Day 4 Monfrague National Park

This National Park is an area of dramatic scenery, and is regarded by raptor watchers as one of the most outstanding sites to see birds of prey in Europe.  It is also an excellent place to see not only raptor watchers but birders generally. Nowhere that I have travelled to in the world has had such a high concentration of birders. At our hotel there were several groups and everywhere we stopped in the park there were birders and their accompaniments; binoculars, scopes, huge lenses and the occasional spouse. There were birders from Spain, yes, but there many from England, Holland, USA, and judging from the sandals and socks, other European nations.

Eurasian Griffon Vulture

Soaring birds - mainly vultures

Where there are birders there are almost certainly birds. Monfrague National Park is justly famous for its vultures. Huge Eurasian Griffon Vultures circle each rock pinnacle and nest [and crap] within the folded and faulted rocks. We were lucky[?] enough to see and hear a pair of vultures engaged in the act of love making. Karen was particularly impressed. From that blue scene we saw next a Blue Rock Thrush, another specialty of this area.

Vultures - post coitus

Blue Rock Thrush

I should mention other raptors. Perhaps obviously the bird that many were here to see was a breeding Spanish endemic, The Spanish Imperial Eagle. We saw the birds flying, quite distant but close enough to see some of their diagnostic features. We also found there nest and a moving pale blob that was their chick. Booted Eagle, Black Kites, Black Vultures, Common Buzzard plus Falcons, Peregrine and Common Kestrel were seen soaring also.

Pale phase Booted Eagle

Rock Bunting, Rock Sparrow [seen by some] round out the rock specials.

Rock Bunting

The cliffs and hills were excellent for swifts and swallows. The huge Alpine Swift was found as was the rarer White-rumped Swift. Red-rumped and Barn Swallows competed with Crag and House Martins for the insects above the water and cliffs.

Our first Black Storks were seen; the very first engaged in sitting on its nest.

Nesting Black Storks

Our first Cuckoo was seen plus good views of iconic species such as Golden Oriole, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike. We finally tracked down Western Orphean Warbler while some got good views of Sardinian Warbler. Wren and Linnet were new to our list. Some saw the Hawfinch but as I did not I will spell it differently.

It was a great but very warm day but we enjoyed the many new birds and stunning scenery.

Pasha ?

Tomorrow mainly a driving day as we work our way north.