 ex near Sierra Brava and 340 ex near Rosarito.
Little Bustard: 600 ex in la Serena.
and
Wallcreeper in Monfragüe
Short-eared Owl (2 ex) at Fuente de Cantos, along the N-630.
Montagu's Harrier near Salorino.

Own observations and recordings of local birders - Henk

Dutch Birder · Jan 20, 2013

Filming with Dave Gosney and Liz Hall

Last week we have had bad weather in Extremadura, misty, windy, lots of rain. Bad luck for the well known filmers and documentary makers couple David Gosney and Liz Hall.
Their project is to make a DVD about the birds of Extremadura.
Thursday was the only day with clearings, so we started early, before sunrise, to film Cranes in Moheda Alta (bad luck, there were a few, see photo) and later on in Vegas Altas (luck, there were thousands and thousands Cranes).

Other sightings this day:
Grebe and Little Grebe ( a few)
Cormorant (7)
Great, Little and Cattle Egret (many)
Shoveler, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck (thousands)
Black-shouldered Kite (1)
Red Kite (a few)
Marsh Harrier (a few)
Lapwings ( thousands)
Green Sandpiper (3)
Sandpiper (25)
Greenshank (5)
Great Bustard (37)
Fantail Warbler (Zitting Cisticola) (12)
Red Avadavat and Waxbill (many)
Spanish Sparrow (many)
Iberian Shrike (2)
Linnet and Goldfinch (many)
Corn Bunting, singing (many).
A beautiful birding day in the always good birding places of Moheda Alta and Sierra Brava & surroundings.

Dutch Birder · Jan 28, 2013

bird sightings Jan 16-27, 2013

Still the same hugh numbers of Cranes, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, diverse warblers etc.
White Storks, Vultures, Eagles flying with nesting materials. Every day
sightings of House Martins, Barn Swallows to be expected next week.
Some specials:
Jan 16: Black Kite, Almendralejo
Jan 20: Egyptian Vulture, Cáceres
Jan 20: Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Great Bitterns, Badajoz (Puente Viejo)
Jan 21: Merlin, Hen Harriers, Black-shouldered Kite (2 x), Coria
Jan 24: Mating Spanish Imperial Eagles, Monfragüe
Jan 27: Hawfinch, Merlin, Red Kite (5), Little Owl (2), Black Stork (2),
Buzzard (4), Hen Harrier, Marsh Harier (2), South of Logrosán.
(Also: Red Fox, Roe Deer, Genet, Iberian Hare, Marten)

beste wishes, Dutch Birder - henk

Dutch Birder · Feb 4, 2013

bird sightings Jan 27 – Febr 4, 2013

30/1 Barn Swallow: many sightings in whole Extremadura
31/1 Litlle Kestrel, Mérida and Badajoz
31/1 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (43 ex) and Black-bellied Sandgrouse (41 ex), Planes West of Trujillo
1/2 Leach’s Storm Petrel, after a storm period, location unknown
2/2 Waxwing (5 ex), Béjar
2/2 Woodchat Shrike, Badajoz
3/2 Pallid Harrier, Moheda Alta (many observations, among those myself)
3/2 Taiga bean Goose, Madrigalejo
4/2 Black-necked Grebe (7 ex), Orellana reservoir

Reports of hugh flocks of migrating Greyleg Geese and Cormorants, heading North.
And of course more sightings of Black Kite and Egyptian Vulture.

beste wishes, Dutch Birder - henk

Birding in Extremadura (1 Viewer)

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