The last day would be mostly spent travelling back towards Madrid, possibly taking in the Sierra de Gredos if time allowed. Unfortunately again the weather looked ropey so we didn't bother.
First stop off was back at the Belen Plains where only two Great Bustards were seen and a brief farting Little Bustard. Almaraz was the next step but I really couldn't be arsed to put too much effort in as the water levels were quite high and despite the breeze the heat haze was still a problem. I had been given a secret daytime site for Red-necked Nightjar before I left and decided rather than drive into the clouds to try for these. Our first walk through the eucalyptus failed mainly due to Jo moaning about the thistles pricking her feet! However after Jo had returned to the car I gave it another go and succesfully (probably not the right term to use) flushed a couple which showed well on the ground. Apart from a brief stop off at the side of the N5 for a group of Black-winged Stilts breeding next to a pig farm but I can't remember where it was.
All in all an excellent trip, though with a few glaring omissions from the list namely, Black-shouldered Kite, Bonelli's and Short-toed Eagle and Black Wheatear.
1 comment:
Mark, drop me an email with the Red-necked Nightjar daytime site will you. I hope to go again either next spring or the one after.
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