The varied habitats which make up the wild landscapes of Extremadura are a stronghold for some of the rarest birds in Europe, making the province one of the continent’s top birding destinations.

We begin with four nights at the Hotel Carvajal, a small traditional hotel in Torrejón El Rubio, gateway to the famous Monfragüe Natural Park. The rocky crags and surrounding savanna forests of Cork Oaks, known locally as Dehesas, seem to stretch to the horizon, and are important habitats for a remarkable selection of raptors, including Golden, Imperial, Short-toed, Bonelli’s and Booted Eagles, Black, Red and Black-shouldered Kites, Eagle Owl and Egyptian, Griffon and Black Vultures (there is no better place on earth to see the latter than from the top of the Moorish castle ruins as they glide by at eye level). Other specialities here include Black Stork, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Black and Black-eared Wheatears, Dartford, Sardinian and Melodious Warblers, Short-toed Treecreeper, Chough, Hawfinch, Rock and Spanish Sparrows and Rock and Cirl Buntings.

For the second part of the trip we go a little further south to the 3* Hotel Victoria, an ornate nineteenth century colonial mansion, just five minutes walk from the Plaza Mayor, in the old town of Trujillo, which has a wealth of historic architecture attractive to White Storks, Lesser Kestrels, Pallid Swifts, Black Redstarts and Spotless Starlings. Birds of the countryside nearby include Great Spotted Cuckoo, Scops Owl, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Wryneck, Red-rumped Swallow, Nightingale, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrikes, Azure-winged Magpie, Golden Oriole and Serin, while the rolling steppes are one of the best places for exciting species like Montagu’s Harrier, Great and Little Bustards, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Calandra, Thekla, Crested and Short-toed Larks and the stunning Roller.

Even in this relatively dry area there are some fast flowing streams for Dipper and Grey Wagtail, as well as rice growing areas, where we can hope for Collared Pratincole, Cetti’s and Savi’s Warblers and even exotic Common Waxbills and Red Avadavats!
During our two centre stay we shall visit all the sites needed to maximise our bird list, but always at a relaxed pace, allowing us plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this wonderfully wild region.

Cost £895

What the price includes:
Return flights from Birmingham to Madrid with BMI Baby, eight nights half board en-suite accommodation, your share of ground transport in Spain, all excursions and entry fees and the services of your guide.

Deposit: £200
Single supplement: £120