Drive-by shootings on the Spanish steppes

We visited friends in Lisbon last week. It was a family holiday, but what better way to finish it off than three days in that fabulous "family destination" of Extremadura? We stayed in an idyllic rural hotel near Trujillo, with breeding Azure-winged Magpie, Hoopoe and Woodchat Shrike in the gardens:

Azure-winged Magpie: 

Below, White Stork nests in Trujillo. Every single tall building and most electricity pylons have nests. We never tired of seeing them. As soon as you cross the border into Portugal the nests disappear. The wrong kind of pylons?

Below, Plaza Mayor, in Trujillo. We ended up eating out here most evenings. Sitting outside with a glass of cold beer watching huge White Storks power through clouds of Common and Pallid Swifts, while flocks of Lesser Kestrels drifted overhead was almost enough to induce tears. Did I mention the beer? 

As a family, we spent most of the time taking in the towns and views, but I went out alone for a few hours before breakfast most days. I had no expectations of seeing much, but in the event the birding was excellent. The majority of the pictures (except for the swifts and swallows) were drive-by shootings, taken from the car, all with the usual Canon 7D and the 100-400mm lens:

Pallid Swifts. In good light these birds are quite distinctive, with some appearing almost completely white-headed. Also note the scaly body feathering, the pale inner primaries and the eye-mask:

Red-rumped Swallows, always a treat:

Spain felt as if it were at least one whole season ahead of the UK. By mid-May, in the arable areas, harvest was beginning. In non-arable areas the steppe was burnt white by the sun, the vegetation was a meter high and the steppe species were well into their breeding cycles. This meant that most species had stopped displaying and that any species that were less than knee high were nearly impossible to see. Larger birds, such as Great Bustard, still stood out, but I only caught one glimpse of a Little Bustard which promptly landed and disappeared into the vegetation. None were calling this late into spring. Below, typical Spanish steppe scenery north of Trujillo, with fringing dehesa (typically Holm Oak and Cork trees with open pastureland) in the background:

Grasslands east of Trujillo:

The compulsory road-side Corn Bunting shots. This species is super-abundant in Extremadura:

Crested Lark:

Short-toed Lark:

Spotless Starling:

And you don't get birds like these around Cuddesdon, Bee-eater...

...and an early morning Roller: 

Black-bellied Sandgrouse:

The density and diversity of insects and birds in Extremadura is astonishing and a huge contrast with Oxfordshire. Raptors are well represented, ♂ Montagu's Harrier...

 ... and the much rarer dark morph Montagu's Harrier: 

Booted Eagle:

Black Kite:

 ♀ Lesser Kestrel:

♂ Lesser Kestrel:

Griffin Vulture:

Great Bustard, the iconic species of the Spanish steppe, were not uncommon, we came across some every day. 3 Great Bustards in flight across sunlit dehesa:

But they were always distant...

... as this video proves:

All in all, it was a fabulous three days in Extremadura, despite it being a late Spring visit. It is a very special landscape, with some very special birds. And the family enjoyed it too.

My eldest daughter. She has a long road ahead of her.