Extremadura, Spain – Spring Tour!
Bustards, Sandgrouse and Vultures!
Duration: 19 April to 26 April 2025
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About Spain
Spain is by far the most well known destinations in Europe when it comes to wildlife and it attracts birders and other nature lovers from all over the world. Extremadura is arguably perhaps the best region in Spain for birding. Situated inland in the southwest of the country, the region butts onto the border of Portugal. The nearest airports are Madrid, Lisbon and Seville.
The local currency is the Euro.
The average daytime temperature at this time of the year will be approximately between 18 – 25 centigrade in the daytime and 8 – 10 centigrade min at night.
Tour overview
Extremadura is a must-go destination for many British and northwestern European birders and it is also on many people’s bucket lists. Conversely, it is one of the least known regions of Spain – even amongst the Spaniards. With a land area is twice the size of Wales, equal to the size of Switzerland and bigger than the state of Rhode Island, USA, it is indeed, Spain’s biggest secret.
The region is traditionally known as a spring venue for birding and wildlife watching. Many of the migrants like European Roller and Collared Pratincole will be just arriving plus, many of the resident birds like the Sardinian Warbler and the mighty Cinereous Vultures will be busily breeding. One of the lasting impressions visitors have of Extremadura is the sheer number of birds, everywhere.
Extremadura boasts a wonderful variety of habitats ranging from mixed-farming plains to ancient open managed woodland pasture (dehesas) where the famous black Iberian pigs roam free-range, deep rocky valleys, irrigated lands, reservoirs and mountains. Added to this mix are the beautiful towns and villages that are steeped in history and great for wildlife in their own right. During the time of this tour the landscape will be green and lush after the winter rains with beautiful spring flowers in bloom attracting butterflies and dragonflies.
Speciality birds like the Great and Little Bustards, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse are findable. Everywhere there should be migrant Common Cuckoo, Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler with also a good chance of a scarcity.
Passage waders and waterfowl will be moving through the rice fields and reservoirs whilst in the air we will witness feeding frenzies amongst the three regular species of swift along with five swallow species. Meanwhile, at the world famous Monfragüe National Park, Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous Vultures and the occasional Egyptian Vulture drift and there is an opportunity for local Golden or Spanish Imperial Eagles to make an appearance.
We will also aim to visit the charity AMUS to see their amazing and innovative work running a bird hospital.
Expected birds
Great Egret, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, White Stork, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Montagu’s Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Black Kite, Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Ferruginous Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Western Swamphen, Water Rail, Common Quail, Stone Curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Little Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Pin- tailed Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Little Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Eagle Owl, European Roller, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Wryneck, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Thekla’s Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Woodlark, Bearded Tit, Eurasian Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Western Black-eared Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Cetti’s Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Firecrest, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Iberian Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Red-billed Chough, Common Raven, Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, European Serin, Hawfinch, Rock Bunting and Cirl Bunting.
Itinerary
NB. The sequence of places visited may alter to take into account possible changes in the weather
Saturday 19 April – Pick up from Madrid
After an early afternoon pick up from Madrid Barajas Airport we will transfer to Extremadura in a comfortable vehicle. If we were to head straight to our accommodation in the historical medieval city of Cáceres, it would be a journey time of approximately three hours. So, instead on the way we will call in at Embalse de Valdecañas. It is a huge reservoir, so we will concentrate our efforts in the portion near the town of El Gordo on the northeastern border of Extremadura and the Castille La Mancha region. Here we will look for returning Gull-billed Terns and watch the close-up antics of a colony of Lesser Kestrels that share their home in a nearby ruined house with several pairs of White Storks. Soaring over their heads could be Booted Eagles, Black Kites and vultures.
Next, on the way through we will pop into the Embalse de Arrocampo in Saucedilla which is situated within the Monfragüe Natural Park. This area of reed-fringed reservoirs near the northeastern border of Extremadura is a brilliant place for hearing squealing Water Rail finding Western Swamphen, Eurasian Spoonbill and possible Ferruginous Duck. It is the only place in Extremadura with the possibility to find Bearded Tits. We may hear the secretive reedbed dwelling Savi’s Warbler singing and might be lucky enough to catch sight of a Eurasian Bittern.
Dinner at NH Collection. Overnight stay at NH Collection.
Sunday 20 April – Trujillo Plains, Embalse de Alcollarín and nearby rice fields
After breakfast we will visit the plains and river valleys west of Trujillo to get a good introduction to the landscape and scenery. We will be on the lookout for Great and Little Bustards, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Eurasian Griffon and Cinereous Vultures plus hopefully, eagle species like Booted, Spanish Imperial and Short-toed. We will watch Calandra Larks displaying plus see Crested, Thekla’s and hopefully, returning Greater Short-toed Larks. Also, we should be observing flocks of Corn Bunting and Spanish Sparrow plus possible glances at the rather unobtrusive Rock Sparrows.
Embalse de Alcollarín is a superb site that, in itself, is worthy of a full day’s visit. Its water surface is almost always coated with lots of duck, plus plentiful Great Crested and Little Grebes. The shoreline could harbour Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great and Little Egrets and waders like Wood Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilts. Its hinterland is good for Thekla’s and Crested Larks, Hoopoe and returning Woodchat Shrikes.
After lunch, we will spend the afternoon searching through the nearby rice fields. It may be hit and miss as some of the fields may be drained and ploughed by the time of our visit. However, others may still be wet and frequented by Black-headed Gulls, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-winged Stilts and other goodies including possible Whiskered Terns.
We will end the day in the gorgeous medieval town of Trujillo: the celebrated starting point of the excursions into South America by the infamous Conquistadors. We will visit a couple of urban birding sites there before exploring the town’s historic centre.
Dinner in Trujillo. Overnight stay at NH Collection.
Monday 21 April – Full day birding in Monfragüe Natural Park
This will be a day spent within the iconic Monfragüe Natural Park. This magnificent area is a must-see for any visitor to Extremadura. And, at only an hour’s drive from our accommodation, it is not too great a distance. We will stop along the way for brief walks along rivers and through woodlands hoping for Cirl Bunting, Hawfinch and Short-toed Treecreepers.
The famous hotspot in Monfragüe is Peña Falcon (Falcon Rock). It is an impressive natural geological feature and a superb site for watching all three regular species of vulture (Cinereous, Eurasian Griffon and small numbers of Egyptian) plus other raptors like Peregrine, Black Kite, Golden, Short- toed and Spanish Imperial Eagles. We may be a tad early for the other speciality here – the very scarce White-rumped Swift – as they may not as yet returned from Africa. But we will still check the nearby Monfragüe Castle (their breeding grounds) for any signs of them. From that lofty perch we will also watch for rock dwellers like Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush and woodland species such as Hawfinch, Firecrest and Crested Tit. All the while we will enjoy the vision of vultures majestically drifting by, often at eye level.
Dinner in Cáceres. Overnight stay at NH Collection.
Tuesday 22 April – Embalses de Guadiloba, Valdesalor and Charca de la Atalaya plus sites around nearby Malpartida de Cáceres
We will leave our accommodation after breakfast and to head towards Mérida, the capital of Extremadura, and our final accommodation stop. ‘Capital’ is a term to be used lightly as Mérida has a population of around 60,000 and is fairly low-rise. Huge village would be a better moniker!
If we were to drive non-stop it would be a 60 minute journey. Instead, we will spend the day visiting reservoirs around the outskirts of Cáceres, the city in which we would have been based for the past few nights. Over the past days, we would have certainly been watching plenty on screaming Pallid Swifts and hunting Lesser Kestrels overhead in the picturesque Old City.
Embalse de Guadiloba is a large reservoir in the Plains of Cáceres. There is usually not too much to see on the water itself bar a few Eurasian Coot, Gadwall and Mallard. We also might find waders like Little Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpipers along the shoreline. In the scrub around the reservoir, we may sight Great Spotted Cuckoo but certainly Crested and Thekla’s Larks plus plentiful Hoopoe, Corn Bunting, Iberian Magpie and Iberian Grey Shrike. In the surrounding steppes we could be hopeful for both bustard and sandgrouse species, Calandra Larks, possible Tawny Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Montagu’s Harrier, Little Owl and migrants.
At Embalse de Valdesalor, we will be looking for waders along its northern shores. We should hope to expect Eurasian Spoonbill, White Stork, Black-winged Stilt plus Dunlin and other waders. In addition, we will be looking up for overflying Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Black Kite, Booted Eagle and the vulture species.
Finally, on the motorway to Mérida, we will pop in the small village of Aldea Del Cana to visit their small lake, Charca de la Atalaya. Here, we will peer through the fence (it is on private land) to sift through the duck and waders that gather there. We could hope to see Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Ruff and perhaps a late Pintail.
A lot will depend on the water levels of the reservoirs. If they are too high, then we will visit a range of other wetland sites including spots around nearby Malpartida de Cáceres. The order and choice of the sites may change to reflect the availability of birds.
Dinner in Mérida. Overnight stay at Hotel Ilunion Mérida Palace.
Wednesday 23 April – urban birding Merida, Embalses de Proserpina, Montijo, Esparragalejo & Canchales
After breakfast, we will walk from the hotel to the nearby and world-famous Roman Bridge – the longest and oldest Roman bridge in the world. It spans the Guadiana River where we will look out for Alpine, Common and Pallid Swifts that nest beneath our feet within the arches of the bridge. There will be Western Swamphen, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, Penduline Tit and Cetti’s Warbler to watch and listen out for too. In the park nearby, we will look for Hoopoe, Western Subalpine Warbler, Iberian Magpie, European Serin and Spotless Starling.
Later, we will drop into the various reservoirs listed above. All are within 40 minutes drive from Mérida and will hopefully supply us with sightings of summer migrants like Woodchat Shrike, Western Subalpine Warbler plus various wader species. In addition, we will hope to see more Cinereous and Eurasian Griffon Vultures, Black-winged and Black Kites, Booted Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow plus many more.
Dinner in Mérida. Overnight stay at Hotel Ilunion Mérida Palace.
Thursday 24 April – Alange and Sierra Grande de Hornachos
We will start the day heading south of Mérida to Alange, which is only 30 minutes drive from the hotel. We will visit several sites in the area ranging from a rocky valley to the shores of Embalse de Alange looking for species as varied as Greater Flamingo to scouting for Black Wheatear and Rock Bunting. On the way to Alange we will also pop into a couple of sites along the River Guadiana to look for migrants like Western Bonelli’s Warbler and Western Subalpine Warbler.
If we have the time, and the desire, we will then visit a nearby bird hospital run by the charity AMUS to see how they recuperate injured raptors.
We will then journey to the gorgeous Hornachos region. After lunch in the parking area, we will explore this mountainous sierra for Spanish Imperial, Golden, Bonelli’s and Booted Eagles plus Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting and Crag Martin. It is probably the best place in the whole of Extremadura to get good views of the nationally declining Black Wheatear.
Dinner in Mérida. Overnight stay at Hotel Ilunion Mérida Palace.
Friday 25 April – Cornalvo Natural Park & other sites around
After breakfast, we will drive the short distance to Cornalvo – a huge park on Mérida’s doorstep. It is a mixture of farmland, dehesa, reservoirs and scrub and is home to Little Owl, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Corn Bunting, Woodlark, Woodchat Shrike, Common Quail and breeding Black-winged Kites. We will spend most of the day traversing its varied terrain seeing whatever we find.
In the afternoon we may visit a couple more sites around Mérida before returning to the hotel.
Dinner in Mérida. Overnight stay at Hotel Ilunion Mérida Palace.
Saturday 26 April – back to Madrid and eventually, home…
After breakfast we will transfer to Madrid with our heads filled with fabulous memories.
Happy days!
Special trip notes
The tour will depart from Madrid on Saturday 19 April in the early afternoon from Madrid Airport. Therefore, please aim to get flights that arrive before 13:00 on that day.
Book your return flights to leave at 15:00 onwards from Madrid Airport as we shall aim to arrive there by 12:30 on Saturday 26 April.
The pace of this tour will be gentle. We will let the wildlife come to us.
In Extremadura most of the region’s rain falls during the spring and autumn. The temperatures should be warm but be prepared for chillier weather. We can anticipate a chance of rain, but we should also be able to enjoy some sunshine as well.
If you need any outdoor apparel, you can enjoy a 15% discount from Páramo Directional Clothing whose fabulous products are all ethically manufactured. Please visit this link.
Recommended literature
Collins Bird Guide
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Price includes
- B&B hotel accommodation
- All meals and some drinks
- Transport in a comfortable vehicle
- The services of your guide David Lindo (The Urban Birder)
Price does not include
- Airline tickets and airport taxes
- Personal travel insurance
- Entry fees to monuments and museums (if desired)
- Additional refreshments at cafes and bars and most additional alcoholic drinks
Click on the booking form above to reserve your place on this tour. You will be re-directed to the birdswildlife.com website.