Surprises!
Ferruginous Duck (Michael Pearcey)
My tour-leading year often starts, first of all, with Extremadura in spring and you might think that with 22 holidays to this magical destination there might be no more surprises. How wrong – Ring Ouzel and Ferruginous Duck were new for starters!
Open Country Highlights
Red Rumped Swallow (Adam Moan)
Yet it’s the staple treats that work their charm every time. Like me, guests always fall for our special guesthouse, the delightful Viña Las Torres, because not only do our hosts offer warm hospitality, the gardens and lanes are also busy with birdy treasures such as Hoopoe, Red-rumped Swallow, Azure-winged Magpies, Sardinian Warbler and Woodchat Shrike. Again, the birds of the open country were real highlights, with elegant Montagu’s Harriers quartering the flowery open steppes and Great Bustards in fine form. Males were strutting their stuff and inflating themselves in pom-pom displays whilst the song of Calandra Larks filled the air. Accent 4;
Sardinian Warbler (Adam Moan)
Western Subalpine Warbler (Adam Moan)
Great Bustard (Adam Moan)
Magical Monfragűe National Park
Griffon (Michael Pearcey)
As ever, Monfragűe National Park worked its magic – a place unrivalled for birds of prey. Memory cards were filled with squadrons of Griffon and Black Vultures and two Egyptian Vultures tumbling to the ground, their talons locked. All five Spanish eagle species were on show – including displaying Short-toed, Booted and very close fly-bys from the rarest eagle in the world, Spanish Imperial. Certainly another memorable trip, so consequently we will be there next year, will you?“
Red Kite (Adam Moan)
White Stork (Adam Moan)
Book Now for 2020
Next year we shall be running a new Extremadura trip. Our Spanish Birds and Botany holiday is available to book online. Roy will be guiding this holiday with local guide Martin Kelsey, who many of you may have met on the Extremadura stand at the British Birdfair. Please email us or phone 01479 812498 if you have any queries before booking.
Iberian Grey Shrike (Adam Moan)