April 19-May 1, 2025 with Godfried Schreur & Willy Perez
Our Spain birding adventure was a journey through nature, culture and friendship. If you're dreaming of a birding trip that blends wild beauty with deep history, Spain is the place to be. Our recent tour through this spectacular country delivered everything we could have hoped for: rare birds, unforgettable landscapes, charming villages, and a group of birders who turned into fast friends.
From the Heart of Madrid to the Winds of La Mancha, we kicked off our journey in the center of the big capital, where city parks surprised us with great sightings like Short-toed Treecreeper, Iberian Green Woodpecker and Long-tailed Tit. With its rich history and vibrant energy, Madrid was the perfect place to begin.
Next, we journeyed down south into the open plains of La Mancha, the land of Don Quijote. The flat landscapes dotted with ancient windmills and shimmering lagoons were teeming with waterbirds. Common Shelducks, Northern Lapwing and many Greater Flamingos kept us busy. But the highlight was watching a Great Spotted Cuckoo flit past those iconic molinos. It was a surreal mix of history and nature.
As we headed south into Andalucía, the scenery shifted to rolling hills blanketed in olive trees. Andújar National Park greeted us with blooming Gum Rockrose bushes, Dartford and Sardinean Warblers, and Iberian Magpie. But the show stopper was a female Iberian Lynx and her two cubs giving us a magical, extended viewing. One of those "you had to be there" moments.
Timeless El Rocío and the bird filled wetlands of Doñana were just spectacular. Staying in El Rocío was like stepping back 200 years. Sandy roads, horses tied outside bars, and locals who’ve preserved their unique way of life, it was simply unforgettable.
Right next door, Doñana National Park offered birders’ paradise, with White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Flamingos, Herons, and the spectacular sighting of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse. This was easily one of the group's top moments.
Our time in Extremadura was a raptor lover’s dream. At Los Llanos de Cáceres, Great and Little Bustards strutted through the fields, while overhead we spotted the Spanish (Imperial) Eagle. In Monfragüe National Park, vultures ruled the skies. Griffon and Cinereous vultures were very numerous, and there were even nesting Black Storks at the dramatic Salto del Gitano viewpoint.
We wrapped up the tour in the Sierra de Gredos, where snow capped mountains served as a stunning backdrop to our final birding. Even the hotel car park was alive with birds and Crested Tits, Common Firecrest and the elusive and rare Citril Finch were present for our delight.
Yes, we were here for the birds but this tour was also a cultural feast. From the breathtaking Mosque, the Cathedral of Córdoba with so much art and history, to the medieval charm of Trujillo and Ávila, each stop added depth to our journey.
Some personal highlights? Watching Pin-tailed Sandgrouse with full sunshine in Doñana. The cubs of the Iberian Lynx in Andújar. And the quiet joy of hearing the Crested Tits call in the still mountain air.
And oh, the food. Each meal was a celebration of Spanish flavors, local wines, fresh ingredients, and plates that left us smiling (and maybe a little full). Our farewell dinner in Madrid was the perfect send off, filled with laughter, toasts, and reflection.
But truly, what made this trip special was the group. Adventurous, curious, kind, this was a crew that made every moment better. A big thank you to each of you for bringing such great energy and heart to this journey. We came for the birds, but we left with much more.
Other wildlife seen along the way:
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
Eurasian Wild Pig (Sus scrofa)
Common Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
Western Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica)
Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)
Spanish Pond Turtle (Mauremys leprosa)
Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta)
Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae)
Green Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis virescens)
Common Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica)
Iberian Grass Snake (Natrix astreptophora)
Old World Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio machaon)
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/377639
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/spa25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Until the next adventure, abrazos from Godfried and Willy (reporting)