Early Spring can be magnificent with Great Bustards now performing their 'foam bath' display, Little Bustards gathered in winter flocks along with mixed flocks of Pin tailed & Black bellied Sandgrouse. Early migrants will have arrived with Great Spotted Cuckoos being chased by their host - Magpie, Lesser Kestrels should be hawking insects around Trujillo - home of the Conquistadours. The wetlands of La Mancha will hold many Greater Flamingos, wildfowl, waders and usually a few surprises along with a visit to the Gigantes (Windmills) on the 'Ruta de Don Quixote'. We will enjoy a memorable half day in the little-known reserve of Los Cabañeros, a haven for birds (especially raptors) and mammals, as we traverse this 'Serengeti of Spain' in special vehicles giving us access to the more remote areas. Monfrague needs no introduction as arguably the best reserve in Spain with huge numbers of raptors including the rare and endangered Spanish Imperial Eagle.

Day 1 :- A flight into Madrid Airport where you will be met by your guide and after loading the mini-bus we head south into Castilla La Mancha stopping for a break or lunch before reaching our first night accommodation in Mota del Cuervo. This is the home of the 'Gigantes' made eternally famous by Dantes novel - Don Quixote and as part of the day we will visit their site. This area is superb for birds with extensive agricultural fields and vineyards, which hold many steppe species such as Great & Little Bustard, Pin tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Lesser Kestrel and possibly Montagu's Harrier. There are also a fantastic network of lagoons in the area and we shall endeavour to visit the best of these that will include Manvajacas and Pedro Munoz where we will find Black necked Grebes, Greater Flamingos, White Stork, White headed Duck, Marsh & Hen Harriers, waders, Gull billed Terns, Penduline Tit, Savi's & Cetti's Warblers.

Day 2 :- After breakfast we go to Miguel Estaban another of this area's excellent wetlands, which can be very good for Pin tailed Sandgrouse and Great Spotted Cuckoos as well as White Stork, waders & wildfowl. Slowly we will head west stopping at more lagoons on-route, previous stops here have produced Lesser Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, and Garganey. After lunch we will go to one of Castilla-la Mancha's most important wetlands 'Tablas de Daimiel', at this time of year birds could include Grey Lag Geese, Common Cranes,, Marsh Harrier, Purple Gallinule, Water Rail, Bearded Tit, Reed Bunting, Spanish Sparrows, Savi's, Cetti's & Moustached Warblers. Finally we head for Alcoba and if time allows we will call into the hide situated on the edge of 'Los Cabañeros Reserve', and we should see Black & Griffon Vultures, Azure winged Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, and Spanish Sparrows.

Day 3 :- An early start as we swap transport for a special 4 x 4 vehicle, which will take us on safari for the morning. Apart from the main road that runs through the reserve vehicular access to here is restricted to this type of transport (or walking) and strictly governed. The huge plains and rolling hills, with Red Deer, Red Fox & Wild Boar and a very high concentration of raptors with reputedly 120+ pairs of Black Vulture alone, plus Spanish Imperial, Golden & Short toed Eagles, Lapwing, Little Bustard, Southern Grey Shrike, Jay and Corn Bunting. After lunch our next destination will be Embalse de Garcia de Sola, hoping to see the resident Bonelli’s Eagles, and possibly Griffon & Egyptian Vultures, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Raven, and Cattle Egrets. We drive into Extremadura and to our accommodation for the next five nights, a beautiful 'casa rural' situated just outside Trujillo, surrounded by some wonderful countryside with some excellent walks. At night we shall listen and look for singing Scop's Owl with a chance of also finding a Long eared Owl, which roost nearby.

Days 4, 5, 6 & 7 :- The next four days will be spent visiting some of the very best of sites in Extremadura such as Monfrague National Park, Santa Marta de Magasca, the Zorita Plains, Vegas Altas, Jaraicejo Heath,  Embalse de Arrocampo, and the Belen Plains. Some time will be spent in Trujillo's main square where we will see some lovely architecture along with nesting Lesser Kestrels, White Storks and Jackdaws.

The steppes can be simply outstanding with species gathering into large groups on the extensive rolling plains with Great & Little Bustard, Black-bellied & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Southern Grey Shrikes being some of our targets.

Extremadura is home to huge numbers of raptors, which include Griffon Black & Egyptian Vultures, Spanish Imperial, Golden & Bonelli's Eagles, Red & Black Shouldered Kites, Marsh & Hen Harriers, Lesser Kestrel and Peregrine all of which can be found with a little vigilance.

Amongst the limestone crags we should find an Eagle Owl (on the nest), Black Stork, Rock & Cirl Buntings, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, and Black Redstart, and in the dehesa we look for Hawfinch, Woodlark, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Short toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Firecrest, Crested & Long tailed Tits.

The Embalse de Arrocampo will also produce some extra quality species such as Purple Gallinule, Great White Egret, Night & Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Penduline Tit, Cetti's & Savi's Warblers, this area has undergone some excellent habitat management and makes up one of Spain's premier wetland sites.  

Day 8 :- This morning we repack the minibus and return to Madrid in good time for our flight back to Britain.

Notes:

7 nights at local hostels with ensuite facilities.

All meals inc. drinks

All transport costs

Potential trip list with daily check list.

Use of field guides covering the area