Three-day birdwatching routes in Extremadura
Two starting points for a short trip. Driving times and opening details get added once each route has been tested on the ground.
Winter cranes, November to February
Three days built around the cranes, starting from the Sierra de Gata.
Sierra de Gata and Borbollón
Spend the morning in the oak and olive woods around Hoyos, then go to the Borbollón reservoir, the area's best-known crane site. The island is a heron and egret colony in spring, so winter belongs to the cranes.
Alagón valley fields
Look for cranes feeding in open farmland and dehesa near Moraleja. Late afternoon is when cranes typically return to their roost sites.
Monfragüe
A longer outing. Start at Salto del Gitano for the vultures at Peñafalcón, then finish at the Tiétar river near the Bazagona bridge, a crane roosting area.
Raptors and steppe, April to May
Three days that cover cliffs, plains and reedbeds in the main spring window.
Monfragüe
Salto del Gitano and Peñafalcón for vultures and nesting Black Storks, then the marked trails and hides for Spanish Imperial Eagle and Bonelli's Eagle.
The steppe
Llanos de Cáceres and Trujillo for bustards and larks. La Serena lies further south, so plan it as its own day or an overnight.
Arrocampo and home
Reedbeds at Arrocampo for herons, then back along the Sierra de Gata route for woodland species.