Species - December

This list focusses on the second week of the month which is when our 2005 visit will be taking place)

Crane - this week normally sees the some of the highest numbers of cranes in this area of Extremadura, with between 15,000 - 30,000 birds. This area serves as a "collector" with incoming birds pausing here for several days before some move on to other parts of the region. They are found in groups of various sizes, from a single pair up to 5-6,000 in feeding areas. One of most exciting times of the day is when these large numbers of birds come in to the roosting areas at dusk.

Acuatic birds are also found in excellent numbers. For example, last year in this week we saw several thousand Mallard and Shoveler, hundreds of Pintail, Teal, Widgeon, Tufted duck, and some Red-necked Pochard and Little Grebe.

In the steppe areas and the non-irrigated areas there are good concentrations of Great Bustard, with groups of up to 100 birds or more.Black-bellied Sandgrouse are also seen in smallish groups of up to 15 or so birds. In irrigated areas some Little Bustard may be seen. The numbers in the groups are highly variable, running from a pair up to several hundred.

Birds of prey are also easy to observe at this time. Last year one day in this week we had 6 separate sightings of Black-shouldered Kite. They are highly territorial and an individual bird may be seen regularly once a territory has been identified. Marsh Harrier may be seen regularly throughout the day. At dusk they come together to roost in large numbers - up to 50 or 60. Red Kite also have communal roosts of up to 20 birds. Hen Harrier are also seen in small numbers. Sparrowhawk may be observed but are not common. Griffon Vulture and Black Vulture are regularly seen.

White Stork may be seen in feeding in groups stubble fields. Small numbers of Black Stork are also to be seen in wet areas or irrigation areas. Large numbers of Greylag Geese should be in the area. Last year a group of 2,000 were observed.

Spotless Starling and Spanish Sparrow are found in huge flocks. Several thousand Spanish Sparrow feeding in a single location is not unusual. Azure winged magpie are gregarious birds and are seen in groups which may be composed of 100 individuals or more. Raven are quite common and usually they are seen as single birds or in pairs, but occasionally at this time of the year large groups form.

Eagle Owl may be heard after nightfall as they start to mark out their territory. Little Owl are regularly seen by day on old walls or abandoned farm buildings.

Zitting cisticola (Fan-tailed warbler), Red Avadavat and Stonechat are seen frequently in areas near water. Other species that are likely to be seen at this time include Southern Grey Shrike, Green Sandpiper, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Crested Lark, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler and Sardinian Warbler.