Thursday 31 May 2007

Extreme Extremadura, 26th Apr - 3rd May 07


Kevin Durose and myself decided to go and do some digi- damage in Extremadura. We camped in Monfrague NP the whole week and had to put up with frost, thunder and hale storms, torrential rain and the occaisonal sunny spell.

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Little Bustard

Steppe


Home to Great and Little Bustards, Sandgrouse and masses of displaying Calandra Larks.

Montagu's Harrier


Up to 6 pairs were watched displaying in this particular field.

Calandra Lark

Calandra

Great Bustard in evening light

Great Bustard displaying

Red-necked Nightjar


Watched down to 4 meters at 10am!!.

Southern Grey Shrike

The Pena Falcon

Trujiillo


Great place to watch nesting White Storks at eye-level.

White Stork

White Stork stealing nest material


We watched this Stork steal nest material from its neighbour. Presumably one of the adults from this nest had died because no adults were protecting the chicks.

Storm over the steppe

Little Owl

Tuesday 29 May 2007

Black Kite and Griffon Vulture wing drying

Spotless Starling


Singing in Monfrague campsite.

Black Vulture wing drying

Black Stork eating its youngest chick


This pair had three healthy chicks but the youngest (fourth chick) had obviously died and was being eaten by the attending parent.

Steppe

Montagu's harrier

The Tietar Cliff


Amazing place to see Vultures, Bonelli's eagle, Black Stork, Eagle Owl, Spanish Imp to name but a few.

Tietar Cliff with Vultures

Spanish Imperial, male

Spanish Imperial, female

Black Stork

Black Vulture

Black Vulture

Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture

Bee-eater

Citril Finch, imm


Atleast 30 seen in the grounds of the Hotel Parador

Black-eared Wheatear

Roller

Stonechat

Sierra de Candelario


Bluethroat and Ortolan site. Also full of Dunnocks and Skylarks.