Hi,
Last Eastern I spend some days in several locations withing north-central Spain.
1. Our first stage was in Sierra de Guara. Complete information, with maps and pictures can be found here. Guara mountains belong to the pre-Pyrenean ranges. Excavated by the waters of many rivers, many ravines have been formed, leading to formations that many birds, specially raptors, use to breed. Located next to the ravine formed by the river Vero, is the collegiate castle of Santa Maria Maggiore, and at his feet the labyrinthine medieval city of Alquézar. From Alquezar it is possible to do the trail known as "ruta de las pasarelas". This is a good start to know this mountains and it offers good opportunities to see birds, including griffons, egyptian vultures, kestrels, and blue rock thrush. In addition there is a colony of rock dove. Another good location is known as Salto del Roldán. This is one of the best points to see raptors, including griffons, egyptian vultures, bearded vultures and eagles. Ascending to the top is difficult, specially if you go with your spotting scope.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/12-15-de-abril-de-2014-sierra-de-guara.html
2. From Alquezar and Sierra de Guara we moved to spend some additional days around Valladolid. My first visit was to a place known as Navas de Peñaflor and Wamba, two towns near Valladolid. This was a route through the plains in Torozos hills. It allows to travel through an habitat similar to an steppe, that includes some seasonal lacoons (called Navas). This year rain was abundant, allowing that lacoons were full of life: Northern wheatears, Great bustards, Black-winged stilts, Yellow wagtails, Black kites and much more.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/16-de-abril-de-2014-navas-de-penaflor.html
3. Finally, we went to the city of Avila, and to visit to old veton villages. There we saw lesser kestrels, european white storks, and some raptors. Here you have the link.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/17-de-abril-de-2014-avila-capital-y.html
I hope you enjoyed with these visits.
Last Eastern I spend some days in several locations withing north-central Spain.
1. Our first stage was in Sierra de Guara. Complete information, with maps and pictures can be found here. Guara mountains belong to the pre-Pyrenean ranges. Excavated by the waters of many rivers, many ravines have been formed, leading to formations that many birds, specially raptors, use to breed. Located next to the ravine formed by the river Vero, is the collegiate castle of Santa Maria Maggiore, and at his feet the labyrinthine medieval city of Alquézar. From Alquezar it is possible to do the trail known as "ruta de las pasarelas". This is a good start to know this mountains and it offers good opportunities to see birds, including griffons, egyptian vultures, kestrels, and blue rock thrush. In addition there is a colony of rock dove. Another good location is known as Salto del Roldán. This is one of the best points to see raptors, including griffons, egyptian vultures, bearded vultures and eagles. Ascending to the top is difficult, specially if you go with your spotting scope.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/12-15-de-abril-de-2014-sierra-de-guara.html
2. From Alquezar and Sierra de Guara we moved to spend some additional days around Valladolid. My first visit was to a place known as Navas de Peñaflor and Wamba, two towns near Valladolid. This was a route through the plains in Torozos hills. It allows to travel through an habitat similar to an steppe, that includes some seasonal lacoons (called Navas). This year rain was abundant, allowing that lacoons were full of life: Northern wheatears, Great bustards, Black-winged stilts, Yellow wagtails, Black kites and much more.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/16-de-abril-de-2014-navas-de-penaflor.html
3. Finally, we went to the city of Avila, and to visit to old veton villages. There we saw lesser kestrels, european white storks, and some raptors. Here you have the link.
http://arodris.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/17-de-abril-de-2014-avila-capital-y.html
I hope you enjoyed with these visits.
