Extremadura, Spain
Updated: Sep 24
5th - 12th May 2026
Tuesday 5th May: The Iberian Airlines flight from Manchester to Madrid arrived on time at mid-day and we were soon underway on the 3 hour drive to the Airbnb in the charming town of Trujillo in Extremdura. The apartment was located very close to the main piazza where there was a single Booted Eagle together with Crag Martin, Common Swift, Spotless Starling and White Stork.
Wednesday 6th May: In 2025 we had visited Extremadura but much earlier in the year during February. Thus we were interested to see what new species were around now that the Spring migration was well underway. The first port of call was the familiar Trujillo Plains & Llanos de Caceres. In addition to the resident species such as Calandra Lark, Black Kite, Corn Bunting, Azure-winged Magpie, Griffon Vulture and Crested Lark there were now summer migrants including Cirl Bunting, Common Nightingale, European Serin, European Roller, European Bee-eater, Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow and House Martin. The Rollers were particularly impressive sitting on the telegraph wires at Llanos de Caceres.
Red-rumped Swallow Roller Bee-eater
Butterflies were also very much in evidence with Red Underwing Skipper, Spanish Marbled White, plenty of False Ilex Hairstreak, Southern Gatekeeper and Clouded Yellow.
Red Underwing Skipper False Ilex Hairstreak Spanish Marbled White
Back at Trujillo near the former bullring were a pair of Lesser Kestrel and some Red-rumped Swallows.
Lesser Kestrel Red-rumped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow
Thursday 7th May: Embalse de Arrocampo is an excellent place for waterbirds and is a ca. 45 minute drive from Trujillo. Highlights here were several Purple Herons as well as a couple of singling Savi’s Warblers although they were deeply buried in the reed beds. Also seen were Cetti’s Warbler, Black Kite, Griffon Vulture, Zitting Cisticola, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Gull-billed Tern, Common Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler.
Griffon Vulture Zitting Cisticola
For the drive back we took in Monfrague NP which is an excellent place to see some special birds and is probably most famous for the large colony of Griffon Vultures. Other highlights included Woodlark, Black Stork, Rock Bunting, Black Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Golden Oriole (h/o), Dartford Warbler and Alpine Swift. There was also an interesting selection of butterflies including Lang’s Short-tailed Blue, Cleopatra, Marsh Fritillary, Southern Brown Argus, False Ilex Hairstreak, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Western Dappled White and Wall Brown.
Nettle Tree Butterfly Marsh Fritillary Lang's Short-tailed Blue
Friday 8th May: A trip south to Benquerencia proved somewhat frustrating with only distant views of Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart and a singing Thekla’s Lark. In the afternoon we drove back via the town of Alcollarin where there was a pair of Golden Oriole as well as Tree Sparrow, Azure-winged Magpie, Turtle Dove, Woodchat Shrike, Yellow Wagtail and Kingfisher.
Azure-winged Magpie Golden Oriole Tree Sparrow
Saturday 9th May: The weather on Saturday was fairly blustery and wet which made birdwatching difficult. However a drive across Trujillo Plains & Llanos de Caceres produced Woodchat Shrike, Whinchat and Hoopoe.
Woodchat Shrike Woodchat Shrike
Sunday 10th May: Despite early morning rain we headed off again to Monfrague NP where eventually the rain cleared and the sun came out. A singing Western Orphean Warbler proved difficult to see but better views were obtained of Short-toed Treecreeper, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Sardinian Warbler, Egyptian Vulture and Western Subalpine Warbler. Amongst the butterflies the highlights were Spanish Purple Hairstreak, False Ilex Hairstreak and Southern Gatekeeper.
Black Stork Egyptian Vulture Rock Bunting Blue Rock Thrush Western Subalpine Warbler Spanish Hairstreak
Monday 11th May: A final day spent on the Trujillo Plains & Llanos de Caceres produced some interesting new species for the trip namely Short-toed Eagle, Great Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Southern Grey Shrike. In addition, good views were obtained of European Bee-eater, European Roller, Crested Lark, Calandra Lark and Woodchat Shrike.
Corn Bunting Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Thekla's Lark Black Kite Calandra Lark Southern Grey Shrike
In the afternoon we stopped off at Embalse de Guadiloba where there were good views of a Thekla’s Lark and several singing Common Nightingales. Amongst the butterflies a Black Eyed Blue was a first amongst some of the usual other species including Southern Gatekeeper and Southern Brown Argus.
Black-eyed Blue Southern Gatekeeper Southern Brown Argus
Tuesday 12th May: On the way back to the airport we stopped off again at Arrocampo with views of Black-crowned Night Heron, Water Rail, Cinereous Vulture, Purple Heron, Savi’s Warbler (heard only), Cattle Egret, Great Egret and Gull-billed Tern.
Cinereous Vulture Cattle Egret Purple Heron
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