A long time coming after many weeks embedded behind Hackney lines (with memorable results this spring), late May and early June was spent in the avian and meteorological nirvana of Extremadura and its neighbouring regions, in central-western Spain.
Full trip report to follow; in the meantime, some of the photographic highlights, roughly in chronological order.
Black-shouldered Kite, western Toledo province. Just out of the car after the drive from Madrid, and the first bird photographed.
Marsh Harrier, same area
Short-toed Eagle and Griffon Vulture, Rio Almonte bridge (just south of Monfrague)
juvenile and adult Rock Buntings, Monfrague castle
Blue Rock Thrush, Monfrague castle
Hoopoe, Three Bridges, near Monfrague
Avocet, small roadside pool a few km from our first base (Aldeacentenera) on the Belen Plains
Monty's, near Aldeacentenera
Bee-eaters, near Aldeacentenera
White Storks, near Aldeacentenera
Woodchat Shrike, near Aldeacentenera
juvenile Subalpine Warbler, near Aldeacentenera
Booted Eagle, Trujillo fish ponds
Little Ringed Plover, Trujillo fish ponds
Black Kite, Trujillo fish ponds
Lesser Kestrels, Trujillo bull-ring
Black Kites, near Aldeacentenera
Hoopoe, near Aldeacentenera
Monty's, near Aldeacentenera
Lesser Kestrel, Raven, Cattle Egret, Spotless Starlings, Great Bustards and Jackdaw - Belen Plains, near aldeacentenera
Great Bustards, Belen Plains, near Aldeacentenera
Cattle Egrets, Belen Plains, near aldeacentenera
Red-rumped Swallows, near Aldeacentenera
Egyptian (& Black) Vultures, Belen Plains, near Aldeacentenera
Black and Griffon Vultures, near aldeacentenera
singing male Spanish Sparrow, Rio Almonte bridge (c8km NE of Aldeacentenera)
Crag Martins, Rio Almonte bridge (c8km NE of Aldeacentenera)
Black Kite, near Aldeacentenera
Bee-eater, near Aldeacentenera
sub-adult Spanish Imperial Eagle, south of Monfrague
adult male Black Redstart, Monfrague
Azure-winged Magpie, everywhere
Rock Sparrow, Monfrague
juvenile Hawfinch, Monfrague
Eagle Owl, Monfrague
Black Stork, Monfrague
adult male Golden Oriole, by the villa, Valle Del Jerte
Dipper, by the villa
Bonelli's Eagle, Monfrague
Red Deer, Monfrague
Spanish Wagtails, Sierra Del Gredos
Rock Bunting on territory, Sierra Del Gredos
about a kilometre from the peak of the Sierras - breeding Bluethroats, Spanish Wagtails, Ortolan and Rock Buntings in the scrub, Black Redstarts and Crag Martins under the bridge, and Bonelli's Warblers in the pine plantation - hence very satisfied Pearsons senior and junior
Ortolan Bunting on Territory, Sierra Del Gredos
Ortolan & Rock Buntings on the same boulder near the peak of the Sierras
Photographing the above little beauties, guerrilla-style
just-fledged Black Redstart, Sierra Del Gredos
Common Whitethroat and Northern Wheatear, both trans-Saharan singers with territories overlooking snow cover in the Sierra Del Gredos
the ubiquitous and always accommodating Golden Orioles around the villa
Nightingale and White Wagtail, ditto
Short-toed Treecreeper and Nuthatch, Valle Del Jerte
Black-eared Wheatear, Wood- and Thekla Larks, Valle Del Jerte
Western Bonelli's Warbler, Valle Del Jerte - taken shortly after being dive-bombed to within inches after a short blast of an MP3
Altitudinal delirium from the female contingent
Booted Eagles, everywhere
Birders Wives June 2009 cover shoot, Valle Del Jerte
the dirty photographer
Cirl Bunting
Melodious Warbler, outcompeting the iPod impressively
Yet more BE's
male Marsh Harrier, somewhere on the way back to Madrid
