Casa Rural El Recuerdo and Birding HOLIDAY REPORT FOR SALLY AND MARK 4th June – 11 th June 2016 Itinerary 4th June 2016 : Transfer from Madrid with stop near Valdecañas Dam 5th June 2016 : Castañar del Ibor and Arrocampo Reservoir 6th June 2016 : Villafranco de los Barros, Merida and Alange 7th June 2016 : Vulture hide near Torrejón El Rubio, Monfragüe and Almonte and Tozo Rivers 8th June 2016 : Alcollarín Reservoir and Campo Lugar plains 9th June 2016 : Monfragüe National Park, Tiétar River and La Vera 10 th June 2016 : Gredos Mountains 11 th June 2016 : Tormes River and return to Madrid

Mark photographing Violet Dropwing

Trip Report 4th June 2016: Transfer from Madrid with stops near Almaráz and Valdecañas Dam Mark and Sally’s late morning arrival in Madrid enabled us to make a stop soon after we arrived in Extremadura to see a few remaining specimens of the endemic Almaráz Bee Orchid and to find a nice selection of butterflies, including three species of hairstreaks . 5th June 2016: Castañar del Ibor and Arrocampo Reservoir We spent the morning taking an excellent walk beside a small stream through a mixed landscape of small holdings, sweet chestnut and Pyrenean Oak. The butterflies were superb, especially in a small clearing, where they were nectaring on a range of plants such as French lavender. Species included Provençal Fritillary and Southern White Admirals . We had lunch beside the River Ibor and then spent the afternoon focussing on dragonflies beside the Arrocampo Reservoir, finding some fine specimens of Long Skimmer and Northern Banded Groundling . 6th June 2016: Villafranco de los Barros, Guadiana River and Mérida We headed south, into the vast landscape of , centre for olive and wine production in Extremadura. Here we took a small track to enter the cultivations and fairly quickly located a singing Rufous Bush Robin , our target bird for the day. We obtained several views of it whilst we stood in the shade of an olive tree. As we returned we saw at least two other individuals. From there we stopped beside the River Guadiana where we walked through an area of riverine woodland. We heard two Isabelline Warblers singing, but sadly could not obtain views because of the dense cover. However, we saw numerous White Featherleg damselflies beside the path. Following a picnic lunch in the area, we continued onto Mérida. Here we explored an area of rank vegetation beside a tributary of the Guadiana (below huge Roman aqueducts) looking for dragonflies. 7th June 2016: Vulture hide near Torrejón El Rubio, Monfragüe and Almonte and Tozo Rivers Mark and Martin spent the morning at the hide near Torrejón el Rubio to photograph vultures and other birds coming to carrion. It was a pre-dawn departure and en route Mark saw an Eagle Owl returning to a roost site. The vultures arrived shortly after we entered the hide and the morning passed quickly. All three species of vultures were present as well as good numbers of Black Kite and Ravens . Once the vultures had dispersed, we spent the rest of the day exploring the Tajo River in Monfragüe, the Almonte and Tozo for dragonflies.

Black Vulture 8th June 2016: Alcollarín Reservoir and Campo Lugar plains We spent most of the day around the Alcollarín Reservoir, focussing on birds, butterflies and dragonflies, with an interruption just to take coffee and visit the plains near Campo Lugar to look for and photograph Rollers . This proved very successful on two counts: first regarding the Rollers themselves, but also for the dragonflies found perched on fences, right out on the now arid grasslands, including a fine Western Clubtail . 9th June 2016: Monfragüe National Park, Tiétar River and La Vera

White-rumped Swift (Mark Johnson) We started the day at the castle in Monfragüe enjoying superb views of White-rumped Swifts , passing a tremendously close range. We made our way through the park before leaving northwards on our way to the Gredos Mountains. We made a stop at the Tiétar River in search of dragonflies which is where we found a male Violet Dropwing , one of the target species of the week. Its favourite perch meant that Mark’s only option to photograph it was to wade into the river, but the results speak for themselves.

Violet Dropwing (Mark Johnson) We had lunch beside the small lake at Jaraiz de la Vera which was very productive for both butterflies and dragonflies, including Small Pincertail . We then made a final stop beside the river close top , where both Large and Small Pincertails were present.

Large Pincertail (Mark Johnson)

Small Pincertail (Mark Johnson)

It was the time to leave Extremadura and we crossed the Gredos Mountains at the Peak Pass, and entered the northern flanks of the mountains. We drove to our hotel (Hostel Almanzor at Navarredonda) in time to settle down before dinner.

10 th June 2016: Gredos Mountains

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Mark Johnson) After an early breakfast we headed straight to the Platforma, a high altitude site to leave the car and walk onto the open broom moorland. The sound of Ortolan Buntings was everywhere and as we started our walk we had super views of a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush . We stopped at the edge of small valley where we started to get views of Bluethroats . We settled down and over a couple of hours had excellent views of a pair nest-building. All around us there were other birds such as Northern Wheatear , Skylark and Water Pipit . We found nice stands of the orchid Dactylorhiza maculata .

Female Bluethroat (Mark Johnson) We returned to the car and slowly descended making several stops on the way to look for dragonflies and butterflies, also seeing birds such as Red-backed Shrike and Hobby . After a mid-afternoon coffee, we had an excellent walk beside a tributary of the Tormes river (where the robust marsh orchid Dactylorhiza elata was in flower). and then returned to the hotel through a belt of pine woodland. Here we found a Spanish Argus , an exciting find. In the evening European Nightjars churred from the pines beside the hotel and Tawny Owls were calling. 11 th June 2016: Tormes River and return to Madrid

View of Gredos Mountains We checked out of the hotel and took a very productive walk on a track above the Tormes River, finding more species of butterfly as well as listening to an almost constant song from Western Bonelli’s Warblers . By late morning it was time to start our return to Madrid, but on the way we stopped at the Peak Pass for a short walk before descending once more to the hot dry plains of Castille La Mancha.

Annotated Lists Birds 1. Egyptian Goose : Several at Alcollarín. 2. Gadwall : Seen at Alcollarín. 3. Mallard : Seen on several days. 4. Pintail : A drake at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 5. Common Pochard : About 15 at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 6. Ferruginous Duck : Three seen at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 7. Ruddy Shelduck : One at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 8. Red-legged Partridge : Seen on two days. 9. Quail : Heard on two days. 10. Little Grebe : Seen on two days. 11. Great Crested Grebe : Over a hundred breeding pairs at Alcollarín, also seen at Arrocampo and Monfragüe. 12. Black-necked Grebe : About six at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 13. Great Cormorant : Seen at Arrocampo and Alcollarín. 14. Little Bittern : Seen at Arrocampo. 15. Black-crowned Night Heron : Seen at Arrocampo. 16. Cattle Egret : Seen at Arrocampo and Alcollarín. 17. Little Egret : Seen near Mérida and at Alcollarín. 18. Great Egret : Seen en route from Madrid and at Alcollarín. 19. Grey Heron : seen on several days. 20. Purple Heron : Seen at Arrocampo, near Mérida and at Alcollarín. 21. Black Stork : Seen at Monfragüe. 22. White Stork : Seen daily. 23. Glossy Ibis : Seen near Merida. 24. Spoonbill : Seen at Alcollarín. 25. Egyptian Vulture : Six present in front of the vulture hide and also seen in Monfragüe. 26. Griffon Vulture : About 80 present in front of the vulture hide and also seen elsewhere almost daily. 27. Black Vulture : About 15 present in front of the vulture hide and also seen elsewhere almost daily. 28. Short-toed Eagle : Seen on three days. 29. Booted Eagle : Seen on most days. 30. Black Kite : Seen daily. About 30 present in front of vulture hide. 31. Red Kite : Seen on three days. 32. Marsh Harrier : Seen on journey back to Madrid. 33. Common Buzzard : Seen almost daily. 34. Lesser Kestrel : Seen on several days. 35. Common Kestrel : Seen on several days. 36. Hobby : Two seen on 10 th June in Gredos Mountains. 37. Water Rail : Heard at Arrocampo. 38. Moorhen : Seen on several days. 39. Purple Swamphen : Seen at Arrocampo. 40. Common Coot : Seen at Alcollarín. 41. Black-winged Stilt : Seen at Alcollarín. 42. Stone Curlew : Three seen on Campo Lugar plains on 8 th June. 43. Little Ringed Plover : Seen on three days. 44. Black-headed Gull : Seen at Alcollarín Reservoir. 45. Monk Parakeet : Seen in Madrid on 11 th June. 46. Feral Pigeon : Seen daily. 47. Wood Pigeon : Seen most days. 48. Collared Dove : Seen daily. 49. Turtle Dove : Seen at Monfragüe. 50. Common Cuckoo : Seen or heard daily. 51. Scops Owl : Calling at Pago de San Clemente. 52. Eagle Owl : One seen en route to Torrejón El Rubio at dawn of 7 th June. 53. Tawny Owl : Calling in the Gredos Mountains. 54. European Nightjar : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 55. Alpine Swift : Seen in Monfragüe. 56. Common Swift : Seen daily. 57. White-rumped Swift : A total of seven seen at Monfragüe on 9 th June. 58. Kingfisher : Seen on several days. 59. Bee-eater : seen almost daily. 60. Roller : At least 12 seen at Campo Lugar on 8 th June. 61. Hoopoe : seen daily. 62. Green Woodpecker : Recorded in Gredos Mountains. 63. Great Spotted Woodpecker : Seen on several days. 64. Calandra Lark : Seen on Campo Lugar plains on 8 th June. 65. Short-toed Lark : Seen on Campo Lugar plains on 8 th June. 66. Crested Lark : Seen almost daily. 67. Thekla Lark : Seen at Alcollarín. 68. Woodlark : Seen near Mérida. 69. Skylark : Seen on Gredos Mountains. 70. Sand Martin : Seen at Arrocampo. 71. Crag Martin : Seen on several days. 72. Barn Swallow : Seen daily. 73. Red-rumped Swallow : Seen daily. 74. House Martin : Seen daily. 75. Water Pipit : Seen on Gredos Mountains. 76. Yellow Wagtail : Seen on Gredos Mountains. 77. Grey Wagtail : Seen on several days. 78. White Wagtail : Seen daily. 79. Wren : Seen most days. 80. Dunnock : Seen in the Gredos. 81. Rufous Bush Robin : Three seen near Villafranca de los Barros on 6 th June. 82. Robin : Seen on several days. 83. Bluethroat : Seen in the Gredos on 10 th June. 84. Nightingale : Recorded almost daily. 85. Black Redstart : Seen on several days. 86. Stonechat : Seen almost daily. 87. Northern Wheatear : Seen on Gredos on 10 th June. 88. Black-eared Wheatear : Seen in Monfragüe on 9 th June. 89. Blue Rock Thrush : Seen in Monfragüe on 9 th June. 90. Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush : Seen on Gredos on 10 th June. 91. Blackbird : Seen daily. 92. Mistle Thrush : Seen in Gredos. 93. Cetti’s Warbler : Recorded most days in Extremadura. 94. Zitting Cisticola : Seen non several days. 95. Savi’s Warbler : Seen at Arrocampo on 5 th June. 96. Reed Warbler : Seen near Mérida on 6 th June. 97. Great Reed Warbler : Seen at Arrocampo, Mérida and Alcollarín. 98. Melodious Warbler : Seen near Castañar del Ibor. 99. Isabelline Warbler : Two singing near Mérida on 6 th June. 100. Spectacled Warbler : One seen near Villafranca de los Barros on 6 th June. 101. Subalpine Warbler : Seen in Monfragüe. 102. Sardinian Warbler : Seen on two days. 103. Common Whitethroat : Seen in the Gredos. 104. Garden Warbler : Singing near Tormes river on 11 th June. 105. Blackcap : Seen on most days. 106. Western Bonelli’s Warbler : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 107. Iberian Chiffchaff : One singing near Tormes River on 11 th June. 108. Common Chiffchaff : One in Monfragüe on 7 th June. 109. Firecrest : Singing in Gredos on 10 th June. 110. Long-tailed Tit : Seen on several days. 111. Crested Tit : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 112. Coal Tit : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 113. Blue Tit : Seen almost daily. 114. Great Tit : Seen almost daily. 115. Nuthatch : Seen on several days. 116. Short-toed Treecreeper : Seen on several days. 117. Golden Oriole : Recorded most days. 118. Red-backed Shrike : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 119. Iberian Grey Shrike : Seen on three days. 120. Woodchat Shrike : Seen daily in Extremadura. 121. Jay : Seen on several days. 122. Azure-winged Magpie : Seen daily in Extremadura. 123. Magpie : Seen almost daily. 124. Jackdaw : Seen on several days. 125. Raven : Seen on several days. 126. Carrion Crow : Seen in Gredos Mountains. 127. Spotless Starling : Seen daily. 128. House Sparrow : Seen daily. 129. Spanish Sparrow : Seen on two days. 130. Rock Sparrow : Seen on three days. 131. Common Waxbill : Seen near Mérida. 132. Chaffinch : Seen daily. 133. Serin : Seen almost daily. 134. Greenfinch : Seen on several days. 135. Goldfinch : Seen almost daily. 136. Linnet : Seen most days. 137. Hawfinch : Seen on two days. 138. Cirl Bunting : Seen or heard on three days. 139. Rock Bunting : Seen in Monfragüe and Gredos. 140. Ortolan Bunting : Seen in Gredos. 141. Corn Bunting : Seen almost daily. Butterflies 1. Swallowtail : Seen on Campo Lugar plains on 8 th June. 2. Scarce Swallowtail : Seen on three days. 3. Large White : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June. 4. Small White : Seen daily. 5. Green-veined White : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June. 6. Bath White : Seen on three days. 7. Orange Tip : Seen in Gredos. 8. Moroccan Orange Tip : Seen in Gredos. 9. Clouded Yellow : Seen almost daily. 10. Brimstone : Seen in Gredos. 11. Cleopatra : Seen on three days in Extremadura. 12. Spanish Purple Hairstreak : Seen at Valdecañas and Monfragüe. 13. Ilex Hairstreak : Seen at Jaraiz de la Vera on 9 th June. 14. False Ilex Hairstreak : Seen on several days in Extremadura. 15. Blue-spot Hairstreak : Seen at Almaráz on 4 th June. 16. Small Copper : Seen almost daily. 17. Sooty Copper : Seen in Gredos. 18. Long-tailed Blue : Seen on three days. 19. Lang’s Short-tailed Blue : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and Monfragüe. 20. African Grass Blue : Seen at Alcollarín on 8 th June. 21. Little Blue : Seen on Tormes walk on 11 th June. 22. Holly Blue : Seen on two days. 23. Green-underside Blue : Seen in Gredos. 24. Brown Argus : Seen on several days. 25. Spanish Argus : One seen in pines near Navarredonda, Gredos on 10th June. 26. Common Blue : Seen on three days. 27. Nettle-tree Butterfly : Seen at Monfragüe and Jaraiz de la Vera. 28. Southern White Admiral : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and Jaraiz de la Vera. 29. Large Tortoiseshell : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June, Jaraiz de la Vera and the Gredos. 30. Red Admiral : Seen on several days. 31. Small Tortoiseshell : Seen in the Gredos. 32. Comma : Seen in the Gredos. 33. Cardinal : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and the Gredos. 34. Queen of Fritillary : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June, Jaraiz and the Gredos. 35. Glanville Fritillary : Seen in the Gredos. 36. Knapweed Fritillary : Seen in the Gredos. 37. Lesser Spotted Fritillary : Seen on Tormes walk on 11 th June. 38. Provençal Fritillary : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and Jaraiz de la Vera. 39. Marsh Fritillary : Seen on several days. 40. Spanish Marbled White : Seen at Valdecañas on 4 th June. 41. Meadow Brown : Seen most days. 42. Southern Gatekeeper : Seen on several days in Extremadura. 43. Spanish Gatekeeper : Seen on several days in Extremadura. 44. Small Heath : Seen on several days. 45. Speckled Wood : Seen on most days. 46. Wall Brown : Seen most days. 47. Grizzled Skipper : Seen in Gredos on 10 th June. 48. Large Grizzled Skipper : Seen in Gredos on 11 th June. 49. Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper : Seen in Gredos on 10 th June. 50. Red-underwing Skipper : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and Gredos on 11 th June. 51. Mallow Skipper : Seen near Mérida on 6 th June. 52. Lulworth Skipper : Seen on 7 th and 8 th June. 53. Small Skipper : Seen almost daily. Damselflies 1. Beautiful Demoiselle : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and in Gredos. 2. Migrant Spreadwing : Seen at Jaraiz de la Vera on 9 th June. 3. Mercury Bluet : Seen in Gredos on 10 th June. 4. Blue-eye : Seen on several days. 5. Small Red-eye : Seen on several days. 6. Iberian Blue-tail : Seen on several days. 7. Large Red Damselfly : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and in Gredos. 8. White Featherleg : Seen near Mérida and on River Tiétar. Dragonflies 1. Blue Emperor : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and at Campo Lugar. 2. Lesser Emperor : Seen at Arrocampo, Mérida and Alcollarín. 3. Western Clubtail : Seen at Campo Lugar on 8 th June. 4. Small Pincertail : Seen at Jaraiz de la Vera and Villanueva de la Vera on 9 th June. 5. Large Pincertail : Seen at Villanueva de la Vera on 9 th June. 6. Common Goldenring : Seen at Castañar del Ibor on 5 th June and in Gredos on 11 th June. 7. Northern Banded Groundling : Seen at Arrocampo and Alcollarín. 8. Broad Scarlet : Seen most days. 9. Broad-bodied Chaser : Seen in the Gredos on 10 th June. 10. Black-tailed Skimmer : Seen several days. 11. Epaulet Skimmer : Seen on River Tiétar on 9 th June and at Jaraiz de la Vera. 12. Long Skimmer : Seen at Arrocampo. 13. Red-veined Darter : Seen near Mérida. 14. Common Darter : Seen on two days. 15. Violet Dropwing : Seen at River Tiétar on 9 th June.