Caceres-Trujillo Steppes

Caceres-Trujillo Steppes Spain

This part of Extremadura in west-central Spain is famous as one of the best areas for Great and Little Bustard in Western Europe but there is also a good range of other interesting species present including a healthy population of Lesser Kestrel in Caceres town itself. Much of the once very extensive, undulating plains around and between these two towns have been lost to agriculture but there remains enough to support more bustards and other grassland birds than anywhere else in Spain. The plains consist of dry grassland, dehesa and farmland with patches of scrub and in some parts, small pine woods.

In addition to the two species of bustard these plains support Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse as well as Stone-curlew and Calandra Lark. In areas of open woodland and scrub there are European Roller, European Bee-eater and Hoopoe, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Azure-winged Magpie and Southern Grey Shrike. Raptors include Lesser Kestrel and Montagu's Harrier, Black-shouldered, Red and Black Kites, Booted and Short-toed Eagles. Black and Griffon Vultures are regular over the plains and Spanish Imperial Eagle is possible in this area. In the towns there are breeding White Stork and Pallid Swift and the wetter areas have Cattle and Little Egrets and Whiskered Tern. Black Stork is a regular passage visitor and Common Crane winters in the area.

Both Caceres and the smaller Trujillo have good areas of steppe within easy reach and the N521 road between the two towns can produce sightings of Great Bustard. However, the grasslands are best explored from minor roads and farm tracks. North of the village of Torreorgaz on the C520, to the southeast of Caceres, is a particularly good area as is the area crossed by the Trujillo-La Cumbre road to the southeast of Trujillo. About 7km east of Caceres is a small reservoir, Embalse de Guadiloba, which may be worth scanning, in any case the grasslands surrounding the reservoir often hold bustards. Running southeastwards from Caceres is Sierra de Fuentes, a range of hills with breeding Black Stork and a range of raptors. Rocky outcrops in this area may still hold a few pairs of Eurasian Eagle Owl.

The area is easily reached by road from Madrid on the NV. Both Caceres and Trujillo have hotel accomodation and there are motels along many of the major roads in the region. Although many of the steppe specialities are present all year a spring visit is generally most productive.

Birds

Birds you can see here include:

Great Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Red Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Common Buzzard, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Red-legged Partridge, Common Quail, Common Crane, Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Whiskered Tern, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Little Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting

Content and images originally posted by Steve