We really enjoy birding in Spain and a weekend trip was a good way to escape the winter in The Netherlands. We decided on visiting the Extremadura region with the Monfrague NP and the steppe area near Ceceras since it offers some very good birding. We had already visited this region in the summer of 2021, but in winter the birding is nicely different (wintering groups of Common Cranes, higher numbers of Little Bustard and Great Bustard etc).
Category Archives: Spain
Gran Canaria [2022]
This was not a dedicated birding trip but a week of remote working/ leisure combined with finding the last remaining lifer of the Canary Islands: the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch (although the local Robin might also be split in the future). Given that we visited in November the bird activity was very low and it took us most of the day to find the Blue Chaffinch near El Juncal (first a female and on the way back a nice pair). The rest of the week was spent working, hiking, enjoying the food and some short birding stops along the coast.
Ibiza [2022]
With one new lifer to offer (Balearic Warbler), a short weekend trip to Ibiza was a perfect get-away to some Mediterranean sun at the end of the winter. We flew in on Friday night, easily found the Balearic Warbler on Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the weekend enjoying the beautiful island. Species such as Audouin’s Gull, Eurasian Hoopoe, Thekla’s Lark, Booted Eagle, Earasian Stone-curlew and singing European Serins everywhere were a nice bonus.
Extremadura [2021]
Spain – Belchite [2016]
Helen had to visit Madrid for work, and since she still needs a couple of species in Spain we used the occasion to visit the steppes around Belchite for short weekend trip.
Madrid [2015]
When checking the flight to Brazil we found an option with excellent flight times, but with a long lay-over in Madrid on the way there. This provided an opportunity to try for Spanish Imperial Eagle a lifer for Helen.
Penguinbirding 