Itinerary ------Tiermes ------Arroyo de Montejo ------

Status: No special protection, despite a long but unsuccessful campaign to register the area as an SPA. Within IBA 076, Tiermes-, part of the SEO/Birdlife Important Bird Area network.

Terrain: This part of the Sierra de Pela foothills is a succession of slopes and valleys covered with Cistus scrub and Pyrenean Oak regrowth. The rivers and streams have sculpted the triassic sandstone landscape to form a very characteristic landscape of red rock formations.

Means of access: Own vehicle. ------Ease of access: The tracks are generally in very poor condition and driving in the wet season is not 2 advisable. Visit duration: This extensive area makes for visits to specific points or longer excursions on foot or by Location and access bicycle that will take at least half a day. 100km southwest of Timing: Spring or autumn visists are recommended. city. From Soria take the Winters are harsh and poor in species. The area is N-122 to San Esteban de not as hot in summer as in some other parts of the , from where you meseta but bird activity is much reduced then. follow the SO-P-4003 to Comments: Here as in many other sites beware Montejo de Tiermes. From of game drives during the general hunting season, Madrid take the A-1 and then October–February, and of Roe Deer hunting the N-110 as far as Ayllón during April–August. Hunters turn up almost and then the SO-135 to the anywhere. It is also surprising that although the Tiermes archaeological site. Tiemes archaeological site is of the the greatest This is in the middle of the importance it is currently in a state of neglect if not zone although the core area abandonment. For example, it is unfenced so anyone of interest is at Montejo de can enter, sheep graze there, and the Sotillos de Tiermes. Caracena/Manzanares road crosses it.

28 Escala 1km

Itinerary 1 Family itinerary A Itinerary on foot Start Itinerary

Itinerary 2 Family itinerary B Itinerary by car

29 Site description and itineraries pairs here in 2018, the second largest colony in Soria after the Cañón del Rio Tiermes district has one of the lowest Lobos. population densities within the markedly depopulated . Various villages that were formerly dedicated What birds to see and when to subsistence cereal cultivation and whose inhabitants grazed abundant December/January. The first national sheep flocks are nowadays completely census of Griffon Vultures, organised by abandoned. Land abandonment has SEO in 1979, found just 60 pairs in the enabled a very substantial increase in entire province. Had the declining trend forest cover, including at its best some that then affected this species continued pine plantations as well as regrowth. it would surely have disappeared as a However very often the outcome has nesting species here. We mention this been extensive Cistus scrub formations lest the familiar sight of its enormous that greatly impede transit on foot across form be taken for granted, now that such areas. the bird is no longer endangered. That said, the most striking and The ‘abanto’, as the Griffon is known noteworthy features from the birding colloquially over much of Soria, performs viewpoint are the widespread sandstone its annual courtship on clear days in ridges that run between the source of December and January. At this time, the the river Manzanares and Tiermes, and lifelong partners fly together in close also between the archaeological site and formation, repair their bulky nests and Cuevas de Ayllón, along the Arroyo de mate enthusiastically on the rock faces. Montejo. This is where we need to head Either of the two recommended routes for in search of the rich community of allows you to enjoy this spectacle and rupestral birds that occurs there, notably there is the additional benefit that for including such carrion eaters as Griffon once there is no need for an early start. and Egyptian Vultures and Ravens. We If you are inclined to linger until dusk suggest two routes: on such anticyclonic days you quite probably will hear the territorial calls of A three-kilometre route running Eagle Owls. Seeing the birds themselves from the Tiermes archaeological site is harder but not impossible since at this 1following the GR86 path markings as far time they are sometimes active before it as the abandoned village of Manzanares. is quite dark. The Eagle Owl is another Rupestral species apart, several small species that has increased considerably. mixed woodlands of oaks and Aspens here are attractive to many birds, March. Although the Griffons are the particularly in spring. greatest occupants, in every sense, of the skies of the region, they share these For another option take the road with their African cousins, the Egyptian leading from Montejo de Tiermes Vultures, which arrive in March. These 2towards Pedro. It is notable how the are quite easily seen, even by visitors to sandstone cuttings are completely the Tiermes archaeological site, since invisible from Montejo since the several pairs nest here. Here too you can escarpments all face south, with level see some other species that make the expanses of cultivation and pasture on escarpments their home, that also arrive the northern sides. The road descends from March onwards. Crag Martins are to the Montejo stream, where the the first arrivals, although these absent recommended route begins. Take the themselves temporarily during any track upstream along the right bank, prolonged wet or cold spells. The songs which offers unimpeded views of all the of male Blue Rock-thrushes, relative escarpments. Please keep to the track, newcomers here, are heard from late especially during the January to July March as these reclaim their territories. nesting season, since the vulture nests Now too the Ravens are busy repairing are plainly visible and sensitive to any their nests and the occasional pair of disturbance from close approach. SEO- Peregrine Falcons, very scarce here, Soria found 121 breeding Griffon Vulture establishes its eyrie.

30 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus

April. Jackdaws were probably very interest, from those birds that begin late common here once, nesting in all the to those, such as the vultures or falcons, rock faces of the area, but these have that have well-grown chicks by now. now disappeared. There remains only Remember, once again, not to approach the odd pair of Red-billed Choughs, also nests closely or otherwise cause declining steadily. Rock Sparrows though disturbance, for any reason. remain numerous and may now be We almost forgot to mention the seen investigating the crevices in which ubiquitous Black Redstarts, probably the they will nest. Spotless Starlings too, most abundant passerines in the rocky long known locally as ‘tordos’, are here screes, and the Northern Wheatears and may occasionally be mistaken for that also select rocky areas, screes and Blue Rock-thrushes. The Rufous-tailed buildings. Rock-thrush appears from the end of the month: it is a spectacular sight, with its June. The busiest month everywhere; on multicoloured plumage especially as it the escarpments, in the riparian growth performs its parachuting display flights. and in the woodlands. Fledged young of As if all this were not sufficient, a new many species are about during the first inhabitant has found accommodation fortnight, during which the heat is still in the recesses of the cliffs. These are not too oppressive here. Griffons and the Red-rumped Swallows, first found Egyptian Vultures still have young in the nesting here early this century and now nest, until July and August respectively, well established. One pair nested within but other species are now at a key stage the ruins themselves, in a cave alongside of their breeding cycles. the ‘Puerta del Oeste’ but the nest failed, Many other birds guarantee an perhaps on account of the close human entertaining time in the surrounding presence, and the site was abandoned areas. Red-backed Shrikes, Hoopoes, permanently. Bee-eaters, Green Woodpeckers, Golden Orioles …… who said that Spanish birds May. A key month, throughout which aren’t showy? the breeding season provides unfailing

31 32 Other nearby places for family-centred visits CHARACTERISTIC Source of the Río Pedro. Pedro village lies at the foot of the Sierra SPECIES Ade Pela. The source is just before the village, a karstic upwelling that disgorges a good quantity of water during rainy periods. The nascent river Pedro tumbles rapidly through the village outskirts, forming small rapids and waterfalls. The course is marked by dense growth of Aspens and other poplars as well as small orchards and meadows separated by hedgerows with abundant Walnut trees. This is a very good area for woodland birds such as Robins, Wrens, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches and tits. An excellent spot for a rest or picnic in spring and summer.

Pyrenean Oakwoods of Carrascosa de Arriba. The valley Bof the river Manzanares (Adanta) is one of the most splendid thrughout its length, from its source at the eponymous village to its confluence with the river Caracena (Adante) at . The valley flanks are covered with impressive [ o ] woodlands of Portuguese and Holm Oaks at Carrascosa and Valderromán. Breeders The largest Portuguese Oaks are on Griffon Vulture, Egyptian the slopes west of Carrascosa, which Vulture, Booted Eagle, you can reach along a trail that crosses Peregrine Falcon, Common the river in the direction of Torresuso, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, before you get to Carrascosa. A stroll Eagle Owl, Little Owl, Bee- along this trail or an inspection of the eater, Hoopoe, Lesser Spotted valley from the upper levels of Picorzo Woodpecker, Greater Short- peak, preferably both, is recommendable. toed Lark, Dupont’s Lark, At times the Portuguese Oaks house Skylark, Woodlark, Crag a roost of Griffon Vultures, Ravens, Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Carrion Crows and the occasional kite. Tawny Pipit, Dunnock, Black- The commonest birds there year-round eared Wheatear, Rufous-tailed include Nuthatches, Jays, Chaffinches Rock-thrush, Blue Rock-thrush, and tits. In spring these are joined Bonelli’s Warbler, Common by Bonelli’s, Subalpine and Orphean Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Red- Warblers. In autumn good-sized flocks of backed Shrike, Rock Sparrow, Woodpigeons and Mistle Thrushes are Spanish Sparrow, Crossbill. evident, particularly in good acorn years. [ ❄ ] Winterers Hen Harrier, Merlin, Siskin.

[  ] Migrants Dotterel, Cranes.

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