Extremadura
In early spring I spend a
few very productive days in Extermadura, Spain – together with Marc Guyt. AGAMI
was invited by Sociedad de Gestión Pública de Extremadura for a few days at the
extremadura birdfair. A great way to escape the Dutch winter weather for a
couple of days. The weather was very nice, in the morning a bit chilly (minus 5 °C) but around noon it became a pleasant 17 °C.
Despite the fact that it
was only February, the swallows are already flying around here, which
immediately gives a real spring feeling.
But also the early spring
flowers, such as sand crocus (Romulea columnae), Narcissus triandrus
and Narcissus bulbocodiu gives that feeling. All beautiful wild bulbous
plants that would give some colour in the Dutch gardens in the otherwise
colourless spring.
Narcissus triandrus
Matricaria chamomilla
Narcissus bulbocodium subsp. bulbocodium
During our stay in
Extremadura we visit several places, including the beautiful town of Trujillo
and El Castillo de Monfragüe, where the Griffon and Cinereous Vultures sometimes fly by very close and
at eye-level against a stunning background.
Birders in the field
Quercus ilex
Griffon Vulture
Quercus ilex
Trujillo city view
Trujillo city view
The romaic church tower from the XIII century
kasteel Abeza de Zorro
Bird hides
It is also possible to
rent photo-hides in Extremadura. We visited two of these hides via
photo-raptors. The first hide where we stayed, early in the morning with first
light, was the vulture hide. After our guide had deposited the rejected Iberico
hams and had left the place with his car, it was party time within two minutes.
The imposing vultures came flying from all directions. The hierarchy was
immediately clear, the Cinereous Vulture
were the boss and with outstretched wings they impressed the Griffon Vultures,
who where waiting at a proper distance for their turn. Some eary and endangered
Egyptian Vultures also arrived later in the morning. It was a real spectacle to
have all those vultures so close to the hide and many pictures were taken.
Griffon Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Cinereous Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Cinereous Vulture
After a well-deserved
lunch with Jamon Iberico, we sat in the songbird hide nearby. There were plenty
of Dunnocks, Sardinian Warbler, European Stonechat and
the Long-tailed Tit of the subspecies irbii to keep us very happy – and busy.
Dunnock
Sardinian Warbler
European Stonechat
Long-tailed Tit ssp irbii
It was my first visit to
Extremadura but certainly not the last. This part of Spain has much to offer
for nature lovers: many birds, butterflies, dragonflies, plants and all this in
a beautiful landscape.
Cinereous Vulture
Some impressions included
with this blog of pictures taken during the short trip.
Wil Leurs and Marc Guyt
