Castilla-La Mancha

• Alto Tajo

  Satellite View
  Based in Guadalajara province, its impressive landscape of cliffs and gorges is the perfect habitat for Griffon & Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle or the grand night hunter, the Eagle-Owl.

• Cabañeros National Park

  InformationSatellite View
  The second National Park of the region (Castilla-La Mancha is the only region in Spain with 2 National Parks) houses the best representation of Mediterranean Forest in the whole country. An outstanding habitat for large ungulates, the park also host impressive populations of avian predators like Golden & Imperial Eagles, Short-Toed & Booted, Red & Black Kite (very common in winter/summer), Montagu’s Harrier, Black-Shoulder Kite. It is especially important for Black Vulture (the second biggest colony in the world, with about 200 pairs) in the area called ‘la raña’ - the flatlands - that due to its similarity to the African open spaces is known as the Spanish Serengeti. The park and its surroundings is very little explored can be a highly rewarding experience for birder s who may fmake unexpected inds such as a White-Rumped Swift over the Sierras or a flock of Red-Footed Falcons hawking for big insects in the grasslands of the park.

• Castrejón Reservoir

  Satellite View
  Near Toledo town lies a reservoir surrounded by sandy cliffs and cultivated area where Purple Swamp Hen, Bonelli’s Eagle, Eagle Owl, Golden Oriol, Bee-eaters, Black-eared Wheatear and waders and ducks on migration can be seen. Ospreys and Eurasian Spoonbills are usual visitors.

• Cultivated areas near Guadalajara and Henares River

  Open fields where Great and Little Bustards are all year around, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Lesser Kestrels, Bee-eaters and Montagu

• La Mancha Húmeda (Wetlands Biosphere Reserve)

  Satellite View
  A string of natural and artificial lagoons of varying salt composition in the driest and flattest part of the region at the limits of the provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Albacete & Cuenca. It is host to a very rich aquatic birdlife with healthy populations of White-Headed Duck, Red-Crested Pochard, Purple Swamphen, Bearded Tit, Gull-Billed Tern (breeding here), and exceptional passage and overwinter of other waterfowl (Garganey, Pintail, Tufted Duck) and waders (Eurasian Curlew, Temminck’s Stint, etc.). It is surrounded by excellent steppies with Great & Little Bustard and both Sandgrouses, many birdwatchers also visit to spot rarities like Lesser Flamingo or the Ross’s Gull.

• La Mancha Steppes

  Located throughout the hinterland of the provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Albacete & Cuenca, these very well preserved fields are the last havens for steppe birds in all the South of Spain. Although there are countless areas in good state of conservation in the region that are known as La Mancha Steppes, there are two that stand out over all the rest. The Special Protected Area Steppes of Eastern Albacete and the adjoining Petrola-Corral Rubio lagoon complex, with breeding Flamingoes, White-Headed Duck and even records of Cream-coloured Courser. The Special Protected Area of the Calatrava Steppes is a place for Great & Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Pin-Tailed & Black-Belied Sandgrouse, Calandra & Greater Short-Toed Lark all year long. This spot is also the only place in Western Europe where an amazing event can be enjoyed every winter, when up to two thousand Little Bustards & Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse can be watched feeding together and responding in identical way facing changes in their environment. In the Calatrava Steppes birdwatchers can also be surprised by the numbers of some of the most sought after birds of Europe, like Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black-Shouldered Kite and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

• Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park

  InformationSatellite View
  One of the best places in Spain for birdwatching despite the threat to the park from lack of water. This hot spot is a national protected area where many species of birds breed (in 2013 82 species bred here, 2 more than in Doñana National Park). Sought after species include: Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, 8 species of Egrets, Marbled Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Red-Crested Pochard, White-Headed Duck, Red-Knob Coot, Collared Pratincole, Moustached & Savi’s Warblers, Bearded Tit. The endangered sub-species of Reed Bunting (whitherby) breed inside the boundaries of the park. A visit to the surrounding areas will give views of other nesting species like Great & Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Pin-tailed & Black-belied Sandgrouse, European Roller and some well-preserved colonies of Lesser Kestrel. Non-breeding birds in the park include Gull-Billed Tern, Black Tern and the rare White-Winged Tern. The park is also very rich in nocturnal species including Scops, Little, Long-Eared and Eagle-Owl. A night excursion in the area following the Guadiana river should turn up Red-Neck Nightjar.

• Sierra de Cuenca Range

  Satellite View
  Nice landscapes dominated by the cliffs and pine trees forest where Bonelli's Eagle is well present and Ring Ouzel overwinter in low numbers. Other interesting species are Griffon Vulture, Red-billed Chough, Crag Martin, Crossbill, Black Redstart and Subalpine Warbler. We suggest to visit the Hoces de Beteta, Uña lagoon, Tragacete and the spot known as Las Majadas near El Tobar reservoir.

• The Volcanic Fields of Calatrava

  The Volcanic Fields of Calatrava are the large triangle of ancient volcanoes and lagoons formed by hydromagmatic explosions – in fact the only volcanic lagoons found in Western Europe - host an incredible diversity of bird species, sought after species include: Red-billed Chough, Black Stork, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck, White-Headed Duck, Purple Swamphen, Great & Little Bustard, both Sandgrouse, and Golden & Spanish Imperial Eagle.

• Valle de Alcudia Natural Park

  InformationSatellite View
  Located in the south of the Ciudad Real province, just on the border with Andalucia & Extremadura, this amazing boundless space is the last home of the Wolf and the Iberian Lynx in Castilla-La Mancha. Comprising the castilian part of Sierra Morena, avian life includes amazing populations of the Big 5 Raptors (Black & Griffon Vultures, Golden, Imperial & Bonelli’s Eagles) plus other bonus birds such as Alpine & White-rumped Swifts, Egyptian Vulture, Short-Toed Eagle, Goshawk, Black Stork, Black Wheatear, Sylvia warblers, Rock & Cirl Buntings and Hawfinch. Depopulated and almost without road infrastructure, this beautiful part of the ancient Spain is considered to be the most isolated area of Western Europe.

• Vicente Malagón Sanroma

  | vicente@naturaindomita.com

  http://www.naturaindomita.com/en/

• Where to Watch Birds in Northern & Eastern Spain

  | By Ernest FJ Garcia & Michael Rebane | Bloomsbury Publishing | 2017 | Paperback | 384 pages, 30 b/w illustrations, 125 b/w maps | ISBN: 9781472936752 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• SEO Talavera

  Website
  Grupo local SEO Talavera (Talavera de la Reina) Toledo

• Sociedad Albacetense de Ornitología

  Facebook Page
  Articles, observations etc…

Abbreviations Key

• NP Las Tablas de Daimiel

  InformationSatellite View
  Habitats in Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park and identification guide for the 269 species of birds recorded there up to now…

• NP Nacional Park Nacional de Cabañeros

  WebpageSatellite View
  Cabañeros National Park is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, between the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo and included in the Montes de Toledo.

• Julian Sykes Wildlife Holidays

  Facebook Page
  ...the wetlands of La Mancha will hold good numbers of Greater Flamingos, wildfowl, waders and usually a few surprises along with a visit to the Gigantes (Windmills) on the 'Ruta de Don Quixote'. One of the week’s highlights will be a memorable half day in the little-known reserve of Los Cabañeros, a haven for birds (especially raptors) and mammals, as we traverse this 'Serengeti of Spain' in special vehicles getting us to the more remote inaccessible areas of this National Park.

• Natura Indomita

  Tour Operator
  Guided Birding & Natural History Tours in Central & Southern Spain. A great variety of habitats in a very short distance: Mediterranean Forest, the best Wetlands inland Spain, the unique Volcanic Lagoons found in Western Europe and the best Steppes in all the Iberian Peninsula. All of them teeming with an impressive and rich wildlife. Tours in the land of the Iberian Lynx, the Spanish Imperial Eagle, the White-Headed Duck and the Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse…

• Oretani Wildlife

  Tour Operator
  Oretani Wildlife offers tailor made birding and wildlife tours and all inclusive packages in Castilla la Mancha and central Spain. Experience the Sierra, Steppe and Wetlands of this exciting region with some of the best birding and wildlife available…

• Spainbirds

  Tour Operator
  We've now been working for seven seasons on what started out as a small project called "Spainbirds". Since then our website has been constantly moving on with the times, taking on new challenges and responding to the increasing demands of an ever more numerous travelers. Fruit of all these endeavours is this new version, more useful and participative, which we now offer you on the net…

• 2014 [10 October] - Pau Lucio & Chris Durdin - La Mancha

  PDF Report
  The shallow wetland, viewed through a gap in the tamarisks, was alive with birds. White storks soared in thermals over us and several flamingos, both brown juveniles and pinky adults, were in the water. Around these were hundreds of wading birds. Black-winged stilts were joined by a large avocet flock. Curlews mixed with black-tailed godwits. There were ruffs, calling greenshanks, green sandpipers and herons. Flying over us was a fabulously close pale-phase booted eagle...

• 2016 [09 September] - David Mason

  Report
  ...An early start, we left Madrid at 07:30 and headed south for 100km, arriving at our first destination, just as the sun was rising to give some bright morning light. We encountered three Great Bustard at a considerable distance from the road but using the telescope, we got some excellent views.

• 2017 [05 May] – Chris Durdin & Pau Lucio

  PDF Report
  The occelated lizard on the rock was still soaking up the sunshine when two Egyptian vultures flew low overhead. At the same time a cuckoo was calling and the intense blue of beautiful flax Linum narbonense studded the surroundings – altogether a lovely mix.

• Abucia Maria Casa Rural

  Accommodation
  Abuela Mar

• Juan José Lucas López - Blog de campo y minerales

  BLOG
  Blog in which I talk about my outings, both in the geological field and in the forest.

• Rafa Torralba Zapatero - El Nido de Rafa

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  Photoblog

• Un Paseo Manchego

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  Este es un BLOG INDIGNADO, porque otro mundo más justo y más humano, es posible. Ecología, ornitología, fauna, flora, denuncias, costumbres, escapadas, viajes, aves, orquídeas, lepidópteros,…