In February, I was given the opportunity to represent
Surfbirds on a four day famtrip (familiarisation trip) to southern Extremadura
in Spain. This being the Province of Badajoz.
The trip was organised to promote this under-watched area
for birdwatching and was led by the experienced and very knowledgeable Godfried
Schreur
The full trip report with an impressive 124 species list can be found at the Surfbirds site - Surfbirds Trip Report
The full trip report with an impressive 124 species list can be found at the Surfbirds site - Surfbirds Trip Report
It was a very intensive trip with photography being quite difficult, it was stop and go and the birds were often quite distant. Especially on the first day with the poor misty weather conditions. Still, I managed a few good shots of some species and I hope it will give birdwatchers an idea of what they can expect to see.
I flew into Lisbon airport in Portugal. The road journey to
Badajoz province takes about two and a half hours.
Day 1. February 20th. Weather: Misty and grey with showers.
A visit to the plains and steppe of Valverde de Leganés was
our first location. This habitat of large open fields, interspersed with olive
groves and the occasional few big trees is the perfect landscape for our target
birds here. Great Bustard and Little
Bustard were seen in good numbers, on the ground and in flight. A few Black-bellied Sandgrouse were seen flying
over, as a Merlin was spotted sitting on a post. Large groups of White Storks
were perched up on nests in the large trees, as Hen Harriers and Red Kites
patrolled the fields. Calandra and Crested Larks could be seen and heard
calling. Common Cranes were heard in the
distance. |
| Great Bustard |
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| Great Bustard |
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| Great Bustard |
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| Black-bellied Sandgrouse |
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| Little Bustard |
We then moved on to the lagoons at La Albuera. Two hides
overlook the main lagoon which is home to waterfowl. Amongst the more common
birds here such as Pochard and Gadwall, of interest were Egyptian Goose, Red-crested Pochard and
Black-necked Grebe. A pair of White Storks
had taken up residence on top of a tower hide nearby, with more in the trees
beyond. A Singing, Southern Grey Shrike was seen in a nearby tree and both Hen
and Marsh Harrier were spotted here.
 |
| White Stork |
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| White Stork |
Lunch and the afternoon were spent at a private estate in Valverde de Leganes. We would be shown how the Iberian Pig is
farmed and the breeding of the Toro Bravo (fighting bulls). Birds seen here of note were: Pallid Swift,
Corn Bunting and Green Sandpiper. Serins and Crested Larks were calling in
abundance. A nesting colony of White Storks
occupied a number of large trees here. The day was finished off watching Common
Cranes coming in to roost, large numbers were gathering in the fields.
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| Common Crane |
