Some serious updating!!!

This is the start of a series of updates from the holidays and short breaks over the last few months. At the end of March, Julian was in Extremadura & Castilla La Mancha with two couples having a fabulous time in these two superb regions. Comments included -

"Once again many, many thanks for such a wonderful week seeing so many different species, you asked for highlights :

The place - Parc National de Cabeneros at dawn. Such a wonderful place with such a wide variety of wildlife, birds, mammals and plants etc. Your contact the guide was also very good with as you said eyes like a hawk seeing things even when I knew where they were, were still not straight forward to see. I would say that it would be a good thing to continue doing what you do by having the first couple of days in Castilla etc. It does widen the range of ecosystems and hence the range of wildlife available to see.

The species - it is not always the large birds BUT this time there were some very impressive large birds - all the vultures, Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Eagle Owl as well as Great & Little Bustard. However I was just as captivated by the Dartford & Sub-alpine Warblers their markings and colouration being wonderful, and of course the Great Spotted Cuckoos.

Generally your care and concern about how you look after us all. The hotel in Extremadura - you could not have found a better place to stay. Juan Pedro & Belen are such wonderful hosts (not hotel owners) but just sharing their magnificent home with guests. We were really REALLY impressed with the hotel. Once again the whole holiday was wonderful, very many thanks for such a great tme and ALL your care and consideration over the whole time we were with you" M & J Neal

"Firstly we would like to thank you for guiding us through an excellent birding and wildlife experience. It's brilliant how Spain has managed to avoid the tragic human intervention that has devastated the wildlife of other parts of Europe over the last century or so, especially the UK.

Highlights are difficult to pick out as it was all so good. However Anne just loved the Barn Owl lit up by the torches. For me the Golden Eagles with all the other raptors were pretty special and the Daimiel National Park was an amazing place especially so when we saw the Marbled Duck. The fact that we got 11 lifers is incredible and that will take some beating in Europe!" S & A Poole

Black Vulture at Monfrague NP

European Bee-eater near the accommodation

Black Wheatear at Cabanas de Castillo

Eagle Owl and chick at Monfrague NP

Superb Accommodation

Thekla Lark by Mr S. Poole

Spanish Imperial Eagle at Monfrague NP

View over to Trujillo

Little Owl

Spanish Festoon

Scop's Owl near accommodation

Short-toed Treecreeper