Torrejon el Rubio – Monfrague National Park - Rio Almonte
Unabated sunshine after a chilly start with temperatures reaching 80F! We set off at 8:30am heading north through Trujillo and onto Torrejon el Rubio. A short detour was made to try and see Spanish Imperial Eagle at their nest site just outside of the town. We failed to see the eagle but enjoyed a nice hour watching such species as: Rock Sparrow, Thekla Lark, a surprising Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Mistle Thrush and Griffon Vultures.
Monfrague park was our all-day venue and we arrived about 10;30am at the Castillo de Monfrague, it was still a bit chilly with a cold breeze at the top. There were many Hawfinches flying around and we had great views of them. Many Girffon and Black Vultures littered the sky and at one stage a Peregrine joined them. Red-billed Chough made brief appearances and Black Redstart, Blue-rock Thrush, Red-legged Partridge and Crag Martin all added to our enjoyment.
Unabated sunshine after a chilly start with temperatures reaching 80F! We set off at 8:30am heading north through Trujillo and onto Torrejon el Rubio. A short detour was made to try and see Spanish Imperial Eagle at their nest site just outside of the town. We failed to see the eagle but enjoyed a nice hour watching such species as: Rock Sparrow, Thekla Lark, a surprising Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Mistle Thrush and Griffon Vultures.
Monfrague park was our all-day venue and we arrived about 10;30am at the Castillo de Monfrague, it was still a bit chilly with a cold breeze at the top. There were many Hawfinches flying around and we had great views of them. Many Girffon and Black Vultures littered the sky and at one stage a Peregrine joined them. Red-billed Chough made brief appearances and Black Redstart, Blue-rock Thrush, Red-legged Partridge and Crag Martin all added to our enjoyment.
WoodlarkAt Pena Falcon a little further on into the park we saw more of the same but a little closer. We then drove into Villareal where we sat and ate our picnic (with about 1,000 school children – noisy beggers!). driving round to the dam we stopped to watch a singing Woodlark which had positioned itself just above the road and sang beautifully to all that passed beneath it. Just above the dam we parked in a mirador (view-point) and after throwing out stale bread we watched many Azure-winged magpies. A walk into the pine woods produced Jay, Crested Tit, Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Cirl Bunting, Hawfinch and lots of vultures.
The rocky outcrop at Gitana was covered with Griffon Vultures they all took to the air on occasion and were joined by Black Vultures, magnificent sight. We added Rock Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Little Egret, Cormorant and Two-tailed pasha (butterfly) to our list. After an hour or so of searching for eagles and eagle owl we decided to walk the cork woodlands just along the road. It was very hot but the shade of the trees helped somewhat. We found Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Raven overhead and Nuthatch in the trees before we left.
On the return journey we stopped at the bridge over the Rio Almonte where we watched Crag Martins, White Wagtails, Lapwing, Whinchat, Southern Grey Shrike and several Meadow Pipits. We added Common Crane to our day list as we approached Trujillo which finalised our days sightings.
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