Extremedura

The final part of our stay in Spain was in the Province of Extremedura, which is located in the Southern part of the Central Plateau, roughly to the south of the Gredos Mountains and south-west of Madrid. The astonishing habitat of Extremedura is horizon-to-horizon coverage of forests of cork oak and holm oak trees.

Seemingly endless forests of cork oaks and holm oaks in the
Monfragϋe National Park exemplify Extremedura

The forests have important commercial and ecological value. The bark of the cork oaks is harvested rotationally to supply corks for wine bottles, whilst the acorns provide food for free-range pigs. In summer, the forests comprise a wonderful habitat for birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants of many kinds. In winter the forests play host to some 75,000 European Cranes that fly south from Arctic regions to feed on the fallen acorns (sharing the bounty with the pigs).

Free-range pigs forage for fallen acorns in the oak forest. The tree in the left foreground has had its cork bark stripped; this will regenerate for re-harvesting in a ten-year cycle.

Towards the south of Extremedura, the country becomes more arid until the steppe country of the Cacares Plain is reached. Here there is a range of wildlife adapted to such an environment.

Transition between the forests of Extremedura and the steppes of the Cacares Plain

The arid habitat of the Extremedura steppes and Cacares Plain...


...Home of the Great Bustard...

...and Short-toed Lark (can you see its short toes?)

The Extrremedura village of Serrejón where we stayed at poppy-time



On our final morning we had this splended view of what was, for me, the "bird of the trip" - a magnificent Spanish Imperial eagle!

With thanks to my fellow group members from Cumbria and especially to our tour guide Josele Saiz of Boletas Birdwatching Centre, Spain, for an absolutely superb week!