April 19th :- After breakfast we set off inland with our first stop around Petrola on the eastern edge of Castilla-la Mancha. This is an area of undulating plains largely given over to cereal and vine cultivation, but with patches of set-aside, and a few shallow seasonal lagoons. During the morning we should see our first Great Bustards, with a chance of Montagu's Harrier, Black-bellied & Pin tailed Sandgrouse, Calandra, Short toed & Thekla Larks. The lagoons can also be exceptional at this time of year, holding lots of waders, plus Greater Flamingos, Whiskered & Black Terns. After lunch we continue west to another area of wetlands, including the excellent Pedro Munoz that hold good numbers of White-headed Duck, Black necked Grebes, White Storks and Marsh Harriers. Overnight in Mota del Cuervo.

April 20th :- After breakfast we go to Miguel Estaban another of this area's excellent wetlands, which can be very good for Pin tailed Sandgrouse and Great Spotted Cuckoos as well as  waders & wildfowl. Slowly we will head west calling in at some more lagoons on-route, hoping to find Collared Pratincole, Gull billed Tern and Glossy Ibis. After lunch we will go to one of Castilla-la Mancha's most important wetlands 'Tablas de Daimiel', at this time of year birds could include Marsh Harriers, Purple Gallinule, Water Rail, Bearded & Penduline Tit, Reed Bunting, Savi's, Cetti's & Moustached Warblers. Finally we head for Alcoba and if time allows we will call into the hide situated on the edge of 'Los Cabañeros Reserve', and we should see Black & Griffon Vultures, Common Buzzards, Azure winged Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, and Spanish Sparrows.

April 21st :- An early start as we swap transport for a special 4 x 4 vehicle, which will take us on safari for the morning. Apart from the main road that runs through the reserve vehicular access to here is restricted to this type of transport (or walking) and strictly governed. The huge plains and rolling hills, with Red Deer, Fox & Wild Boar and a very high concentration of raptors with reputedly 120+ pairs of Black Vulture alone, plus Spanish Imperial, Golden, Booted & Short toed Eagles, Little Bustard, Southern Grey Shrike, Jay, Golden Oriole and Woodchat Shrike. After lunch our next destination will be Embalse de Garcia de Sola, hoping to see the resident Bonelli’s Eagles, and possibly Black Stork, Egyptian & Griffon Vultures, Peregrine, Raven, and Little Egrets. Back towards Trujillo we will make a quick detour to Vegas Altas in the hope of finding two of it's scarce breeders Red Avadavat and Common Waxbill. A drive around the agricultural & rice fields will possibly produce Great Bustards, Black bellied Sandgrouse, Montagu's Harriers, Collared Pratincoles, and Gull billed Tern. We then continue to our accommodation for the next four nights near to the historic city of Trujillo, which makes for a perfect base.

April 22nd, 23rd & 24th :- The next three full days will be spent visiting the very best of sites in Extremadura. We shall be going to Parque Natural de Monfrague, Santa Marta de Magasca, Jaraicejo Heath, and the Belen Plains. Target birds will be Great & Little Bustard, Black-bellied & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Spanish Sparrow. The area holds vast numbers of raptors that may include Black & Egyptian Vultures, Short toed, Booted, and Spanish Imperial Eagles, Common Buzzard, Red, Black & Black Shouldered Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Sparrowhawk, and Peregrine. Amongst the hills and crags we could find Eagle Owl (on the nest), Black Storks, Rock & Cirl Buntings, Blue Rock Thrush, Sub-alpine Warbler, Red billed Chough, Crag Martin, and Black Redstart. In the dehesa we will look for Hawfinch, Woodlark, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Short toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Firecrest, Crested & Long tailed Tits. On a local heath there's a chance of finding a Western Orphean, Dartford & Spectacled Warbler, Woodchat Shrikes, Woodlark and Nightingale. Sometime will be spent in Trujillo, looking at the town's main square where we will see some lovely architecture along with nesting White Storks, Jackdaws, with possibly a few Pallid Swifts and Lesser Kestrels around the bullring.

April 25th :- This morning we repack the minibus and start to make our journey west back towards Castilla la Mancha and the central wetland areas. We will make a stop en-route at Embalse de Arrocampo for Little Bittern, Purple, Squacco & Night Herons, Spoonbill, Purple Gallinule, Cetti's & Savi's Warblers. We then head back east through Oropresa looking for Black shouldered Kite and other steppe species. Continuing west we will stop off around Toledo giving everyone a chance to view this historic walled city from one of the many miradors. Finally we will make the short journey to our accommodation in Mota de Cuervo where if time allows we will again visit the reserves of Manvajacas, Pedro Munoz or Miguel Estaban

April 26th :-  After breakfast we finally pack up the minibus and head back east for Oliva and depending on flight times we may be able to stop at one of the excellent sites near to Alicante Airport.

Price includes:-

Price does not include:-

1. Flights to Alicante.
2. 8 nights accommodation at local hotels/hostels with ensuite facilities.
3. All meals inc. drinks (except for first day)
4. All transport costs, inc. vehicle hire, fuel, tolls etc
5. Potential trip list with daily check list.
6. Use of field guides covering the area

1. Travel and contents insurance.
2. Extra food & drink to normal meal times.
3. Items of a personal nature.