Our first mountains were the Gredos; accordingly, we loaded up on new birds. Red Crossbills, Coal and Crested tits, European Pied Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Ortolan Bunting, European Robin (a charmer in the garden), and Black Redstart all put in appearances. Hiking up the old Roman road early one morning yielded many new alpine birds like Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Northern Wheatear, Skylark, White-throated Dipper, Rock Bunting, and Dunnock. The star of the show on this glorious morning was the Bluethroat, which sang and kept popping up on Pyrenean Brooms closer and closer to us until Santi and I were grinning from ear to ear, sharing our photos! We also saw the Spanish Ibex for which the Gredos are famous. No trip to the Gredos is complete until you’ve enjoyed a few meals from Alfonso at Hostal Almanzor; the pastry appetizer with roasted veggies and cheese was a hit.
Text by Brian Gibbons (Victor Emanuel Nature Tours)
Photos: Santi Villa (Spainbirds Nature Tours)
Pechiazul / Bluethroat
Pechiazul / Bluethroat
Roquero rojo / Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
Alondra común / Skylark
Polygonia C-album / Comma Butterfly
Reyezuelo listado / Firecrest
Papamoscas cerrojillo / (Iberian) Pied Flycatcher
Reyezuelo sencillo / Goldcrest
Lagarto ocelado / Ocellated Lizard
Lagarto ocelado / Ocellated Lizard
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