Gredos Mountains, Spain

Of all places to observe wildlife in Spain, it is perhaps the Pyrenees Mountains and the wetlands of Andalucia that attract the most attention. However, there are other less-visited locations in Spain where the scenery and biodiversity are equally staggering.

I have just returned from an expedition to the Gredos Mountains and Extramadura in central Spain, to the west of Madrid,with the Spanish wildlife tour company Boletas. This is the first of a series of posts about the expedition.

At this time of year, spring is bursting out in the Gredos mountains with summer migrant birds arriving and the alpine flowers coming into bloom.

The Gredos Mountains, west of Madrid. The highest peaks are still snow-covered

Our accommodation in the Gredos mountains - a lodge in the wooded foothills

The smell of cistis flowers percolated the air...

...whilst the perfume from carpets of wild lavender dominated the open areas

Rock roses in the rocky areas...

And wood peonies in the wooded areas

Above the snowline the alpine plants were peeping out between patches of snow

Brave miniature alpine daffodil trumpets sniff the air...

...and alpine crocuses gave a splash of colour

Looking out from the Gredos Range across the plains of the Tagus river towards Extramadura