cywong

I would like to thank KYShum and Eling for sharing their birding trips to Extremadura in this forum and introducing to us this good birding place and an experienced bird guide, Martin Kelsey.   I also want to thank EricB who provided very useful birding information on this area.

I am grateful to my friend, Kayi who arranged this birding trip to Extremadura and joined this trip with me.  Both of us enjoyed this trip because we saw many birds that were new to us. It’s a pity that I could not take decent photos for many of these birds mostly because they were very far from us and there were some rainy days during this trip. Of course, some photo opportunities were lost due to my slow responses!

We had 6 days and 1 short morning session for birding in Extremadura (3 –9 Apr, 2012).  Here are some of the birds seen:

GREAT BUSTARDS
Female and male

Male

Male and female

Male




LITTLE BUSTARDS
Male displaying

Male (flying)

Male and female

Male





BLACK-BELLIED SANDGROUSES – male and female




RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE



SHORT-TOED LARK


CALANDRA LARK


THEKLA LARK



CRESTED LARK



CORN BUNTING



WOODCHAT SHRIKE



SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE


SPANISH SPARROWS
Male

Female


HOUSE SPARROWS
Male

Female


NORTHERN WHEATEAR
Male

Female


BLACK WHEATEAR


BLACK REDSTART - male


LITTLE OWL



COMMON CUCKOOO


MEADOW PIPIT


COMMON STONECHAT - male


LINNET


RED AVADAVAT


SPOTLESS STARLING


COLLARED DOVE


ROLLER


BEE-EATER



HOOPOE


WHITE STORK




BLACK STORK



GRIFFON VULTURE



BLACK VULTURE



EGYPTIAN VULTURE



MONTAGU’S HARRIERS
Female

Male


Dark morph


WESTERN MARSH HARRIERS



LESSER KESTRELS
Male

Female

Male

Female

Male and Female




COMMON KESTREL - female


COMMON BUZZARD



SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE



SHORT-TOED EAGLE



BOOTED EAGLE



RED KITE


BLACK KITE



SQUACCO HERON


LITTERN BITTERN


PURPLE SWAMPHEN


RED-RUMPED SWALLOW



PALLID SWIFT


ALPINE SWIFT




HOUSE MARTIN



CRAG MARTIN



CHIFFCHAFF


WILLOW WARBLER


SUBALPINE WARBLER


SARDINIAN WARBLER


WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER


SPECTACLED WARBLER


DARTFORD WARBLER


PIED FLYCATCHER


SERIN


CHAFFINCH


GREAT TIT


BLUE TIT


CRESTED TIT


SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER


JACKDAW


IBERIAN MAGPIE



NUTHATCH


GREENFINCH


GOLDFINCH


SCOPS OWL




Thanks for viewing!

[ Last edited by cywong at 22/06/2012 00:26 ]

kyshum

Thanks for sharing! The photos recall my memory of the enjoyable moments.
I especially like your Red-legged Partridge shots!

EricB

Thanks for sharing a nice collection of species, your guide clearly did well to find you a Scops Owl you could photograph.Many people never see this bird!The Orphean Warbler and Black Wheatear are also quite hit and miss.
If you are really keen to get great photos there is a  guide who has some strategically placed hides.He's unlikely to get you as many species as Martin Kelsey, but it is always a trade off when time is limited.This is Steve Fletchers website for information. http://extremaduraphotos.webs.com/
Some people prefer to combine Extramadura with the Sierra Gredos, a nearby mountain range. The additional species include Rock Thrush,Citril Finch,Western Bonelli's Warbler,Melodious Warbler,Water Pipit,Honey Buzzard,Rock Sparrow,Iberian Green Woodpecker, Dipper, "Gredos' Bluethroat (Blue-spotted Bluethroat)& Ortolan Bunting.The main attraction here is the Spanish Ibex,which is very common. The mythical Pyrenean Desman occurs but is very difficult to find, this is probably the best view you'll ever get!  -  http://www.arkive.org/pyrenean-d ... aicus/video-00.html
With kind Regards,
Eric

Bluethroat_5006.jpg (81.2 KB)

10/06/2012 16:06

iherman

A fantastic birding trip

mchristine

What a fruitful birding trip.  The Red-Legged Partridge and Scops Owl were sooooooooooo cute!!!

brendank

Great trip! I like the Bustards.

cywong

Thanks for all your replies.

mbill

I like the WOODCHAT SHRIKE & Spanish sparrow too!

Thanks for sharing.

EricB

As you know Extremadura is  a special place and can be regarded as 'Europe's Raptor Breeding Capital' with nearly 20 species in the area ; this plus the 2 available Sandgrouse and Bustards make it an attractive destination.
However, for European bird photography you might want to consider the Greek island of Lesvos during Spring migration.Many tricky European species like Ruppell's Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear, Kruper's Nuthatch,Cretzschmar's and Cinereous Bunting; in addition to a supporting cast of flocks of Red footed Falcons, Little Crakes and the likes.Click on some  of these photos to whet your appetite.
http://www.kitday-uk.com/lesvos_2008.html
Enjoy.
E

cywong

Hi Eric,

Thanks for introducing to us the Greek island of Lesvos and sharing your stunning bird photos from Lesvos.

It seems that a heavy lens (500mm or longer)is required for taking good bird photos in Lesvos, as in Extremadura.

For the trip to Extremadura, I brought a 400mm F4 lens and teleconverters and a DSLR camera and this set of equipment is quite heavy for me.

Is there any good birding place in Europe that the birds are more approachable and I can take reasonably good photos with just a 400mm F5.6 lens?

Cherry

EricB

An interesting question Cherry. Unfortunately , I don't know what the answer is!
You clearly get more value for money in Africa or Australia, where there are many more species and the lighting is better.
Here are a few random thoughts on European photographic opportunities.

GREECE
1.I still like Lesvos for the number of interesting species, photo opportunities and migration mayhem.
(2.NE Greece, including Lake Kerkini.)

UK

This is limited to a small number of select species.

1.White tailed Eagles. There are specialized tours and local regular boat trips.
http://www.portree-boat-trips.co.uk/wildlife-boat-trips.html

2.Red Kites. http://www.gigrin.co.uk/hide.php

3.Island Seabirds: Farne Islands (near where I live)/Handa Island/Shetland Isles
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/handa-island/
http://www.shetlandphotographyholidays.co.uk/nature_images.html

SPAIN

1.There are a number of vulture feeding stations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQYBvQMq3aw

2.Extremadura, but the lighting can be rubbish. Still , I could spend a lot of afternoons up the top of Monfrague castle trying to photograph Griffon Vultures at eye level.Go to the very top of the castle. Best to bring a torch to navigate the stairs.

NORWAY

1.Centred mainly round White Tailed Eagles/Divers/Grouse/Owls.
http://birddintur.blogspot.co.uk/
http://bird.dintur.no/default.aspx
http://wild-norway.com/archives/580

(Note Norway is expensive. A BigMac will cost around US$8.
See relative index http://www.economist.com/blogs/g ... 12/01/daily-chart-3)

BULGARIA

1. Seems to be an up and coming bird photography place but I have no direct experience.
http://www.spatiawildlife.com/en ... hy-tours/index.html

You might be interested in this thread  http://www.birdphotographers.net ... phy-sites-in-Europe
or this professional company.
http://www.focus4nature.co.uk/en ... s-Europe/index.html

Hope this helps a little.
E

P.S Wish I had taken Kit Day’s photos but I’m not him!
I’m me!
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/leader.aspx?id=8

With kind regards,
Eric

cywong

Hi Eric,

Many thanks for introducing all these European photographic opportunities. They are so attractive! I really hope to visit some of the places mentioned.

Sorry that I have mistaken you for Kit Day. I am very pleased to get to know an expert in ornithology - Dr. Eric Barnes.

Best regards.

Cherry

[ Last edited by cywong at 22/06/2012 07:26 ]