Birding in Central Spain

Despite its easy access from Madrid, the Central Spanish region of Castile is often overlooked by foreign birders. But the mountains, steppes, forests and dehesas of the Castilian region are home to a vast array of bird species, including many Iberian and Mediterranean endemisms.

The area also boasts exquisite cuisine, fortified medieval towns and a very rich cultural heritage. Come with us and discover all the secrets this surprising part of the country has to offer!

We will meet in Madrid at 9 am and head to our first destination: the Iruelas Valley Nature Reserve, where there is a high chance of spotting Cinereous & Griffon Vulture, Spanish Imperial Eagle and Iberian Blue Magpie. We will take a hike through the very well preserved Black pine forest and keep our eyes open for more species, including Black Stork, Eurasian Wryneck, Golden, Short-toed & Bonelli’s Eagle, Red Kite and other types of raptors. 

After a late lunch we will head to our accommodation for the week, a beautiful and self-sustainable holiday cottage in the middle of the mountains. Before dinner you will have time to settle down and explore the spectacular surroundings, which offer almost endless hiking, birding and photographing opportunities.

After breakfast we will head to the Sierra de Gredos Natural Park, a high mountain protected area which reaches an altitude of 2,592 metres. The location is home to lots of alpine species, including Bluethroat, Ortolan Bunting, Red-billed Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Alpine Swift and Alpine Accentor. Although rarer, Bearded Vulture, Wallcreeper and Citril Finch also inhabit the area, but the undisputed king of this territory is the Iberian Ibex, which is almost guaranteed to be spotted in our trip. 

Depending on the weather and the general feeling of the group we may hike up to one of the most accessible nearby summits and enjoy breathtaking views of the Tagus River Valley to the south, or simply take our time to look for Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Water Pipit or Dipper in some of the pristine mountain streams.   

This day we will swap the mountains for the steppe-like habitat of the Meseta Central, a plateau that covers much of the interior of central Spain. Our main focus will be the Important Bird Area of Laguna del Oso, a wetland home to numerous species of waders and waterfowl. We will also screen the surrounding fields in search of the resident populations of Great & Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Greater Short-toed & Thekla’s Lark and Black-bellied & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. The area is also rich in birds of prey such as Western Marsh Harrier and Lesser Kestrel.

We will finish the day by taking a stroll in the World Heritage Site and medieval walled city of Ávila, where you will be able to enjoy the local cuisine and soak in the historic and mystical atmosphere of this quintessential Castilian town. 

We will travel down and south to the Important Bird Area of Tiétar River Valley, where the lower altitude and a warmer climate allow for a lush ecosystem and the unique Mediterranean landscape of the dehesa. This also means a completely different array of bird species, which include European Bee-eater, European Roller, Woodchat & Iberian Grey Shrike, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Squacco Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Egyptian Vulture or Eleonora’s Falcon to name just a few. 

And, as we cross the mountains on our way back home, we will have yet another chance to look for alpine species such as Black & Western Black-eared Wheatear, Ring Ouzel or Common Rock Thrush. A very complete day of birding indeed! 

The final morning of our trip will take us to the Important Bird Area of Pinares del Bajo Alberche, a transition forest between Mediterranean and Continental bioclimatic regions. We will be able to enjoy a wide variety of birds of prey and other interesting species such as Iberian Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotter Woodpecker, Spectacled Warbler, Iberian Chiffchaff, Eurasian Hoopoe, Red-rumped Swallow, Rock & Cirl Bunting or Spanish Sparrow to name just a few. 

We will then make our way back to Madrid where we will arrive at around 1pm.