Arrocampo Nature reserve, for the start of our third day’s birding, was an hour and a half north of our base just outside Almorahin.
Within seconds of arriving we had views of little bittern.
We then had another look at another section of the Arrocampo Nature Reserve but all I could remember from here was a disappearing ferruginous duck, a gadwall in flight and a skulking purple heron.
We then stopped for lunch in the charming setting of Villarreal de San Carlos. Sorry no photo as I was too busy having a beer.
We stopped after lunch on a bridge to see an Alpine swift and I was very pleased to get a burst of half a dozen shots of this amazingly fast bird.
Then on for the pièce de résistance of the trip – Salto del Gitano in Monfragüe National Park for Griffon vultures, Black storks and Egyptian vultures.
I just wish I had a photo of the lavender along the road sides which was so pretty.
There was so much to see here: as well as the large vultures and storks there were cormorants, grey herons, rock buntings and blue rock thrushes.
Nobody wanted to leave especially, despite it being a little windy and chilly in the morning, the weather was now bright and warm.
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 