SPAIN Coto Doñana and Extremadura 17–24 May 2009 Leader: Bob Buckler

This spring tour covers two of the finest birdwatching sites in mainland Europe. These hold several specialities that either can be found nowhere else in Europe or are difficult elsewhere. This holiday is suitable both for those on a first birdwatching holiday to continental Europe and for those who wish to catch up with the specialities of the region.

Day 1 Flight from Gatwick to Faro, Portugal, and transfer to Matalascañas on the north-western edge of the Coto Doñana for a four-night stay. We will be birdwatching on the 100-mile drive and species previously seen have included Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Black-crowned Night-heron, European Bee-eater and White Stork to name but a few, so it will be an eventful journey!/p>

Day 2 Our first full day around the Coto Doñana. The actual National Park is strictly no access with the exception of the Land Rover tours, which are really unsuitable for birdwatchers. There are several centres around the edges of the National Park, however, which are excellent for all the species found in the park itself. These centres all have good hides and trails and we will start at the one nearest to our hotel, Acebuche, only about three miles away. The first birds we will see are Azure-winged Magpies which proliferate around the car park! On the information centre itself there is a White Stork's nest and constantly patrolling the air will be both Black and Red Kites together with the occasional Booted Eagle and Short-toed Snake-eagle. Walking the paths, we will look for European Serin and Dartford, Sardinian, Western Olivaceous, Western Orphean and Melodious Warblers, and Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) in the scrub, while Spotless Starlings feed in the grassy areas. Woodchat Shrikes and Hoopoes are common and we will also see European Golden Oriole. By the time we reach the hides we will have already seen an excellent selection of Mediterranean species and the lagoons that the hides overlook will substantially add to that. Little Bitterns are usually seen in flight between patches of cover but, with perseverance, we should see one climbing around in the reeds, which are alive with Great Reed-warblers. Red-crested Pochards are common and we should also see Ferruginous Duck together with more common species including Little Egret, Little and Great Crested Grebes, Gadwall and Common Pochard. Some ten miles north of Acebuche is El Rocina, another excellent centre with a subtly different variety of species. Purple Swamphens are easier to see here and there are usually Glossy Ibises and Squacco Herons with the commoner Eurasian Spoonbills and Purple Herons. Savi's Warblers are regular here but it may require a couple of visits to actually see one! Around the various trails we will look for Rufous Bush-robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Rufous Nightingale, Short-toed Treecreeper and Tree Sparrow. Just a few yards up the road from the information centre is a small bridge, from which we will survey the vast lagoon at El Rocío. Red-rumped Swallows breed under the bridge while large numbers of passage waders can be seen on the lagoon. These include Collared Pratincole, Little and Temminck's Stints, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Green and Wood Sandpipers, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Dunlin and Greater Ringed, Little Ringed, Grey and Kentish Plovers. Gull-billed Terns hawk the marshes while we search through the huge numbers of Eurasian Coot for its "crested" cousin, but they are extremely rare. All the time raptors will be patrolling and, as well as Western Marsh-harrier, there is a possibility of seeing Spanish Eagle from the bridge. After our evening meal we will visit a nearby area of Cork Oaks to look for Red-necked Nightjar.

Day 3 Today we will head for the northern Marismas along what can be best described as a rather potholed road! Again, the birds in this area are subtly different and raptors we can expect to see include both Eurasian Griffon-vultures and Egyptian Vultures. Southern Grey Shrikes regularly put in an appearance and we will see plenty of larks including Crested, Calandra and Greater and Lesser Short-toed. Spectacled Warblers can be found in the sparse scrub and we will keep a special lookout for Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. Cattle Egrets are found everywhere in this area. After a break at the information centre at Lucio Cerrado Garrido, where we will see plenty of Black and Whiskered Terns and look for Marbled Duck, we will drive through the Stone Pine woods back to El Rocío and make repeat visits to both El Rocina and Acebuche information centres.

Day 4 White-headed Duck is our target species today and, to find them, we will cross the river Guadalquivir to the saltpans near Bonanza. White-headed Ducks have increased over the past few years but their sites vary from year to year depending on water levels. Nevertheless, we regularly see them on our tours as well as several Slender-billed Gulls and Little Terns. Greater Flamingoes are found in good numbers on the saltpans and, in the surrounding farmland, we will see Montagu's Harriers and Corn Buntings and have another chance for Pin-tailed Sandgrouse.

Day 5 After an early breakfast, we head north through Seville towards Extremadura, stopping en-route at several sites to search for White-rumped Swift. It is not until we reach the plains north of Merida, however, that we will see a major change in the avifauna. On the Rio Salor plains we will see large flocks of Spanish Sparrows. Our main target, however, is Great Bustard and, when we find them, it is likely that there will be a splendid adult male together with immature males and females in a small flock. Whilst looking for them, we will encounter their much smaller and commoner relative, Little Bustard. Black-bellied Sandgrouse can be encountered almost anywhere around here, although they are most likely to be seen in flight. Our base for the next two nights is a beautiful rural setting close to Trujillo with its superb old church and hillside castle, which can be seen from miles around. Lesser Kestrels breed alongside White Storks in the church, so we are assured of good views! Common and Pallid Swifts can be found in the town whilst in the gardens our of lodge Eurasian Scops-owl and Red-necked Nightjar breed.

Day 6 Exploring the remote plains to the north of Trujillo, where both Great Spotted Cuckoo and European Roller are common, we should also see more Great and Little Bustards and have another chance for Black-bellied Sandgrouse. As we move north we will be entering prime Black-shouldered Kite areas, and there is also a good chance of seeing Spanish Eagles since they nest here. Soon, we will be entering the wild and spectacular scenery of the Monfrague National Park. Large colonies of vultures nest here and we will have superb views of Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian and the rare Black. Bonelli's Eagle also breeds here together with a host of other species not found further south including Black Stork, Eurasian Crag-martin, Black Wheatear, Black Redstart, Blue Rock-thrush, Thekla Lark, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Rock Petronia and Alpine Swift. The stunning scenery together with the birds is likely to make today the highlight of the tour.

Day 7 There will be time for another early morning look around the plains in case we may have missed anything before returning south via Seville to Matalascañas. We will have time to stop en-route to look for White-rumped Swift and other species, making this drive a leisurely affair.

Day 8 Our last day and, if time allows, we will have another quick look in at the Acebuche information centre before retracing our steps over the international bridge to Faro and our flight home.

General Information The climate can be quite hot at this time of year while evenings can be chilly, especially on the plains. The tour pace is fairly relaxed and the level of fitness required is only modest as there are no long walks involved.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 6; maximum group size: 8 with 1 leader, 16 with 2 leaders.

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