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Tasting with Cati / Extremadura Wine Tours

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Birding in Tierra de Barros y Valle Matachel

The mountain ranges that occupy the centre of the province of Badajoz (Sierras de San Serván, Grajera, Peñas Blancas, del Conde-Vistalegre, Manchita and Hornachos), are authentic “ecosystem-islands” in a highly degraded agricultural environment, and boast a community of large birds of prey as the main ornithological value. Throughout the route and at each one of the suggested observation points and/or walking routes (Hill of the Castle-Dam of Alange, Mines of Tierra Blanca, Sierra Utrera, Sierra Grande and Sierra de Pinos), you can see birds of prey. The populations of Bonelli’s Eagle (10 pairs), Golden Eagle (9 pairs), Egyptian Vulture (8 pairs) and Griffon Vulture (over 100 pairs) are very important in conservation terms. Other important species (Short-toed Eagle, Eagle Owl, Common and Lesser Kestrels, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, etc.) as well as those that are of more general interest (Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard) can also be seen along the route. Other species of interest include Black Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Western Orphean, Dartford and Subalpine warblers, amongst others closely linked to rocky crags, Mediterranean forests and dehesa. In winter species such as Alpine Accentor appear, as well as a small population of Common Crane that feeds in the dehesa and roosts in the reservoirs. On the wall of the dam of Alange the biggest breeding colony of Alpine Swift in Extremadura is established (over 300 birds; and they are also present in some mountain crags in the area), as well as a large number of House Martins, Eurasian Jackdaws, etc. In the wetlands of the area, particularly Alange Reservoir (difficult to access as it is so large), a large group of water birds can be found throughout the whole year, but mainly in winter (grebes, rails, ducks, herons, gulls, terns, cormorants, etc.) but also during the breeding period (particularly colonial ducks and waders). Blackwinged Stilt, Little Grebe and Common Coot regularly breed in the Lake of Melchor Gómez, and occasionally Whiskered Tern, Collared Pratincole and Northern Lapwing. The community is enriched by other species (chiefly waders) during the migration, which can also include Eurasian Spoonbill. In short, there is a great ornithological richness here, as befits a diverse and heterogeneous area.