EXTREMADURA

Monfragüe Natural Park     The 17.852 Hectares of this Natural Park are one of the best examples of the known as "Monte Mediterráneo" ecosystem.     In the mid of 50's hundreds of hectares of Monfragüe were flattered by tractors and dozens of workers removing thousands of Holm and Cork Oaks to favour the plantation and growing of a foreign species: the Eucaliptus Tree. The government of dictator General Franco wanted to build a paper factory in the nearby Navalmoral de la Mata which would be supplied by the cellulose from the new trees. But the factory was never built and the Eucaliptus survived till our days. Nowadays all these foreign trees are being hardly removed trying to manage the original landscape and replant with the autoctonous vegetation. This is the reason why some areas of this reserve show bare and reddish parts with young trees and few bushes.     The rivers Tagus (Tajo in Spanish) and Tietar, which join into the heart of the Park, created after years of erosion deep gorges and quartz rock cliffs which lodge now an impressive variety of raptors and other species typical of the rocky habitats such as Egytian and Griffon Vultures, Eagle Owl, Black Stork, Bonelli's Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Rock Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow or Black Redstart.     In Monfragüe breed at least 200 pairs of Eurasian Black Vulture, 600 pairs of Griffon Vulture and 20 of Egyptian Vulture. This is only an idea of how important is this place for the conservation of raptors.     Two more large birds fly over the Extremadura's fields: The shy Black Stork and the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Both with several pairs here. Cáceres - Trujillo Plains     Between the two historic towns of Trujillo and Cácers lays a vast and undeveloped flat area called "Llanos de Cáceres" with almost 105.000 hectares.     This is probably one of the three most important spots for steppe birds in Western Europe, the first two also in Spain. The traditional uses of the land have managed to preserve most of the farms as it was 200 year ago when men survived thanks to the products obteined of the sheep. As a matter of fact today is still one of the most profitable resources of the region. The famous sheep cheese appreciated in all the world is made in some of the small towns and villages present in the Llanos.     The cultivation of grain mostly wheat is also present providing the food for many seed eaters and refuge for some of the most typical species of the open fields. The Montagu's Harrier has here one of the best populations of Extremadura with nearly 150 breeding pairs and Rollers and Bee-eaters feed on the small lizards and insects well present in these plains. Arrocampo Reservoir     The Arrocampo reservoir is one of the most extrange cases into the Nature history of Extremadura.     Built to cold the motors of the controversial nuclear station of Almaraz this reservoir have turned in few years in one of most interesting wetlands of Central Spain. Here breed Little Bittern, Squacco Heron (there is no any other place in Cáceres province where breeding), Purple Heron, Night Heron, Purple Swamp Hen, Savi's Warbler and Marsh Harrier amongst the most interesting species, and Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black-Shouldered Kite, Eagle Owl and Great White Egret can be seen often with a little bit of luck.     In the last two or three years some Eurasian Spoonbills have been also recorded feeding on the shallow waters. A small colony of three pairs was recently discovered in a nearby and secret place in the area, being the only known colony of this bird in Extremadura and inland Spain.     Although the place has not been considered as an important spot to protected now there is a encouraging proyect to clean and recover the banks and even to build some hides to observe the wildfowl present all year around.     Curiously otters can be also seen swimming and fishing in this reservoir in no few times and thanks to the belt of vegetation which surround the water some small passerines find here a perfect place to keep concealed during the breeding season, such is the case of the Cetti's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and two introduced species, the Red Avadavat and the Common Waxbill, both scaped in Portugal and spreading quickly for some wetlands of Extremadura.     The availability of food in the winter months and probably the higher temperatures of the water make to stay to some migrant species in the area all months and it is not rare to see in December some Squacco Herons in the banks, or a Little Bittern flying into the reeds in January.     For further details about this tour contact please at... INFO@SPAINBIRDS.COM