Extremadura briefly

16-17 June - An amazing 24h birding trip to Extremadura, central Spain, courtesy of Air Miles. Warm, sunny weather, and an unbelievable birdlist as follows -

Black Kite 113 (pic 4)
Griffon Vulture 57 (pic 5)
Black Vulture 3 (pic 6)
Egyptian Vulture 1
Booted Eagle 7 (pics 7, 8)
Short-toed Eagle 2 (pic 9)
Bonelli's Eagle 2 (pic 10)
Marsh Harrier 2
Montagu's Harrier 1 (pics 27,28)
Red Kite 1
Lesser Kestrel 14
Hobby 1
White Stork 185 (pics 19, 20)
Black Stork 1 (pic 17)
Purple Heron 28 (pics 21-23)
Black-crowned Night Heron 50
Cattle Egret 350+ (pic 25)
Great White Egret 1 (pic 24)
Little Bittern 1
Collared Pratincole 12
Gull-billed Tern 4 (pic 26)
Roller 6 (pics 31-35)
Bee-Eater 26
Alpine Swift 8 (pics 12-14)
White-rumped Swift 2 (pics 19-20)
Southern Grey Shrike 3
Woodchat 14
Woodlark 2
Azure-winged Magpie 4
Crag Martin 2
Red-rumped Swallow 16 (pics 29-30)
Blue Rock Thrush 1
Great Reed Warbler 2
Savi's Warbler 2

Unspoilt mountain/dehesa scenery and good light conditions for photography. Highlights included - the high density of raptors soaring throughout, especially in Monfrague (1-3, 11) - the wetland at Arroyocampo (18) with the mix of Heron species and Warblers in the reedbed - finding Rollers unexpectedly at 2 locations, including an obliging pair at Sierra Brava - and a close male Monty's as well - flyover Bee-Eaters - superb Alpine Swifts and elusive White-rumped Swifts at Monfrague - and roadside White Storks throughout. The general abundance of birds and lack of traffic made travelling a pleasure.