FieldGuidesTourReport

Spain:LaMancha,CotoDonana&Extremadura2019

May4,2019toMay16,2019ChrisBenesh&GodfriedSchreur

Early morning encounter with some Greater Flamingos in El Rocio, Donana. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

One of the nice aspects of birding in Europe is the fact that you encounter bird species that are symbols in our common (“western”) folklore, art andculture. European birds have inspired musicians, poets, writers, storytellers, and painters. They have been the models for artists since ancient times,becoming symbols.

For example, we all know that the White Stork is supposed to bring good luck and to deliver babies to their parents. The Carrion Crow, with his scarycall, brings bad luck and measures distances in direct flight. The Magpie steals silver, gold and jewels. The Cuckoo, from the clock, really says“cuckoo”, and is the unfaithful Cuckoo that cheats. The Robin comes to our window at Christmas time. The Blackbird singing in the dead of night…The Skylark as a messenger between Earth and Heaven. The Turtle Dove symbolizing love, fidelity and trust. The Goldfinch of Fabritius…

Of these, the Common Nightingale is special. It is generally known as the musical champion, the best singer in town. It has therefore inspired manymusicians, from classic composers like Brahms and Stravinsky, to popular artists like The Everly Brothers (On the wings of a Nightingale), The Eagles,Leonard Cohen, Nora Jones, Judy Collins, etc… Who doesn't know the song “A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square?" But the common Nightingalehas also been used as a symbol of poets or their poetry. Poets chose the nightingale as a symbol because of its creative and seemingly spontaneous song.

Well, now we have seen and heard them all: White Stork, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Magpie, Common Cuckoo, European Robin, Eurasian Blackbird,Eurasian Skylark and European Turtle Dove. And yes, we have listened to the breathtaking Common Nightingale's concert.

It was a really great tour with a nice group of people! We saw many good birds and some stunning mammals, and we had generally pleasant weather,nice hotels and excellent food and wines. We also enjoyed visiting some highlights of Spanish historical and cultural heritage.

Thank you all for your fantastic contributions to the tour, and to Chris for your ever cheerful presence, musical assistance and superb guiding skills!

I hope to see you all again!

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Godfried Schreur

KEYS FOR THIS LISTOne of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a =austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

BIRDSAnatidae(Ducks,Geese,andWaterfowl)GRAYLAGGOOSE(EUROPEAN) (Anseranseranser) –SeenwithgoslingsatthemarshofElRocío.COMMONSHELDUCK (Tadornatadorna) –GoodnumbersatthelagoonsinLaManchaandinCotoDoñanaNationalPark.GARGANEY (Spatulaquerquedula) –Onefarawayviewforsomeofus.NORTHERNSHOVELER (Spatulaclypeata) –SomeshovelersobservedattheVeguillalagoon.GADWALL (Marecastrepera) –Commoninmostwetlands.MALLARD (Anasplatyrhynchos) –WesawMallardeveryday,exceptforthedayswespentinthemountains.MARBLEDTEAL (Marmaronettaangustirostris) –WefoundamarvelouspairofMarbledDucksrestinginfrontofthehideinDehesadeAbajo,next

toadrakeFerruginousDuck.RED-CRESTEDPOCHARD (Nettarufina) –Stunningviewsofthismagnificantduck,bothinLaManchaandinCotoDoñana.COMMONPOCHARD (Aythyaferina) –OftenseentogetherwiththeRed-crestedPochard,withthelatterreceivingalltheattention.FERRUGINOUSDUCK (Aythyanyroca) –Wesawonebeautifuldrakeinbreedingplumage,andwithhisdistinctivewhiteeye.WHITE-HEADEDDUCK (Oxyuraleucocephala) –GoodnumbersofthisrareduckinthelagoonsofLaManchaHúmeda.

Phasianidae(Pheasants,Grouse,andAllies)RED-LEGGEDPARTRIDGE (Alectorisrufa) –WehadgoodviewsoftheRed-leggedPartridgeduringtheexcursionthroughtheMediterranean

woodlandofCotoDoñana.

Phoenicopteridae(Flamingos)GREATERFLAMINGO (Phoenicopterusroseus) –Goodviewsofhundredsofresting,flying,feeding,displaying,andacoupleofmatingbirds.

Podicipedidae(Grebes)LITTLEGREBE (Tachybaptusruficollis) –Goodviewsfromseveralhides.WeevensawbabyLittleGrebes!GREATCRESTEDGREBE (Podicepscristatus) –UsuallymoredistantandinlowernumbersthantheLittleGrebe.Nevertheless,wecansaythatwe

hadgoodviewsofthiselegantbird.EAREDGREBE (Podicepsnigricollis) –GoodnumbersespeciallyinthelagoonsofAlcazardeSanJuan.

Columbidae(PigeonsandDoves)ROCKPIGEON (Columbalivia) –WesawFeralPigeonseveryday,butrealRockPigeonsintheirnaturalhabitat,weonlyrecordedintherockyareas

ofExtremadura.STOCKDOVE (Columbaoenas) –OnlyintheRetiroParkinMadrid.COMMONWOOD-PIGEON (Columbapalumbus) –Aneverydaybird.EUROPEANTURTLE-DOVE (Streptopeliaturtur) –ThisTurtleDoveissufferingaseverepopulationdecreasethroughoutEurope.Accordingly,we

encounteredonlyafewofthem.Javi,ourlocalguideinDoñana,pointedoutoneperchedonawireinDoñana.EURASIANCOLLARED-DOVE (Streptopeliadecaocto) –Aneverydaybird.

Pteroclidae(Sandgrouse)PIN-TAILEDSANDGROUSE (Pteroclesalchata) –DistantbutconvincingviewsofsittingandflyingbirdsintheplainsnearTrujillo.Wealsoheard

theircall.BLACK-BELLIEDSANDGROUSE (Pteroclesorientalis) –Wemissedthisspeciesonthefirstsandgrouseexcursion,buteventuallysawsomeonthe

secondattempt.Inflight,theblackbellieswereveryclear.

Otididae(Bustards)GREATBUSTARD (Otistarda) –Goodviewsofsomestunningdisplayingmales!LITTLEBUSTARD (Tetraxtetrax) –SeenandheardontheplainsofExtremadura.Goodviewsofsomeflyingmaleswiththeirblackcollarsandwhite

patchesinthewings.

Cuculidae(Cuckoos)GREATSPOTTEDCUCKOO (Clamatorglandarius) –CloseviewsafterthelunchstopinTablasdeDaimielNP,andalsointheSierradeAndújar,

whilesearchingforlynx.COMMONCUCKOO (Cuculuscanorus) –TheCommonCuckooistheonlycuckoointheworldthatreallysoundslike"cuckoo",whichistheorigin

ofthefamilyname.WeheardtheCommonCuckoomanytimes,andwemanagedtoseethemonacoupleofoccasions.

Caprimulgidae(NightjarsandAllies)RED-NECKEDNIGHTJAR (Caprimulgusruficollis) –DuringaneveningexcursionclosetoMonfragüeNPwewereluckytoseefourinsect-hunting

individuals.Awonderfulobservationindeed!EURASIANNIGHTJAR (Caprimulguseuropaeus) –WemanagedtoseeandhearoneindividualnexttoourbeautifulhotelintheGredosmountains.

Apodidae(Swifts)ALPINESWIFT (Apusmelba) –SuperbviewsofthishugeswiftatthedamnexttoAlange.COMMONSWIFT (Apusapus) –Verycommonspecies,omnipresent.WemanagedthebestviewsofthemintheoldtownofTrujillo(Extremadura).

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PALLIDSWIFT (Apuspallidus) –ItwassometimeshardtoidentifythePallidSwift,astheyareverysimilartotheCommonSwift.InTrujillothespecieswereflyingtogetheratcloserangewhichmadeiteasiertodistinguishthem.

Rallidae(Rails,Gallinules,andCoots)WATERRAIL (Rallusaquaticus) –HeardonlyattheVeguillaandtheNavasecalagoons.Theyremainedinthecoverofthereedbeds.EURASIANMOORHEN (Gallinulachloropus) –Aregularbirdatalmostallthewetlandsthatwevisited.EURASIANCOOT (Fulicaatra) –WesawhundredsofEurasianCootsatmanylakesandmarshes.Itwasoftenthemostcommonspeciespresent.RED-KNOBBEDCOOT (Fulicacristata) –ChrisBeneshfoundtwoindividualsattheedgeoftheDehesadeAbajolake.Withthetelescopes,weall

wereabletoseetheredknobs.WESTERNSWAMPHEN (Porphyrioporphyrio) –WesawoutrageousnumbersofWesternSwamphenintheCañodelGuadiamar,CotoDoñanaNP.

Fromseveralhides,wemanagedgoodviewsatcloserangeofthisstunningbird.

Burhinidae(Thick-knees)EURASIANTHICK-KNEE (Burhinusoedicnemus) –AtthedrymarshesofDoñanawefoundacoupleof"StoneCurlews",astheyarecalledin

Europe.

Recurvirostridae(StiltsandAvocets)BLACK-WINGEDSTILT (Himantopushimantopus) –Byfarthemostcommonwaderseenonthistrip.PIEDAVOCET (Recurvirostraavosetta) –WehadgoodviewsofthiselegantwaderinCotoDoñanaNP.

Haematopodidae(Oystercatchers)EURASIANOYSTERCATCHER (Haematopusostralegus) –100+atthelongandunspoiltbeachofDoñana.

Charadriidae(PloversandLapwings)NORTHERNLAPWING (Vanellusvanellus) –ThefirstwaderwesawafterleavingMadridwasaNorthernLapwing.It'sararebreedingbirdin

southernSpain.Thereforewedidnotseemanyofthemonthistour.KENTISHPLOVER(KENTISH) (Charadriusalexandrinusalexandrinus) –WehadthebestviewsoftheKentishPloversattheLagunaLarga

Lagoon,rightatthestartofthetour.COMMONRINGEDPLOVER (Charadriushiaticula) –CotoDoñanaisanimportant"steppingstone"fortheCommonRingedPloveronits

migrationtothebreedinggroundsfurthernorth.LITTLERINGEDPLOVER (Charadriusdubius) –OnlytwoseenatTablasdeDaimielNP.

Scolopacidae(SandpipersandAllies)WHIMBREL (Numeniusphaeopus) –OnebirdattherivermouthoftheGuadalquivirriver.BLACK-TAILEDGODWIT (Limosalimosa) –OnebirdwasspottedatthemarshnexttoourhotelinElRocío.REDKNOT (Calidriscanutus) –WesawtheRedKnotatthebeachofDoñanatogetherwithgullsandterns.OneKnotwaspartiallyredasaresultof

themoltingprocess,goingfromgreywinterplumagetothereddishbreedingplumage.TEMMINCK'SSTINT (Calidristemminckii) –TwoindividualsshowedverywellattheLagunaLarga.SANDERLING (Calidrisalba) –GoodnumbersseenfromtheUnimogvehicleatthebeachofDoñana.DUNLIN (Calidrisalpina) –Onesandtwoshereandthere.Somealreadyshowingtheblackbellyofthebreedingplumage.COMMONSANDPIPER (Actitishypoleucos) –Recordedonfivedays,butalwaysinsmallnumbers.COMMONGREENSHANK (Tringanebularia) –Onlytwobirdsseenonthistrip!COMMONREDSHANK (Tringatotanus) –Therewerefewwadersaroundinthewetlandswevisited,maybebecauseofthedrought.Onlythree

CommonRedshankswererecordedonthewholetrip...

Glareolidae(PratincolesandCoursers)COLLAREDPRATINCOLE (Glareolapratincola) –AttheveryfirstbirdingstopatLagunaLargaweenjoyedcloseviewsofthiselegantbird.In

CotoDoñanawesawagroupofCollaredPratincolesmobbingaRedKite.

Laridae(Gulls,Terns,andSkimmers)SLENDER-BILLEDGULL (Chroicocephalusgenei) –OnegroupflyingabovetheseaatCotoDoñana.BLACK-HEADEDGULL (Chroicocephalusridibundus) –VerycommonespeciallyatthePedroMuñozlagoon.AUDOUIN'SGULL (Ichthyaetusaudouinii) –WehadexcellentviewsofthisprettygullatthecoastofCotoDoñana.Therewerehundredsofthem

restingatthebeach.YELLOW-LEGGEDGULL (Larusmichahellis) –Verycommongull.LESSERBLACK-BACKEDGULL (Larusfuscus) –TheLesserBlack-backedGullwasalsoverycommonatthecoastofCotoDoñana.Sometimes

theywererestingtogetherwithYellow-leggedGulls,whichgaveustheopportunitytostudythefeaturesofbothandhowtodistinguishthem.LITTLETERN (Sternulaalbifrons) –Over200LittleTernswererestingonthebeachtogetherwithotherternsandgulls!Probablyit'sthehighest

numbereverrecordedonthistour.GULL-BILLEDTERN (Gelochelidonnilotica) –ThebestviewsofthisternwereatthereservoirofAlangewhilesearchingforBlackWheatear.

Funnycombinationofspecies!BLACKTERN (Chlidoniasniger) –TheexcursionintheUnimogvehiclealongthecoastofCotoDoñanawasfantasticfortheobservationofternsand

gulls.Over100BlackTernswererestingattheshorelineclosetothemouthoftheGuadalquivirriver.WHISKEREDTERN (Chlidoniashybrida) –WesawdozensofWhiskeredTerns,speciallyattheVeguillaandNavasecalagoonsinLaMancha

Húmeda.ROSEATETERN (Sternadougallii) –Awrite-inspecies!WesawonebirdattheCotoDoñanacoastshowingapinkishflushonhischest.Rarein

Spain!COMMONTERN (Sternahirundo) –SomebirdsmixedinthegroupsofternsandgullsontheDoñanabeach.SANDWICHTERN (Thalasseussandvicensis) –Over200restingontheternandgullbeachofDoñana.

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Ciconiidae(Storks)BLACKSTORK (Ciconianigra) –ExcellentviewsofthisglossystorkatthePeñaFalcónviewpointinMonfragüeNP.WHITESTORK (Ciconiaciconia) –Aneverydaybird!TheybreedinalmostallthevillagesinsouthernandcentralSpain.Lovelytohearthemdoing

thebillclappingwhengreetingeachother!SomeofushadtheprivilegetolookuponanestfromthehotelwindowinTrujillo.

Sulidae(BoobiesandGannets)NORTHERNGANNET (Morusbassanus) –WeactuallysawsomegannetsdivingforfishinfrontoftheDoñanacoast.

Phalacrocoracidae(CormorantsandShags)GREATCORMORANT (Phalacrocoraxcarbo) –CommononthereservoirsofExtremadura.

Ardeidae(Herons,Egrets,andBitterns)LITTLEBITTERN (Ixobrychusminutus) –Seenon4days!WeachievedthebestviewsrightnexttoourhotelinElRocío(CotoDoñana).GRAYHERON (Ardeacinerea) –CommoninCotoDoñanaandExtremadura.PURPLEHERON (Ardeapurpurea) –AttheCañodelGuadiamar(CotoDoñana)wehadthebestphotographicopportunitiesofthiselegantheron.GREATEGRET (Ardeaalba) –Onesandtwos.LITTLEEGRET (Egrettagarzetta) –Gorgeoustoseethenuptialfeatherstypicalofthebreedingplumage.CATTLEEGRET (Bubulcusibis) –Themostcommonegretofthearea.Seenpercheduponcows,sheep,horses:-)SQUACCOHERON (Ardeolaralloides) –DuringtheexcursionwithJaviinDoñanawemanagedtoseethebrightgreenish-bluecoloratthebaseof

thebill.This,togetherwiththenuptialplumage,makethisawonderfulbirdtoseeinthebreedingseason.BLACK-CROWNEDNIGHT-HERON (Nycticoraxnycticorax) –CommoninCotoDoñana.Thenight-heronswereflyingoutwhilewewerehaving

dinnerbehindthewindowscreenatourrestaurantinElRocío.

Threskiornithidae(IbisesandSpoonbills)GLOSSYIBIS (Plegadisfalcinellus) –HundredsinCotoDoñanaNP.FromourdinnertablewesawdozensofGlossyIbisflyingintoroostatthe

mixedcolony.EURASIANSPOONBILL (Platalealeucorodia) –WeachievedsuperbviewsoftheSpoonbillsinElRocío,CotoDoñana.

Pandionidae(Osprey)OSPREY (Pandionhaliaetus) –WesawonebirdperchedatthemouthoftheGuadalquivirriver.

Accipitridae(Hawks,Eagles,andKites)EGYPTIANVULTURE (Neophronpercnopterus) –GoodviewsofhisyellowfaceandpunkyheadfeathersofanestingbirdinMonfragüeNP.EUROPEANHONEY-BUZZARD (Pernisapivorus) –Wediscoveredsomebirdsonmigrationnorth,highupinthesky.Onthelastday,wealsosawa

HoneyBuzzardflyinglowoverdeciduoustreewoodlands,itsbreedinghabitat.CINEREOUSVULTURE (Aegypiusmonachus) –Extremaduraistheworld'smostimportantstrongholdofthisthreatenedspecies.InMonfragüeNP

wesawdozensofflyingCinereousVulturesandonebreedingonitsnest.EURASIANGRIFFON (Gypsfulvus) –Itwasinterestingtoseetheadultbirdswiththeirpowerfulbeakstreatingthechickswithsuchdelicacy.SHORT-TOEDSNAKE-EAGLE (Circaetusgallicus) –Recordedonmostofthedaysflyingratherhighorperchedonelectricitypylons,butonsome

occasionswealsoobservedtheirnoisydisplay.BOOTEDEAGLE (Hieraaetuspennatus) –ThesmallesteagleinSpainwasrecordedalmostonadailybasis,thepalemorphbeingmorefrequentthan

thedarkmorph.SPANISHEAGLE (Aquilaadalberti) –WestruggledtoseetheemperoramongsttheeaglesinSpain.Wewereabouttogiveupwhenheappeared,

showingthewhitemarkingsattheleadingedgeofthewing.Whatarelief!GOLDENEAGLE (Aquilachrysaetos) –TwobeautifulsilhouettesintheskyabovethelynxlandofSierradeAndujar.BONELLI'SEAGLE (Aquilafasciata) –TwoflyingadultsonabreedingterritoryclosetoTrujillo.EURASIANMARSH-HARRIER (Circusaeruginosus) –Goodviewsofbothmalesandfemalesinmostofthewetlands.MONTAGU'SHARRIER (Circuspygargus) –ThisspeciesissufferingadramaticdeclineinSpain.Wewereluckytofindfourbirds.Oneofthem

showedtheblackishplumageofthemelanisticmorph.EURASIANSPARROWHAWK (Accipiternisus) –OnebirdintheSierradeGredosmountains.REDKITE (Milvusmilvus) –WesawlimitednumbersofRedKitesinCotoDoñana,ExtremaduraandinSierradeGredos.Withoutdoubtoneofthe

mostbeautifulraptorsofEurope.BLACKKITE (Milvusmigrans) –ThemostcommonraptorofSpainwasseenandhearddaily.COMMONBUZZARD (Buteobuteo) –Regularbutnevernumerous.

Strigidae(Owls)EURASIANSCOPS-OWL (Otusscops) –TraceydiscoveredoneScopsOwlperchedontheroofofahouseinTrujillo.Thankstoher,weallmanaged

toseethisprettylittleowl.LITTLEOWL (Athenenoctua) –TheacousticlandscapeoftheSierradeAndujarwasdelightfulwiththecallsofnumerousLittleOwls.

Upupidae(Hoopoes)EURASIANHOOPOE (Upupaepops) –Thissuperb,clownishbirdwasseenandheardeverydayofthetrip.AtthebackyardofourhotelinSierrade

Gredos,afamilyofHoopoeswasfeedingandofferedgoodphotographicopportunities.

Meropidae(Bee-eaters)EUROPEANBEE-EATER (Meropsapiaster) –Almostaneverydaybird.WehadsplendidviewsoftheEuropeanBee-eaters,themostcolorfulbirds

ofEurope,intheCotoDoñana.

Coraciidae(Rollers)EUROPEANROLLER (Coraciasgarrulus) –TheplainsaroundTrujillohostagoodpopulationofEuropeanRollers,thankstothenestboxes

convenientlyplacedforthem.

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Picidae(Woodpeckers)EURASIANWRYNECK (Jynxtorquilla) –SplendidviewsofthiswellcamouflagedbirdnexttothePalaciodelAcebrón(CotoDoñanaNP).He

startedcallingwhilewewerelookingforaLesserSpottedWoodpecker.GREATSPOTTEDWOODPECKER (Dendrocoposmajor) –CommonspeciallyintheSierradeGredos.LESSERSPOTTEDWOODPECKER (Dryobatesminorbuturlini) –WefoundanestnexttothePalaciodelAcebrón,whichofferedusthepossibility

tohaveagoodlookatthem.EURASIANGREENWOODPECKER(IBERIAN) (Picusviridissharpei) –TheIberianraceoftheGreenWoodpeckershowedverywellinthe

RetiroParkinMadrid.

Falconidae(FalconsandCaracaras)LESSERKESTREL (Falconaumanni) –ItwasdelightfultowatchtheLesserKestrelstogetherwithswifts,martinsandswallowsfillingupthe

eveningskyabovethemainsquareofTrujillo.EURASIANKESTREL (Falcotinnunculus) –Distributedincouplesintheirbreedingterritories.EURASIANHOBBY (Falcosubbuteo) –Onebirdflyingnorth,presumablyonmigration.PEREGRINEFALCON (Falcoperegrinus) –WeobservedonecoupleatthePeñaFalcónviewpointinMonfragüeNP.

Psittaculidae(OldWorldParrots)ROSE-RINGEDPARAKEET (Psittaculakrameri) –OnegroupflyinginSeville,spottedfromthebus.

Psittacidae(NewWorldandAfricanParrots)MONKPARAKEET (Myiopsittamonachus) –TheMonkParakeetwasseenintheRetiroParkinMadrid. [I]

Laniidae(Shrikes)RED-BACKEDSHRIKE (Laniuscollurio) –Onourlastday,wevisitedamountainpassaimingtoseetheRed-backedShrike.Whenwearrived,a

coupleofthemwelcomedusnexttotheroad,allowingsplendidviews.IBERIANGRAYSHRIKE (Laniusmeridionalis) –OnebirdwasseenwhenweweresearchingfortheRufous-tailedScrubRobin.WOODCHATSHRIKE (Laniussenator) –VerycommoninSierradeAndújar,CotoDoñanaandinExtremadura.

Oriolidae(OldWorldOrioles)EURASIANGOLDENORIOLE (Oriolusoriolus) –Heardmoreoftenthanseen,asalwayswiththisspecies.Someofusdidmanagetoseeamale

withthebrightyellowcontrastingwiththejetblack.

Corvidae(Crows,Jays,andMagpies)EURASIANJAY (Garrulusglandarius) –TheEurasianJayshowedverywellduringthewalktowardsthecastleofMonfragüe.IntheGredos

mountainswesawmoreofthem.IBERIANMAGPIE (Cyanopicacooki) –WeobservedthisbeautifulendemicoftheIberianpeninsulaalmosteveryday.Itwasnicetoseethem

hoveringhalfameterabovethemeadowtryingtocatchinsects.Thatwasatthepre-breakfastwalkclosetoourhotelinMonfragüe.EURASIANMAGPIE (Picapica) –Aneverydaybird.WesawthemtwicechasingafterGreat-spottedCuckoos,wholaytheireggsinEurasian

Magpie'snests.RED-BILLEDCHOUGH (Pyrrhocoraxpyrrhocorax) –NiceviewsfromtheLynx-watchingspot.EURASIANJACKDAW (Corvusmonedula) –Presentinmostofthebiggertowns.CARRIONCROW (Corvuscorone) –AbsentinthewarmerMediterraneanareaofSpain.WehadthebestviewsinthecoolerSierradeGredos.COMMONRAVEN (Corvuscorax) –Almostaneverydaybird.

Panuridae(BeardedReedling)BEARDEDREEDLING (Panurusbiarmicus) –WeobservedmalesandfemalesinthereedbedsofTablasdeDaimielNP.Missionaccomplished!

Alaudidae(Larks)GREATERSHORT-TOEDLARK (Calandrellabrachydactyla) –WedidnotmanagetogetclearviewsoftheminCotoDoñana.ButinExtremadura,

attheplainsclosetoTrujillo,somebirdsdidshowverywell.CALANDRALARK (Melanocoryphacalandra) –VerycommonattheplainsaroundTrujillo.Theyareveryvocalandweenjoyedtheirearlymorning

concertverymuch.LESSERSHORT-TOEDLARK (Alaudalarufescens) –SplendidviewsofthisLBJinCotoDoñanaNP.WOODLARK (Lullulaarborea) –WeallwereabletoobservethisspecieswiththebrightsuperciliumintheMediterraneanwoodlandinCotoDoñana

NP.EURASIANSKYLARK (Alaudaarvensis) –HighupintheSierradeGredoswefoundourfirstandlastSkylarksofthistour.Furtherdownit'stoo

warmforthem.THEKLA'SLARK (Galeridatheklae) –CommoninExtremadurabutdifficulttodistinguishfromthemorecommonCrestedLark.CRESTEDLARK (Galeridacristata) –OneofthemostcommonbirdsinsouthernSpain.

Hirundinidae(Swallows)BANKSWALLOW (Ripariariparia) –OnebriefflybyoftwobirdsattheArrocamporeservoir.EURASIANCRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprognerupestris) –Presentinalltherockyandmountainousareas,evenbreedingintownslikeTrujillo.BARNSWALLOW (Hirundorustica) –Therewerealreadyjuvenileswallowsflyingaround.RED-RUMPEDSWALLOW (Cecropisdaurica) –NotsonumerousastheBarnSwallow,butwesawthisprettyswallowalmosteveryday.COMMONHOUSE-MARTIN (Delichonurbicum) –Verynumerousinsomeplaces,withhundredsofbreedingpairsnestingunderbridges,ondams

andevenattachedtohouses.

Paridae(Tits,Chickadees,andTitmice)COALTIT (Periparusater) –SingingawayinthepinewoodlandaroundourhotelintheSierradeGredos.

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CRESTEDTIT (Lophophanescristatus) –WesawtheCrestedTitduringthePalaciodelAcebrónwalkinCotoDoñanaandinthepinewoodlandsoftheSierradeGredos.

EURASIANBLUETIT (Cyanistescaeruleus) –Charminglittlebird.It'salwaysfuntoseethem!GREATTIT (Parusmajor) –Seenalmosteveryday.IremembergoodviewsoftheminMonfragüeNP.

Remizidae(Penduline-Tits)EURASIANPENDULINE-TIT (Remizpendulinus) –AttheVeguillaslagoonweachievedgoodviewsofonecooperativebird.

Aegithalidae(Long-tailedTits)LONG-TAILEDTIT (Aegithaloscaudatus) –ThesubspeciesirbiiisendemictotheIberianPeninsula.

Sittidae(Nuthatches)EURASIANNUTHATCH (Sittaeuropaea) –VerycommoninthewoodlandsoftheSierradeGredos.OneEurasianNuthatchparticularlyshowedwell

whilesearchingforbugsonthewallsofourhotelthere.

Certhiidae(Treecreepers)SHORT-TOEDTREECREEPER (Certhiabrachydactyla) –Heardmoreoftenthanseen.

Troglodytidae(Wrens)EURASIANWREN (Troglodytestroglodytes) –Bravelittlebirdwithapowerfulsong.

Regulidae(Kinglets)GOLDCREST (Regulusregulus) –NexttothehotelinSierradeGredos.COMMONFIRECREST (Regulusignicapilla) –NexttothehotelinSierradeGredosaswell.Thebrightsuperciliumwasclearlyseenonseveral

occasions.

Scotocercidae(BushWarblersandAllies)CETTI'SWARBLER (Cettiacetti) –Wehearditsexplosivesonginallthewetlands.Eventuallywemanagedtoseesome.

Phylloscopidae(LeafWarblers)WESTERNBONELLI'SWARBLER (Phylloscopusbonelli) –VerycommoninthepinewoodlandofGredos.WILLOWWARBLER (Phylloscopustrochilus) –Onebirdinpassage.COMMONCHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopuscollybita) –Heardonly. [*]IBERIANCHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopusibericus) –HeardandseenattheGardensoftheAcebrónPalace,CotoDoñanaNP.

Acrocephalidae(ReedWarblersandAllies)WESTERNOLIVACEOUSWARBLER (Idunaopaca) –Weachievedexceptionalviewsofthiselusivebird.MELODIOUSWARBLER (Hippolaispolyglotta) –WesawthefirstMelodiousWarblerclosetothehideofElAcebucheVisitorCentre.EURASIANREEDWARBLER (Acrocephalusscirpaceus) –Commoninwetlandswithreedbeds.GREATREEDWARBLER (Acrocephalusarundinaceus) –Showingoffandsingingveryloudatmanymarsheswithreedbeds.

Locustellidae(GrassbirdsandAllies)SAVI'SWARBLER (Locustellaluscinioides) –SeenandheardattheVeguillaLake.

Cisticolidae(CisticolasandAllies)ZITTINGCISTICOLA (Cisticolajuncidis) –Commoningrasslands,showingverywellmostofthetimes.Easytoidentifyasthereisonlyone

CisticolainEurope!:-)

Sylviidae(SylviidWarblers)EURASIANBLACKCAP (Sylviaatricapilla) –Wealsosawthefemalewiththechestnutbrowncap.GARDENWARBLER (Sylviaborin) –HeardandseenbrieflyintheSierradeGredos.WESTERNORPHEANWARBLER (Sylviahortensis) –ExceptionalviewsofthisskulkingbirdinMonfragüeNP.SUBALPINEWARBLER(INORNATA) (Sylviacantillansinornata) –AtthePeñaFalcónviewpointinMonfragüetherewasastunningmalesinging

away.SARDINIANWARBLER (Sylviamelanocephala) –ThemostcommonSylviawarbler,althoughsometimeshardtofind.Eventuallyweallsawthered

eye-ring.GREATERWHITETHROAT (Sylviacommunis) –OnlyseenhigherupintheGredosmountains.SPECTACLEDWARBLER (Sylviaconspicillata) –WehadagoodlookatthisprettySylviawarblerattheVeguillaslake.Healsoappearedwhenwe

werelookingattheRufous-tailedScrubRobin.DARTFORDWARBLER (Sylviaundata) –OnefamilywasdiscoveredattheElAcebuchevisitorcentrewalk.Andwehadevenabetterlookatone

DartfordWarblerattheBlack-earedWheatearsiteinMonfragüe.

Muscicapidae(OldWorldFlycatchers)SPOTTEDFLYCATCHER (Muscicapastriata) –WespottedseveralSpottedFlycatchersintheRetiroParkinMadridandatthePedroMuñozlake.RUFOUS-TAILEDSCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichasgalactotes) –SuperbviewsofthisstunningandveryrarebirdinavineyardoftheTierradeBarros

wineareanexttoAlmendralejo.EUROPEANROBIN (Erithacusrubecula) –MainlyseenintheSierradeGredos.COMMONNIGHTINGALE (Lusciniamegarhynchos) –ThepowerfulandmelodioussongisadelightforeverybirdervisitingEurope.Findingone

isnotsoeasythough.WehadthelucktoseesomebirdswalkingonthefootpathinfrontofusinTablasdeDaimielandinCotoDoñana.EUROPEANPIEDFLYCATCHER (Ficedulahypoleuca) –TheblackandwhitemalesoftheSierradeGredosareverydistinctive.BLACKREDSTART (Phoenicurusochruros) –InMonfragüeNPandintheGredosmountainsweachievedgoodobservations.RUFOUS-TAILEDROCK-THRUSH (Monticolasaxatilis) –Wow,whatabeauty!

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BLUEROCK-THRUSH (Monticolasolitarius) –Theblueofthemalesreallystoodoutagainstthegraybackgroundoftherocks.WHINCHAT (Saxicolarubetra) –OnebirdinAndújar.EUROPEANSTONECHAT (Saxicolarubicolarubicola) –Alwaysbeautiful!BLACKWHEATEAR (Oenantheleucura) –OurstopattheAlangedamaimingtoseethisspecieswassuccessful.Whenflying,thewhiterumpand

baseoftailareverydistinctive.NORTHERNWHEATEAR (Oenantheoenanthe) –GoodnumbersandgoodviewshigherupintheGredosmountains.BLACK-EAREDWHEATEAR (Oenanthehispanica) –Asurprisinglybeautifulbird!WesawbothmaleandfemaleinMonfragüeNP.

Turdidae(ThrushesandAllies)MISTLETHRUSH (Turdusviscivorus) –MorecommoninthewoodlandofSierradeGredosbutnevernumerous.SONGTHRUSH (Turdusphilomelos) –TheSongThrushwelcomeduswithasongintheJertevalley.EURASIANBLACKBIRD (Turdusmerula) –Aneverydaybird.

Sturnidae(Starlings)SPOTLESSSTARLING (Sturnusunicolor) –Verycommon.Maybethemostnumerousbirdrecordedonthistour.

Prunellidae(Accentors)DUNNOCK (Prunellamodularis) –OnlyhigherupinthescrublandoftheGredosmountains.

Motacillidae(WagtailsandPipits)GRAYWAGTAIL (Motacillacinerea) –TheriversintheSierradeGredosmaintainagoodpopulationofGrayWagtails.WESTERNYELLOWWAGTAIL(IBERIAE) (Motacillaflavaiberiae) –WesawtheIberiansubspecieswiththewhitethroatandbrightsupercilium

atvariousplaces.WHITEWAGTAIL (Motacillaalba) –Recordedmorefrequentlyinthesecondhalfofthetour.WATERPIPIT (Anthusspinoletta) –DisplayingontheirbreedinggroundshigherupintheSierradeGredos.

Fringillidae(Finches,Euphonias,andAllies)COMMONCHAFFINCH (Fringillacoelebs) –Averycolorfuleverydaybird.HAWFINCH (Coccothraustescoccothraustes) –Hardtofindbuteventuallywesucceeded.EUROPEANGREENFINCH (Chlorischloris) –Omnipresent.EURASIANLINNET (Linariacannabina) –Maintainsalowprofile,neverthelessseenalmosteveryday.REDCROSSBILL (Loxiacurvirostra) –CommoninthepinewoodlandaroundthehotelintheSierradeGredos.EUROPEANGOLDFINCH (Cardueliscarduelis) –WerecordedtheEuropeanGoldfincheverywhereexceptintheSierradeGredosmountains.CITRILFINCH (Cardueliscitrinella) –Westruggledhardtofindthisrarespecies,buteventuallywehadagoodviewofanicemale.EUROPEANSERIN (Serinusserinus) –Aneverydaybird.

Emberizidae(OldWorldBuntings)CORNBUNTING (Emberizacalandra) –Presentinvirtuallyallthehabitatsvisitedduringthistour.It'shardtoavoidhearingthisbird.ROCKBUNTING (Emberizacia) –SuperbviewsofthisstunningbirdintheSierradeGredos.CIRLBUNTING (Emberizacirlus) –Atonemoment,wehadtochoosebetweenLesserSpottedWoodpecker,WryneckorCirlBunting.Youcan'tlook

atthemallatthesametime.FortunatelywehadseentheCirlBuntingonmorethanoneoccasion.ORTOLANBUNTING (Emberizahortulana) –Fantasticviewsofthisdelicatebirdwithrosypinkbillandlegs.REEDBUNTING (Emberizaschoeniclus) –WhilesearchingfortheBeardedReedlingintheTablasdeDaimielNPwediscoveredsomeReed

Buntings.

Passeridae(OldWorldSparrows)HOUSESPARROW (Passerdomesticus) –Very,verycommon.SPANISHSPARROW (Passerhispaniolensis) –SeenwellinCotoDoñanaandinExtremadura.Theywereevenbreedinginthehotelnextto

MonfragüeNP.EURASIANTREESPARROW (Passermontanus) –WesawsomeTreeSparrowsthatwerebreedinginthenest-boxesinDoñana.ROCKSPARROW (Petroniapetronia) –NexttoourhotelinSierradeGredos.

MAMMALSOLDWORLDRABBIT (Oryctolaguscuniculus) –Frequentlyseen,speciallyintheAndújarmountains.TheRabbitisthemainfoodforSpanishEagle

andIberianLynxandthereforethekeytosuccessofthesepredators.EUROPEANREDSQUIRREL (Sciurusvulgaris) –OnesightinginthepinewoodlandnexttoourhotelinGredos.REDFOX (Vulpesvulpes) –AgrayishRedFoxwasdiscoveredwhiledrivingthroughtheSierradeGredos.WILDBOAR (Susscrofa) –Seenonseveraloccasions.InCotoDoñanatheWildBoarswerenotafraidandallowedcloseviews.FALLOWDEER (Damadama) –AlargegroupinSierradeAndújar.REDDEER (Cervuselaphus) –GoodnumbersrecordedinSierradeAndújarandinCotoDoñana.SPANISHIBEX (Caprapyrenaica) –ExcellentobservationsofSpanishIbexhighupintheGredosmountains.MOUFLON (Ovismusimon) –WesawsomenicegroupsofimpressiveMouflonsintheSierradeAndújar.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 205 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa

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