Final yr no fewer than 18 million vacationers from Britain visited Spain – it’s our favorite vacation vacation spot. Nonetheless, of that 18 million, practically all visited the Mediterranean coast. Few British folks have ever heard of Extremadura, and even fewer would have visited this comunidad autónoma (autonomous group) that covers over 16,000 sq. miles to the west of Madrid. Extremadura is an space of giant skies and sprawling steppe – there’s nowhere else in Europe fairly prefer it. Its particular habitats harbour particular birds, and that’s why it’s a favoured vacation spot for birdwatchers.
The Cáceres Plains, with the snow-covered Sierra Gredos within the background
Discovering bustards in Extremadura has at all times been one thing of a problem (it’s a lot simpler within the space round La Moraña and Villafáfila in Castilla y León). There’s plenty of appropriate habitat to search for them in, and that’s a part of the issue. Thirty years in the past the Belén highway out of Trujillo was a sizzling spot for bustards, each Nice and Little, but it surely didn’t reveal any this time. However we did ultimately discover Nice Bustards on three events, with the very best sightings on the rolling cereal fields on the Cáceres Plains. Twenty years in the past there have been reckoned to be 2000 Nice Bustards right here: I’ve no concept what number of there are immediately, however I believe that the inhabitants is now moderately decrease.
Dangerous information for steppe birds: a photo voltaic farm underneath development
Regardless of their dimension – a Nice Bustard cock is the scale of a turkey – these birds will be tough to identify, as their stunning cryptic plumage blends completely with their environment. The birds we discovered we watched at appreciable vary, however they’re such an iconic chicken of the steppes that each sighting was thrilling, and particularly so for my companions who had by no means seen them earlier than. By the way, this isn’t the place to attempt to {photograph} them, as they are usually each cautious and customarily unapproachable. (For very good photos of Nice Bustards, see Clive Finlayson’s current publish https://www.10000birds.com/the-time-of-the-great-bustard.htm).
Nice Bustards – difficult to see, and even more durable to {photograph}
Although we could have loved sustained, if distant, views of Nice Bustards, we failed to search out the Nice’s smaller cousin, the Little Bustard. This was worrying, for I’ve by no means failed to search out them earlier than. One purpose could have been because of the truth that the males had but (on the finish of March) to start out their spring show, however there’s little question that the primary clarification is as a result of this species has suffered an enormous decline. I’ve failed to search out up-to-date figures, however from 1998-2017, numbers in Spain plummeted by 76.2%.
Although we failed on Little Bustards, there was some compensation with sandgrouse – we noticed each species that happen right here, the Black-bellied and the Pin-tailed. Our most notable sighting was of the latter, once we discovered a flock (or, moderately, a lot of small flocks, flying collectively) that numbered over 100 birds. We heard them earlier than we noticed them, for his or her stunning flight-call is each far-carrying and distinctive. Because the flock flew over I had the dilemma of whether or not to attempt to {photograph} them or simply take pleasure in them. I attempted the previous, however as you will note from my {photograph} beneath, not with notable success.
Whereas we could have struggled to search out bustards and sandgrouse, larks weren’t an issue. Essentially the most distinctive lark right here is the Calandra, an enormous lark that’s distinctive with its black underwings and gradual, flapping show flight. Their wealthy music is the splendidly evocative sound of the steppe, along with the jangling music of the Corn Bunting. Thekla’s lark (the opposite widespread lark) isn’t as musical because the Calandra, however its less complicated music continues to be pleasing to the ear.
Calandra Larks – massive and distinctive
Griffon Vulture – a typical sight all through Extremadura
Griffons are much less spectacular on the bottom than within the air
Raptors are an Extremadura speciality, and we noticed numerous them. Griffon Vultures are ample, and it’s uncommon to lookup into the sky and never see a number of of them hovering overhead, usually in firm with Black Vultures. The latter is barely the bigger of the 2, and is definitely recognized by its distinctive jizz, with drooping fingers (the guidelines of the primaries). Extremadura has the most important colonies of Black Vultures of anyplace on the planet.
Right here in Britain the Montagu’s Harrier has at all times been a really uncommon chicken, and lately there have been no confirmed breeding information. It’s a chicken we noticed a number of instances, with moderately extra cocks than hens. This was in all probability as a result of the cocks return from their wintering grounds in Africa sooner than the females.
The plaza de toros in Trujillo: it was inbuilt 1848. Now not used for staging bull fights, it helps an essential colony of Lesser Kestrels (beneath)
Lesser Kestrels (above) are one other Extremadura particular, and we loved nice views of those pleasant little falcons on many events, most notably by the the plaza de toros (bullring) in Trujillo, the place they nest. Due to work by organisations like search engine optimization, native folks are actually conscious of the significance of the Lesser Kestrel colonies of their cities. The knowledge board beneath was within the historic city of Alburquerque, near the Portuguese border.
(Subsequent week I’ll think about among the different avian delights of this splendidly bird-rich a part of Spain.)
