Vehicle
asphalt and dirt track
Bird habitats you will find in this area:
We begin at the Sierra Brava reservoir (o.p. 01) whose waters irrigate rice and maize fields that can be seen to the south. In winter there are flocks of Common Cranes in the stubble and surrounding dehesas, and species such as Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck and Red-crested Pochard on the reservoir. Depending on the water level, Gull-billed Terns may breed here in summer. In addition, the area is excellent for seeing Great Spotted Cuckoo, as well as Little Owl and Black-eared Wheatear in the rock cuts along the road.
We continue along the EX-355 and almost immediately to the left along the Campo Lugar road, crossing a flat area where you can park beside access gates to the farms (o.p. 02). This is a breeding area for steppe birds such as Great and Little Bustards, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and European Roller. We can also see Lesser Kestrel, which come from their nearby colonies to feed here, and Montagu’s Harrier passing through in spring and autumn, while Hen Harrier and Merlin are winter visitors. There are good populations of Calandra and Greater Short-toed Larks.
To the south of the town of Campo Lugar (o.p. 03) we can find a winter roost for Stone Curlew in the fields. After crossing the town, we reach the intersection with the EX-102 and we head to Alcollarín. Just before the town take the second exit signposted to the dam of the same name. From its wall (o.p. 04) there is an excellent panoramic view of the Alcollarín reservoir, home to a large number of ducks in winter, as well as Black Stork and Black-necked Grebe, with Little Tern, Collared Pratincole and waders in spring. It is frequented by Bonelli’s Eagle from the nearby mountains. From the dam wall, dirt tracks allow us to explore the western and eastern banks. Along the latter you reach the weir (o.p. 05) where there is a picnic area. Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier and Great Reed Warbler breed here. And the surrounding holm oak woodland can be very good for migrants in spring and autumn such as Iberian Chiffchaff and Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart. If we continue, we reach the shallow end of the reservoir, with European Bee-eater nests next to the track and abundant Thekla Lark and Woodchat Shrike. It is not possible to make a complete circuit of the reservoir, so we will return to the dam to continue along the western bank, where the light is better in the afternoon.
Alcollarín Lesser Kestrel colony: declared urban special protection area for birds (SPA).
Vía Verde Vegas del Guadiana: 58 km of trail accessible on foot or by bicycle along the old railway line.
Fernando el Católico tourist complex: exhibition on the life of the king of Aragon and Castile with a visit to the house of Santa María de Guadalupe, where the monarch met his death.
Massa Solís Museum: the brilliant work of this painter from Miajadas is exhibited in the Palacio del Obispo Solís cultural complex.
Birds that remain in the territory all year round.
Breeding birds that stay in the territory during spring and summer, migrating to their wintering grounds at the end of summer.
Birds that do not breed in Extremadura but spend the autumn and winter months here.
Birds that use the region as a stopover area, migrating from their breeding grounds north of Extremadura to their wintering areas further south.
