SPRING BIRDING IN APRIL 26–MAY 13, 2018

European Bee-eater © Brian Gibbons

LEADERS: SANTIAGO VILLA & BRIAN GIBBONS LIST COMPILED BY: BRIAN GIBBONS

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

Greater Flamingo at Doñana National Park © Brian Gibbons

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 SPRING BIRDING IN SPAIN APRIL 26–MAY 13, 2018 By Brian Gibbons

Spain was wonderful this spring, as always. Wine, amazing food, charming villages, stunning mountain scenery, and a few made for an excellent trip through this rich country. Starting in the famed marshes of Doñana, we wound our way north, east, and finally southwest through this diverse country ascending mountains, birding coastal marshes, and birding the dry steppe, home to bustards and larks. Finally, we ended in Madrid with our minds full of wonderful experiences and our checklists burgeoning with newly discovered . Each day held

Picos de Europa were the second of three ranges we visited © Brian Gibbons surprises, but there were a few constants: screeching Common Swifts streaking overhead and diving into cracks of ancient stone buildings; stately White Storks and their precarious nests on glorious church steeples; the call of the cuckoo; and Black Kites wheeling effortlessly overhead through gorgeous countryside. The marshes, fields, and woodlands of Doñana held our first lifers. Booted Eagles overhead, White-headed Ducks with young patrolling the pond, Red-crested and Common pochards cruising by, and the furtive Little that revealed itself for a moment were all tallied on our first morning. After our first of many delicious lunches we sought the rare Marbled Teal; inching along the dike we scanned the reeds for our quarry. Eventually a cooperative pair was found, and we enjoyed great looks at this rare . The Bonanza salt works produced many firsts too; Greater Flamingoes vied for our attention while flocks of sandpipers and plovers wheeled past, only to disappear into a distant pond. We worked through this bounty to find some great birds; Bar-tailed Godwit, Slender-billed Gull, Red-necked Phalarope, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, and Curlew Sandpiper were just some of the great birds that we discovered in the salt ponds. Eventually we made it to our lodge for our first wonderful evening meal together. Exhausted after our first birding day, we dined and crashed to do it again the next day. The extensive freshwater marshes of Doñana were productive on our second day as well. Purple , Eurasian Spoonbills, Great Crested Grebes, Western Swamphens, Whiskered Terns, Collared Pratincoles, an amazing Red-necked Nightjar perched on a fence post, and Great Reed Warblers blasting their coarse songs over the marsh all made our day full of wonderful sightings. The next morning, we birded the woodlands of Doñana to find some of the great birds that call the cork oak dehesa and umbrella pine forests home. Near the Acebron Palace we found

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Common Nightingale, the legendary singer of writers for centuries, and the Melodious Warbler, neither a stunner, but their famous voices carried them. Iberian Chiffchaff, Eurasian Wren, a nice

White Stork strolling © Brian Gibbons Great Spotted Cuckoo, and a horde of Common House-Martins all put in appearances for us, but the Eurasian Wrynecks were a bit shy that morning. European Bee-eaters were seen daily, and we always delighted in the sightings; their behavior is a cross between kingbirds and swallows, kingbird-like when perched and graceful yet powerful fliers. Our time waning in the south, we had to make our way north to and Monfragüe National Park. The open steppe and woodlands of the park held many new experiences for us. We stayed in Trujillo, birthplace of Pizzaro. On our first morning in Extremadura we went into Monfragüe to seek the raptors that make this park so famous. The first stop at Salto del Gitano hosted dozens of massive Eurasian Griffons waiting for the morning thermals to cue their mass departure to the fields near and far in search of their favorite meal. Cinereous Vultures were around too, always in smaller numbers, as they are solitary nesters in the nearby woodlands. Near the river below, a Black Stork dutifully incubated eggs on its cliffside nest. Eurasian Crag- Martins, Red-rumped Swallows, Blue Rock-Thrush, Rock Bunting, and Black Redstarts all tried to distract us from the liftoff overhead. The next raptor spectacle in the park was at Portilla del Tietar. Like the last outcrop, Eurasian Griffons predominated, but there were a few Black Storks flying around trying to take us from our mission. Nearby, the Spanish Eagle had a nest, and we knew one would eventually fly over; one did, but it was high and not satisfying for such a great

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 bird, so we continued our wait. Black Kites, Short-toed Snake-Eagles, and Red-rumped Swallows kept us entertained. Eventually the Spanish Eagle cruised out of the nearby woodland carrying an oak branch to refurbish its nest, first in its foot, then in its bill. It circled overhead and eventually left, but not until everyone had good views of this rare Iberian endemic. In a nearby cork oak dehesa, we scoped a nice Western Orphean Warbler and got our first looks at Eurasian Nuthatch. The next morning, in the wide open space of the Caceres Plains, we quickly found displaying Great Bustards, three males strutting back and forth in half-hearted display; eventually one turned its wings inside out, tail up and head back, to disappear in its bizarre “foam bath” display. Calandra, Crested, Thekla, and Greater Short-toed larks all sang around us while we enjoyed the bustards. We did finally catch up with a very distant Little Bustard; sadly, these birds are rapidly disappearing from the countryside. Down the road we searched for European Rollers and found several where they occupy nest boxes originally placed for kestrels. Also in these boxes were a few kestrels, jackdaws, and a couple of Little Owls. After a great lunch in the bustling square of Trujillo, we had a short break before heading out for an European Bee-eaters were one of the most stunning evening outing to try to track down better birds we saw © Brian Gibbons looks at the Sandgrouse, which before lunch were moving blobs in the heat haze. Corn Buntings buzzed throughout the evening, and eventually we refound the sandgrouse right where we had left them; now, with better light, we were able to discern more than twenty of the larger Black-bellied Sandgrouse and a couple of pairs of the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse still distant, but at least this evening we could identify them! We returned to Trujillo for another fantastic meal lubricated by a wonderful Spanish wine. Our final day in Extremadura still had many birds for us. We sought the great warblers in a scrubby mesa. We had good looks at both Dartford and Spectacled warblers, two handsome warblers in contrast to most of the Old World warblers. In the charming town square of Jaraicejo we had the sublime luck to see a Pallid Swift swoop into its nest hollow on the façade of a sixteenth century church. We were able to scope this bird and see the finer details of its plumage that distinguish it from the ubiquitous Common Swift; it’s not often one gets to study perched swifts. Next up was Arrocampo Reservoir, where we reacquainted ourselves with some old

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 friends of the marshes down south. One new addition was the grasshopper-like buzzing song of the Savi’s Warbler; we even saw this critter a few times lurking in the cattails surrounding the lake. Our next destination would be the scenic mountains of Gredos which, as we approached, still had a great deal of snow at the higher elevations. Indeed, the next morning we walked through a little snow on our way up the old Roman road to the alpine habitat favored by our quarry, the charming Bluethroat. Interrupting us along the hike up were Dunnocks, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Northern Wheatears, Ortolan Buntings, and Eurasian Skylarks. Around the patches of broom the Bluethroats prefer, there was still plenty of snow, but the birds were there— singing, chasing, and conspiring to get the best territory for the arrival of the females. We had at least four males duking it out. On the rocky outcrops surrounding us, the Ibex Bluethroat male © Brian Gibbons relaxed in their alpine playground. In the afternoon we found the local breeding European Pied Flycatchers of the iberiae race and a pair of Citril Finches building a nest. Alfonso’s food is worth mentioning; we dined very well on our two nights in Gredos. After a great couple of days in Gredos we headed to the Parador de Cervera and its spectacular surroundings of Fuentes Carriones Natural Park. The oak woodlands around the Parador produced a few new birds for us including Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Eurasian Green Woodpecker (in flight), Marsh Tit, and Wood Lark. We eventually caught up with a target bird at an overlook featuring distant views of the Parador. A striking male Eurasian Bullfinch was very confiding with a little encouragement from Santi—what a bird! Also in the area were some Crested Tits, Firecrest, and a Blackcap and Whitethroat that wouldn’t stop chasing. From Peidrasleungas Pass we could see our next destination, the snow-capped picturesque Picos de Europa. The new green of just-opened beech leaves on the slopes below us provided a wonderful contrast to the stark mountain scenery. A displayed below us as we Booted Eagle light morph adult © Brian Gibbons took in the view. In the evening we made a

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 search for the Middle Spotted Woodpecker, scouring old territories where Santi and I had seen them in years past. Finally, we gave up and returned to the cars. Santi heard them near the parking lot, and in short order we were all enjoying scope views of this uncommon bird. The following day we explored the Alpine meadows of the high Picos, adding mountain birds, alpine flowers, and snow-cooled Chamois to our list. We had only a brief fly-by of the White- winged Snowfinch, but we added both Choughs, Water Pipit, and Egyptian Vulture for the day, which was notable for its Mediterranean-like weather. After hiking around for a few hours, we were ready for another amazing Spanish lunch, this time in Espinama. We started with a wonderful soft white cheese on fresh bread, and then a proper cheese course featuring local cheeses, each better than the last. The salad was an improbable construction of red leaf lettuce with a grilled goat cheese crown, and a sweet honey-balsamic dressing was the perfect complement to the rich cream of the cheese. When cut, the lettuce revealed raisins and nuts inside! The croquettes were crunchy outside and creamy inside Egyptian Vulture © Brian Gibbons and delicious everywhere. Grilled vegetables prepared us for the next rich course: black pudding, which was very good and even better when complemented with baked apples. When we were all satiated, we realized that we hadn’t had the main course yet, local beef that we finished grilling on a super-heated slate stone placed in front of us. It was savory and tender. We all agreed that this was an amazing meal, and I get to have it again next year! Now back to the birds. The tiny little village of Brez held a confiding pair of Eurasian Wrynecks that sat for scope views. We had yet another Green Woodpecker calling for several minutes nearby that never showed itself other than a quick fly-by. In the meadows below town, a couple of beautiful Red-backed Shrikes had newly arrived from their wintering grounds in tropical . The next morning the mountains were moody—the peaks covered in clouds and gray everywhere. We left the Picos to Eurasian Bullfinch © Brian Gibbons the north through Hermida gorge and amazing scenery.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any buses on those impossibly tight curves or under the lane- stealing overhangs. Soon we were back to sea level, this time on the north coast on a rainy day. We broke up the long drive to the Pyrenees with birding and lunch in the Santoña marshes. We added a few new birds including a mega-rarity, a male Common Eider, that had been around for months and never made the trip back north to its arctic breeding grounds. A female Common Scoter was also a good find but not as rare as an eider in Spain. On the islands we viewed from a blind we could make out a few Whimbrels and a couple of Eurasian Curlews. Common Sandpipers were around too, bobbing like our more familiar Spotted Sandpiper. In the large gull flock, which was mostly Yellow-legged Gulls, we found a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls. In a nearby marsh we observed a pair of Mute Swans with ten young as they fed on vegetation pulled up from the bottom; they are introduced in Spain too. We also saw a nearly white coot, which made for a unique bird. We still had a long drive to Echo Valley, so we continued our journey. At our final gas stop we saw a few European Honey- buzzards, our first on the trip, another late migrant that was just returning to Spain from its African wintering grounds. This evening we arrived at the charming Hotel Uson, surrounded by rugged Pyrenees peaks, the home of Lammergeiers.

Lammergeier in the Pyrenees © Brian Gibbons

The next morning, we started our birding at the meadow of Gabardito. Citril Finches, Red Crossbills, and Crested Tits were seen around the edges. While we were standing around, we had

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 our first Black Woodpecker sighting, a long flyover look at a bird that disappeared into the forest. Soon we started our hike into the woods. The rock cliffs at Salto de la Vieja were our destination; this is the home of Wallcreepers, but before we got there we had our first Lammergeier sighting. A few hours at the cliff yielded a couple of brief sightings of the Wallcreeper. In the treeless upper valley of Guarinza we found our first Yellowhammers, a cute bunting that breeds in the higher mountains of Spain. We also had a wonderfully close fly-by of a Lammergeier; photos were taken! A pair of Golden Eagles displayed in and out of the cloud bank overhead, giving the marmots something to think about. We also scoped up a nice Whinchat, a bird that only a couple of folks had seen on our first afternoon down south. In the Selva de Oza we tried our hand at tracking down Black Woodpecker. There was a series of dead trees with major bark-stripping that could have only been the work of ’s largest woodpecker. We walked along the road which, unfortunately, is right along the raging river, so we couldn’t hear anything. Eventually, a Black Woodpecker responded to our requests and made a couple of flyovers but never landed where we could study this amazing bird. The following morning dawned gray, clouds sweeping over the Pyrenean peaks outside of our windows. I thought it was a death sentence for our journey into the high Pyrenees on San Juan de la Peña 10th century Monastery © Brian Gibbons the border with France. We decided to go have a look anyway, a couple of valleys to our west. Rushing mountain streams and gorgeous mountains scenes were eventually lit by sunny skies. Though it clouded up when we got to the woodlands, in the higher pass the weather was quite good for birding, with light winds and overcast skies. Citril Finches and Red Crossbills were getting grit and/or salt from a highway underpass, allowing good looks at both. The weather held for us, and soon we saw a nice Ring Ouzel atop a spruce tree, and, as we moved our birding to France, we even found another Ring Ouzel there! Also in France, we tracked down a group of Alpine Accentors as they chased around a rocky outcropping trying to settle territorial boundaries for the summer, even though the ground was still mostly snow-covered! The long drive back to Hotel Uson was made easy by

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 the great birds and good fortune with the weather, as well as the prospect of chilled Pirineos Stout brewed on site at Hotel Uson! Our final Pyrenean morning dawned clear and calm and would help us as we searched out the last few new birds for the trip. Down the valley we had nice scope views of Tawny Pipit and a singing Cirl Bunting. Subalpine Warbler was another bird we had glimpsed early in the trip, but we needed good views for everyone. Soon that bird was in the bag too, right after we all got good looks at Common Chiffchaff, another new warbler. We wound our way up to the tenth century monastery San Juan de la Peña, an amazing construction built into a rock ledge and a great birding site too. We enjoyed a quick tour of the monastery until the Black Woodpecker

Black Woodpecker male at its nest hole! © Brian Gibbons called; an hour later we were all staring in awe at the bird in the scope as it peered out of its nest hole—a serendipitous sighting that capped a great morning in the Pyrenees. After lunch we headed to Lecera in the Belchite steppe area, Home of “El Diablo,” the notoriously difficult to see DuPont’s Lark. We had great conditions that evening in the steppe, and we soon heard the distinctive song of DuPont’s Lark. Eventually we saw them skylarking and even had one sitting on a small bush before it ran off into the grass to disappear for good. The next morning we were back at it, trying to improve our views of the sandgrouse, which we never would see in Belchite. We did entertain ourselves with another Stone Curlew and a new bird, the Black-eared Wheatear. Our final new bird for the trip would be found as we were taking in the Spanish Civil War ruins of Belchite—the Rock Petronia. Thank you for traveling with VENT. I look forward to our next birding adventure, wherever in the world that might be!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018

The DuPont's Lark in El Planeron performed for us © Brian Gibbons

ITINERARY: 27 April 2018 - Sevilla, Chipiona, Sanlucar de Barrameda ponds & lunch, Salt Pans Bonaza, Algaida Forest Booted Eagles, Codo de la Esparraguera Marbled Teal marsh, Ardea purpurea in Villamanrique de la Condesa 28 April - Jose Antonio Valverde Visitor Center Donana National Park, Cano de Guadiamar, La Escupidera, Ferruginous Duck Lucio del Lobo 29 April - Acebron Palace, El Rocio Mad re de las Marismas, Dehesa de Abajo, Ardea Pupurea 30 April - Bollullos, Santa Olalla del Cala lunch, Alange Reservoir, Trujillo

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 1 May 2018 - Monfragüe National Park Salto del Gitano, Puente de Frances, Portilla del Tietar, Puerto de la Serrana, lunch Villarreal de San Carlos, Trujillo 2 May 2018 - Caceres Plains Eastern and Western sections, Trujillo, Monroy road to Western Caceres Plain til 8pm 3 May 2018 - Mesa de Jaraicejo Warbler spot, Jaraicejo square Pallid Swift spot, Quarry, Presa Arrocampo, lunch, Calera y Choza steppe 4 May 2018 - Plataforma de Gredos, Bluethroat spot Los Barrerones, Hoyos del Espino, Puente del Duque, Rio Tormes 5 May 2018 - Hostal Almanzor Navarredonda de Gredos, Avila, Medina del Campo lunch, Moarves de Ojeda, Parador Cervera 6 May 2018 - Parador de Cervera, Piedrasluengas pass, Venta Pepin coffee stop, Barreda, Tudes 7 May 2018 - Collado de Aliba, Brez, Picos de Europa National Park 8 May 2018 - La Hermida Gorge, Santo ña Marshes, Hecho Valley Hotel Uson 9 May 2018 - Gabardito, Salto de la Vieja, Selva de Oza, Valles Occidentales Natural Park of the Pyrenees, Guarrinza 10 May 2018 - Anso Valley, Roncal Valley, Larra Belagua Natural Park, Pierre Saint Martin in France, Anso Lunch, Hecho walk, Siresa walk, Gab ardito late with some folks 11 May 2018 - Road to Arres, San Juan de la Pena, Santa Cruz de la Serres, Jaca, El Planeron Dupont's Lark refuge 12 May 2018 - El Planeron, Belchite Ruins, Eagle Owl hunt, Madrid

BIRDS:

Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl Anatidae Mute Swan Cygnus olor Santoña marshes, a pair with 10 young Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Near Trujillo a spreading exotic Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A rare bird at El Rocio Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna A distant pair at Doñana Gadwall Anas strepera Doñana & Arrocampo Reservoir Anas platyrhynchos Common Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Doñana Garganey Anas querquedula Doñana, a quick flyby for a few folks Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris Great looks our first day, Doñana Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Doñana Common Pochard Aythya ferina Doñana & Santoña marshes Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca A rare find in Doñana

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Common Eider Somateria mollissima A mega -rarity in the Santoña marshes Common Scoter Melanitta nigra A late bird in the Santoña marshes White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala Doñana, great looks Pheasants, Grouse & Allies Phasianidae Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard Only a few times Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Extremadura & Belchite steppe Grebes Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Doñana Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Doñana & a few other lakes Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Doñana Flamingos Phoenicopteridae Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Doñana Storks Ciconiidae Black Stork Ciconia nigra Extremadura White Stork Ciconia ciconia Common with their precarious nests Cormorants & Shags Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Doñana Herons, Egrets & Ardeidae Little Bittern minutus A couple quick looks in Doñana Gray Ardea cinerea Common around marshes and water Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Doñana Great Egret Ardea (Egretta) alba Doñana Little Egret Egretta garzetta Common around marshes Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common in fields in the lowlands Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Doñana Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Doñana Ibises & Spoonbills Threskiornithidae Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Doñana Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Doñana & 1 in Santoña marshes Osprey Pandionidae Osprey Pandion haliaetus Santoña Hawks, Eagles & Kites Accipitridae Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus Good looks in the Pyrenees Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Pyrenees European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus Pyrenees Cinereous (Black) Vulture Aegypius monachus Extremadura & an out of place bird near the Parador de Cervera Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Seen almost everyday Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus Many good sightings Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Many good sightings Spanish Eagle Aquila adalberti Monfragüe

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Pyrenees & Belchite steppe Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata Alange Reservoir & Monfragüe Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus Doñana first. Seen 5 days Northern (Hen) Harrier Circus cyaneus Calera and Choza steppe Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 5 days but never really well Red Kite Milvus milvus Doñana, most numerous in the mountains Black Kite Milvus migrans Seen everyday Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Seen 8 days, most numerous in Picos Bustards Otididae Great Bustard Otis tarda Caceres plains, displaying birds! Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax Caceres plains, 1 distant bird Rails, Gallinules & Coots Rallidae Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Doñana Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Doñana Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Common in marshes Thick-knees Burhinidae Eurasian Thick-knee (Stone Burhinus oedicnemus Curlew) Doñana & Belchite steppe Stilts & Avocets Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Doñana Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Bonanza salt pans Plovers & Lapwings Charadriidae Black-bellied (Gray) Plover Pluvialis squatarola Bonanza salt pans Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Doñana Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Bonanza salt pans Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Bonanza salt pans Sandpipers & Allies Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Bonanza salt pans Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Santoña marshes Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Bonanza salt pans Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Chipiona Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Bonanza salt pans Sanderling Calidris alba Bonanza salt pans Dunlin Calidris alpina Bonanza salt pans Little Stint Calidris minuta Bonanza salt pans Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Bonanza salt pans, rare Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Bonanza, Doñana & Santoña Common Redshank Tringa totanus Bonanza salt pans Pratincoles & Coursers Glareolidae Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Doñana Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Laridae

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei Bonanza salt pans Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Doñana Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Coastal areas Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Santoña marshes Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Santoña marshes Little Tern Sternula albifrons Bonanza salt pans Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Bonanza salt pans Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Doñana Sandgrouse Pteroclidae Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata Caceres plains, distant views Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis Caceres plains, distant views Pigeons & Doves Columbidae Rock (Feral) Pigeon (I) Columba livia Common Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus Common, finally seen well in Belchite European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur Bollullos & Belchite Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common Cuckoos Cuculidae Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Good looks at Doñana Common (Eurasian) Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Heard many times, seen in Gredos Owls Strigidae Little Owl Athene noctua Caceres plains Nightjars & Allies Caprimulgidae Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis Amazing looks in Doñana Swifts Apodidae Alpine Swift Apus melba Best looks in Monfragüe Common Swift Apus apus Common seen daily Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Jaraicejo town square Little Swift Apus affinis Chipiona Hoopoes Upupidae Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Seen many days, often distantly Bee-eaters Meropidae European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Stunning bird, seen many times Rollers Coraciidae European Roller Coracias garrulus Caceres plains Woodpeckers Picidae Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Doñana & seen well in Brez Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius Picos de Europa Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Seen a few times, best looks in Gredos Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius Pyrenees, excellent looks! Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Flyovers and glimpses a few times

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Falcons & Caracaras Falconidae Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Doñana Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Fairly common Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Best looks along the highway to Belchite Old World Parrots Psittaculidae Rose-ringed Parakeet (I) Psittacula krameri Flybys in Sevilla New World & African Parrots Psittacidae Monk Parakeet Sevilla near the hotel Shrikes Laniidae Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Picos 1st also in the Pyrenees Southern Gray Shrike Lanius meridionalis Extremadura & Belchite Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Doñana & Extremadura Old World Orioles Oriolidae Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Glimpsed a few times Crows, Jays & Magpies Corvidae Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Gredos 1st, then Picos & Pyrenees Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki Doñana & Extremadura Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Common seen most days Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Picos & Pyrenees Yellow-billed (Alpine) Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus Picos & good looks in Pyrenees Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula Doñana and other locations Carrion Crow Corvus corone Gredos first & the mountains Common Raven Corvus corax Most numerous in the mountains Larks Alaudidae Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Doñana & other steppe habitat Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra Doñana & other steppe habitat Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti Belchite steppe Lesser Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufescens Doñana & other steppe habitat Wood Lark Lullula arborea Hostal Almanzor Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Plataforma de Gredos Thekla Lark Galerida theklae Extremadura Crested Lark Galerida cristata Common along roads in open country Swallows Hirundinidae Bank Swallow (Sand Martin) Riparia riparia Migrants in Doñana Eurasian Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Rocky crags and old buildings Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen almost everyday Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Doñana & Extremadura Common House-Martin Delichon urbicum Seen everyday Tits, Chickadees & Titmice Paridae Coal Tit Periparus ater Gredos and the Mountains

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus Gredos, Cervera & Pyrenees Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Parador de Cervera Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Extremadura & Pyrenees Great Tit Parus major Common Penduline-Tits Remizidae Eurasian Penduline-Tit Remiz pendulinus Doñana Long-tailed Tits Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Doñana, Gredos & Parador Cervera Nuthatches Sittidae Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea Gredos Wallcreeper Tichodromidae Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Pyrenees Treecreepers Certhiidae Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Pyrenees for some folks Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla Doñana, common in forest areas Wrens Troglodytidae Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Common first in Extremadura Dippers Cinclidae White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus Plataforma de Gredos, distant Kinglets Regulidae Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Common in many areas Bush-Warblers & Allies Cettiidae Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Heard many times seen by some folks Leaf Warblers Phylloscopidae Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Seen well in the Hecho Valley Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus Doñana at Acebron Palace Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Gredos, Picos & Pyrenees Reed-Warblers & Allies Acrocephalidae Western Olivaceous Warbler Iduna opaca Quick good looks near Doñana Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Good looks Acebron Palace Doñana Eurasian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Quick looks near Doñana Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Doñana Grassbirds & Allies Locustellidae Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides Distant views at Arrocampo Cisticolas & Allies Cisticolidae Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Doñana and the open plains Sylviids Sylvia atricapilla Common Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Doñana & Hotel Uson Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis Good looks in Extremadura Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Hecho Valley

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Doñana Greater Whitethroat Sylvia communis Best looks Hostal Almanzor Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata Jaraicejo Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Jaraicejo Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Lecera European Robin Erithacus rubecula Common, often singing while hidden Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Doñana and wooded areas Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Gredos European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A migrant on the northern in Doñana & a breeder in Gredos of the Iberian subspecies Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Picos de Europa Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Common Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush Monticola saxatilis Gredos Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius Alange Reservoir, Monfragüe & Belchite Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Good looks in the Pyrenees European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Seen a few times in open fields Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura Alange Reservoir Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Common in alpine areas Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Belchite area Thrushes & Allies Turdidae Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus High Pyrenees in Spain & France! Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Common Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Gredos & Pyrenees Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Picos & Pyrenees Starlings Sturnidae Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor Common Accentors Prunellidae Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris France! Dunnock Prunella modularis Gredos, Parador de Cervera & Pyrenees Wagtails & Pipits Motacillidae Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Common in Doñana Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Gredos, Picos & Pyrenees White Wagtail Motacilla alba Most numerous in the Picos & Pyrenees Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Best looks near Arres in the Pyrenees Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Best looks at Parador de Cervera Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Pyrenees, high elevations

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018 Buntings & New World Emberizidae Sparrows Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Guarrinza in the high Pyrenees Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus Near Arres in the Pyrenees Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Monfragüe first & moutain areas Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Gredos & near Arres Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Common in open country Finches, Euphonias & Allies Fringillidae Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Common Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Near Parador de Cervera European Greenfinch Chloris chloris Common Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Gredos & Pyrenees European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Common on a nest at Monfragüe Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina Common Citril Finch Serinus citrinella Gredos & Pyrenees European Serin Serinus serinus Common Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Some folks at Acebron Palace Old World Sparrows Passeridae House Sparrow Passer domesticus Common Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Extremadura Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Fairly common Rock Petronia (Sparrow) Petronia petronia Finally at Belchite White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis Flyby in the high Picos Rabbits & Hares Leporidae European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Most common in Belchite steppe Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis Doñana European Hare Pyrenees Squirrels Sciuridae Eurasian Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Gredos Alpine Marmot Marmota marmota Guarrinza in the Pyrenees Dogs Canidae Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Seen in a few places Deer Cervidae Red Deer Cervus elaphus Doñana Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus Pyrenees Cows, Goats, Sheep etc. Bovidae Spanish Ibex Capra pyrenaica Gredos Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra Pyrenees Pigs Suidae Wild boar Sus scrofa Doñana Other Fauna

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018

Turtle sp lizard sp Common wall lizard Ocellated Lizard

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Spring Birding in Spain, 2018