Day 1

Madrid – Trujillo

We met up in the afternoon at Madrid airport, we were soon on our way heading to the southwest toward the province of Extremadura and its capital of Caceres. Our drive to the Dehesa lands of the west took us through some excellent Iberian terrain with lots of hills and the plains around Ciudad Real where we saw our first Azure-winged Magpie and Common Kestrels.

The arrival to Trujillo was very nice, we checked-in and went for a short walk around town to meet at 19:00h for some local tapas and a cold beer. It was nice group introduction to the trip! We returned to the hotel for our first hearty dinner and to rest from our long flight.

Day 2

Monfragüe National Park

This morning after breakfast we drove to Monfragüe National Park, a fantastic protected area in Extremadura famous for its raptors and other bird species. Our first stop was near the Tajo River where we had excellent views of breeding Griffon Vultures, Black Storks, and a few Egyptian Vultures soaring overhead.

We continued to the main lookout point at the impressive Castle of Monfragüe, with magnificent views over the valley. Here we spotted Spanish Imperial Eagles, Black Vultures, and our first Crag Martins. The highlight came when we located a family of Iberian Lynx near the river – a mother with two cubs! This was an exceptional sighting that left everyone thrilled.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we explored more of the park, finding Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, and several Rock Buntings. We returned to Trujillo in the late afternoon.

Day 3

Dehesa Birding around Trujillo

Today we explored the typical Dehesa landscape around Trujillo – an ecosystem of scattered oak trees with grazing livestock that is unique to the Iberian Peninsula. Our morning started with fantastic views of Great Bustards, Little Bustards, and Montagu’s Harriers hunting over the grasslands.

We found a nest of Spanish Imperial Eagle with a chick being fed by the adults – an incredible privilege to witness. The area was also excellent for storks, with hundreds of White Storks nesting on buildings and trees. We also spotted several Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Calandra Larks, and our first Roller of the trip.

In the afternoon, we visited a local breeding center where we learned about conservation efforts for the Black Vulture and had close-up views of these magnificent birds. The day finished with a lovely dinner featuring local Extremaduran cuisine.

Day 4

Trujillo to Andalusia

After breakfast we headed south toward Andalusia, making several birding stops along the way. Our route took us through more beautiful Dehesa habitat where we added Thekla Lark, Woodchat Shrike, and Southern Grey Shrike to our list.

We stopped at a wetland area where we found Black-winged Stilts, numerous herons, and our first Purple Swamphens. The drive continued through olive groves and agricultural areas with many raptors including Common Buzzard, Red Kite, and Black Kite.

As evening approached, we reached our accommodation in the Sierra Morena mountains of Andalusia. After settling in, we took a short evening walk where we had wonderful views of hunting Short-eared Owls and heard Scops Owls calling in the darkness. A magical end to our first day in the south!

Day 5

Sierra de Andújar – Iberian Lynx Quest

This was the day we had all been waiting for! We spent the entire day in the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, one of the best places in the world to see the critically endangered Iberian Lynx. Our local specialist guide took us to known lynx territories.

The morning was productive for birds with excellent views of Hawfinch, Rock Sparrow, Iberian Green Woodpecker, and a superb male Black-eared Wheatear. We also spotted several Red Deer and Wild Boar crossing the tracks.

Around midday, our patience was rewarded when we spotted our first lynx – a magnificent male walking along a hillside! Over the next few hours, we had multiple sightings including a female with a nearly full-grown kitten. The photography opportunities were outstanding. We also saw Azure-winged Magpies, Bee-eaters, and a Golden Oriole.

It was an exhausting but absolutely thrilling day that exceeded all expectations!

Day 6

Andalusia to Sierra Nevada

Today we left Andalusia and headed toward the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Our drive took us through varied landscapes including more olive groves, almond orchards, and arid hills. We made several stops for birding, finding Spotless Starling, Corn Bunting, and a beautiful male Spectacled Warbler.

As we climbed into the Sierra Nevada, the landscape changed dramatically. We stopped at middle elevations where we found Alpine Accentor, Black Redstart, and our target species – the White-winged Snowfinch! These charming birds were feeding on the ground and perching on rocks, giving excellent views.

We also had great views of Alpine Chough, Rock Bunting, and a Bonelli’s Eagle soaring over the ridges. The scenery was spectacular with snow-capped peaks in the distance. We settled into our mountain accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 7

High Sierra Nevada

We spent the full day exploring the high zones of the Sierra Nevada National Park. The morning started with a scenic drive up to over 2,800 meters elevation where we were surrounded by alpine meadows and rocky peaks. Here we found more Snowfinches, Alpine Accentors giving their tinkling calls, and several pairs of Northern Wheatears.

A highlight was finding a family group of Spanish Ibex with young kids playing on the rocks – these mountain goats are perfectly adapted to this harsh environment. We also spotted a Short-toed Eagle hunting over the slopes and had distant views of a Golden Eagle.

In the afternoon we explored lower elevations with Mediterranean scrub where we found Sardinian Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, and a stunning male Blue Rock Thrush. The botanists in the group were delighted by the endemic mountain flowers blooming everywhere. We returned to our accommodation tired but happy after a full day in the mountains.

Day 8

Sierra Nevada to Doñana

After breakfast we began our journey west toward the famous Doñana wetlands. The drive took most of the morning, but we made several productive birding stops. Near Granada we found Rock Sparrow, Crag Martin, and a pair of Egyptian Vultures.

As we descended toward the coastal plains, the habitat changed to agricultural areas and eventually to rice fields near the Guadalquivir River. Here we started seeing wetland species including White-headed Duck, Ferruginous Duck, and numerous herons and egrets.

We arrived at El Rocío in the late afternoon – this unique village on the edge of Doñana is famous for its sandy streets and spectacular bird watching. Even from our hotel balcony we could see Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills, and Greater Flamingos! After dinner we took an evening walk and were serenaded by hundreds of frogs and nightingales.

Day 9

Doñana National Park

Today was dedicated to exploring Doñana National Park, one of Europe’s most important wetlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We joined a specialist guide for a 4×4 tour into the restricted areas of the park that are not accessible to regular visitors.

The morning was incredibly productive! We saw huge flocks of Greater Flamingos, Glossy Ibis, and Spoonbills. The marshes held Purple Herons, Night Herons, Little Bitterns, and our first Marbled Duck of the trip. Raptors were everywhere including Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, and Short-toed Eagle.

The star bird of the day was undoubtedly the Spanish Imperial Eagle – we found three different pairs, including one nest with chicks! We also had excellent views of Red-knobbed Coot, Collared Pratincole, and Black-winged Stilts nesting in the shallows. In the afternoon we explored the coastal dunes where we found Stone Curlew and European Bee-eaters nesting in sandy cliffs. We even saw tracks of the elusive Iberian Lynx, though we didn’t see the cats themselves today. The diversity and abundance of wildlife in Doñana was simply extraordinary!

Day 10

Doñana to Gredos Mountains

We said goodbye to the wetlands and headed north toward the Sierra de Gredos, the highest mountain range in central Spain. The long drive took us through more varied Spanish landscapes including cork oak forests and dehesa areas where we stopped to see more Great Bustards.

We made a lunch stop in a traditional village and continued climbing into the Gredos massif. As we gained elevation, the temperature dropped and the vegetation changed to mountain pines and high meadows. We checked into our rural mountain hotel with spectacular views.

Late afternoon we took a walk near the hotel where we immediately found a herd of Spanish Ibex grazing on the steep slopes. These animals are closely related to Alpine Chamois and are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. We also saw Citril Finch, Water Pipit, and heard the calls of Alpine Chough echoing off the peaks.

Day 11

Sierra de Gredos Exploration

Our final full day of birding was spent exploring the magnificent Sierra de Gredos. We started early with a drive up to the high cirques where glaciers once carved the granite peaks. The scenery was breathtaking with crystal-clear mountain lakes and wildflowers covering the alpine meadows.

Bird-wise, we added several new species including Rock Thrush (both males and females), Northern Wheatear, and our best views yet of Alpine Accentor. A pair of Golden Eagles soared overhead and we found evidence of their nest on a cliff ledge. The mammal highlight was a group of about 15 Spanish Ibex including several impressive males with large curved horns.

We descended to middle elevations for lunch, then explored pine forests where we found Firecrest, Coal Tit, Crested Tit, and Short-toed Treecreeper. An Ortolan Bunting sang from a rocky outcrop – a perfect addition to our trip list. That evening we gathered for our farewell dinner, sharing highlights and favorite memories from an incredible 12 days in Spain. The consensus was that the Iberian Lynx sightings and the diversity of landscapes and wildlife had exceeded everyone’s expectations!

Day 12

Return to Madrid

After breakfast we began our journey back to Madrid, but not without a few more birding stops! We took a scenic route through the mountains, stopping at a reservoir where we found our last new species – a hunting Osprey and several Red-crested Pochards.

A final stop in dehesa habitat gave us more views of Azure-winged Magpies, Woodchat Shrikes, and a family group of Red-legged Partridge. As we approached Madrid, we reflected on an amazing tour that had given us exceptional views of Iberian Lynx, Spanish Imperial Eagles, and over 180 bird species. We arrived at Madrid airport in the early afternoon, said our goodbyes, and departed for home with cameras full of images and memories of an unforgettable wildlife adventure in Spain.