Itinerary ------Vildé rock formations and gorge ------

Status: No special protection, despite a long but unsuccessful campaign to register the area as an SPA. Within IBA 076, Tiermes-.

Terrain: Originally level terrain in the Duero valley where erosion has given rise to a diversity of Cretaceous outcrops. These have witnessed how the rivers have createn small gorges or canyons that break up the uniformity of these lands. At this point the lower reaches of the river Caracena have created ------one of the grandest of the gorges of this region. Means of access: By car to the surrounding villages, 4 such as Vildé, Villanueva de and . Thereafter on foot or by bicycle, given the poor state of the tracks.

Location and access Ease of access: Easy. However, strong footwear is 70km from city, in the advisable on the stony pavements, where there are centre-west of the province. a lot of loose rocks. From Soria take the SO- Visit duration: The core area can be seen in two or 100 as far as Berlanga de three hours. Duero and then the local road through Aguilera and Timing: Spring is best but visits at any time of year, Morales to reach . even midwinter, are worthwhile. From here take the Fresno de Comments: A small reservoir in the centre of Caracena road and the turn- the gorge overflows the riverside path making it off to Vildé. Access is also seemingly obligatory to continue along the bordering possible from Burgo de Osma slope, practically at the foot of the escarpment. This or via is not advised during the breeding season when you Rasa and the Caracena road, may disturb the nesting birds there. You can take a passing through Navapalos. short detour instead.

40 Escala 1km

Itinerary 1 Family itinerary A Itinerary on foot Start Itinerary

Itinerary 2 Family itinerary B Itinerary by car

41 Site description and itineraries The other route starts at Villanueva Cretaceous limestone domes are a de Gormaz. A track from the village frequent feature of this part of the Duero 2crosses the limestone pavement to the valley and nearly all result in rather river, upstream of the reservoir and similar landscapes. The Burgo de Osma where you can see some of the tree formation, dissected by three rivers: the cover. Unless the river is high you can , Abión and Sequillo, is nearby, as cross to the left bank where a small path are those at , eroded leads to Fresno. You can continue along by the river Escalote, and Paones. this path to explore the central area of However, the Vildé gorge is certainly the pavement, and see some of its typical most spectacular of all. At the eastern byres and corrals, returning along a end, Gormaz castle, separated from the parallel track to Villanueva. core area by the river Duero, is no less magnificent. The process by which the river What birds to see and when Caracena began to wear away this limestone pavement began millions May is the best month in which to see of years ago and continues today. all the breeding species in all habitats. Erosion has revealed the the calcareous Nearly all will have arrived by the substrate and grazing pressue has kept beginning of the month and the clamour it practically bare of tree cover. The of song in the gorges and on the paramo remaining vegetation is nonetheless of is overwhelming. The Blue Rock- interest. Many slopes support a varied thrushes, several pairs of which nest cover of herbaceous perennials and here, will have been singing strongly on such shrubs as brooms. Such expanses the escarpments since mid March, with are the habitat of steppic species, their relatives the Rufous-tailed Rock- including Dupont’s Lark and the Black- thrushes taking over in May. bellied Sandgrouse, which have outpost Meanwhile, in the riparian growth, the populations here at some distance Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Golden Oriole, from their larger concentrations in the Robin, Cetti’s Warbler and Bonelli’s southern paramos. Warbler vie with each other to make The landscape contrast here is themselves heard. Griffon and Egyptian between the canyon of splendid, if not Vultures continue their nesting, the latter very high escarpments cut by the river with eggs or very small chicks, the former and the riparian growth that carpets with larger chicks. Nesting by the entire the riverbed, except for an 800m stretch range of other rupestral birds is also in where a small, century-old, irrigation full swing. reservoir fills the gorge from side to Undoubtedly, however, the arrivals on side, adding further diversity. The tree the slopes of the limestone pavement are cover here, a favoured refuge of a great especially noteworthy. Ortolan Buntings variety woodland birds, comprises tall, appear here from mid-April onwards, shapely, Black and White Poplars. We their beautiful song a constant feature recommend two routes: in some areas. They are also among the most frequent birds encountered on the From the fountain side of Vildé slopes between Navapalos and Fresno. village square take the umarked Black-eared Wheatears precede them 1path southwestwards that leads to the and also occupy stony areas, or the corral right bank of the river. Continue through walls. Arrivals include Greater Short-toed the gorge as far as the reservoir dam, Larks and Tawny Pipits, these joining the which you should cross to the left bank. Dupont’s Larks that still occur here. We As mentioned above, it is undesirable to have already commented on the difficulty continue along the escarpment margin of seeing these last but their fluting song for fear of startling and flushing all the can be heard at daybreak in May and birds there. Instead return to Vildé along early June. a track on the left that heads eastwards, This paramo is not only worth a visit crossing a good stretch of the limestone in spring. The scarce Dotterel may turn pavement with its typical birds. up here in late August or throughout

42 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

43 September. The area seems very Species diversity declines as the attractive to Dotterels, which occur autumn progresses. Among wintering nearly annually, although you need to species Meadow Pipits appear on the be alert to their characteristic and far- paramera; Common Chiffchaffs, and reaching call. Listen too for the ‘churr’ Siskins in some years, occur in the of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, a few riverine woodland, and the call of the of which a few survive here, moving occasional Alpine Accentor is heard on between the paramo and cultivation the escarpments. Crag Martins, Black further south, towards Villanueva de Redstarts and Blue Rock-thrushes Gormaz. The reservoir and escarpments disappear progressively – let us know together still offer a good range of if you see any of these in winter. species during this period, some of However, just as all seems quiet we are them on passage and others summer approaching the courtship period of the visitors that are still present. There are Griffons and the ululations of the Eagle nesting Mallard, Moorhens and Water Owls can be heard on clear nights in Rails at the reservoir. A few Cormorants December and January. As you can see, begin to appear in autumn, along with there is always something of interest Grey Herons, Kingfishers and Common here year-round. Sandpipers.

44 Other nearby places for family-centred visits CHARACTERISTIC

– The Duero gorge at Gormaz. In geological terms this lies within the same SPECIES area as the limestone pavement but the river Duero imposes its own character on this small gorge. The river is held back here by the Bubones hydroelectric plant. A road leads to a fountain alongside a fish farm – that is in use contrary to what some maps indicate – alongside which a track leads through this gorge. Griffon Vultures are a constant presence here alongside such other rupestral birds at Choughs, Ravens, Common Kestrels and rock-thrushes. The widening of the river at this point has enabled the establishment of small islets of emergent vegetation that are very attractive to such aquatic birds as Marsh Harriers, Mallards, Kingfishers and Grey Herons. The last Little Bitterns of Soria province used to occur here.

– The river Duero at Navapalos. The recent establishment of a small [ o ] hydroelectric plant here has involved Breeders a widening of the river, encouraging Little Grebe, Griffon Vulture, the presence of certain waterbirds. Egyptian Vulture, Booted Eagle, According to season you may find Peregrine Falcon, Common Cormorants and herons, various Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Red- waterfowl, Kingfishers, Little Grebes, legged Partridge, Eagle Sand Martins and Marsh Harriers, as well Owl, Little Owl, Bee-eater, as abundant reedbed passerines such as Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Reed and Cetti’s Warblers and Wrens. Lark, Dupont’s Lark, Skylark, All these are readily observable from the Woodlark, Crag Martin, Tawny bridge, which is also a good viewpoint Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, for raptors. Look towards the slopes Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush, around Navapalos since the hundreds Blue Rock-thrush, Bonelli’s of hectares of apple orchards on the Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, northern side of the river have greatly Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, reduced the ornithological merit of that Red-backed Shrike, Rock area. Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Ortolan Bunting.

[ ❄ ] Winterers Great Cormorant, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Meadow Pipit, Siskin, Reed Bunting.

[  ] Migrants Black Stork, Dotterel, Osprey.

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