La Mancha Birdwatching Trip, Spain

Birding Trip in La Mancha, Spain

This 1-day La Mancha Birdwatching trip is available on request and covers a wide range of habitats in a leisurely fashion. The areas visited are all found within a radius of about 50-60km so you spend less time travelling and more time enjoying the incredible birdlife to be found at each stop.

You can call the shots on this La Mancha birdwatching trip, based on what you want to see - that lifer you need for your list, or a species you would like to observe again. We can take you to one of the two National Parks in the area, the wetlands of La Mancha, the Tablas of Daimiel, or perhaps the Mediterranean forests in mountainous Cabañeros.

Perhaps you would like to explore the extensive volcanic steppe region of the Campo de Calatrava? As the area is less frequented by nature enthusiasts, a day trip on back roads and trails far from the madding crowd gives a more intimate La Mancha birdwatching experience.

The wetlands of La Mancha are a joy to visit year-round, but they are especially interesting during the migration seasons in spring and autumn, when many birds transiting through stop off for a break in their journeys.

Many others, such as Collared Pratincoles, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts, come to breed and some, such as Flamingos and White-headed Ducks, can be seen year-round. In the winter thousands of Common Cranes arrive almost like clockwork and roost in the area around the National Park.

On this Birding La Mancha trip, you can discover the Mountains of Toledo and Cabañeros National Park, known as The Spanish Serengeti, to the west of the province. This is home to the second-largest colony of Cinereous Vultures in Europe. It is the realm of the Spanish Imperial Eagle and a wide variety of other raptors such as Booted Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle and Lesser Kestrel. During the autumn deer rut, in September and October, there are spectacular scenes of stags guarding their harems and fighting off possible usurpers. Wild boar and Egyptian Mongoose can also be seen.

To the south is the steppe landscape of the Campo de Calatrava, still classified as an active volcanic zone although there have been no recent eruptions. It is a gently rolling landscape for La Mancha birdwatching, where many steppe species can be found. These include the flamboyant Great Bustard, the clicking Little Bustard, the "watch the rock until it moves" Stone Curlew, as well as Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse. The background music is provided by Calandra larks, whilst Montagu's Harriers and Black-shoulder Kites quarter the cereal fields.

Birding La Mancha tour highlights include:

The raptors of Cabañeros National Park - the Spanish Serengeti - where vultures circle waiting for thermals as they leave their roosts in the morning
Breeding and visiting ducks and waders in the La Mancha wetlands
The incredibly flamboyant mating displays of the Great Bustard
Minimal travel between the habitats so you have more time enjoying this 1-day trip

Like the look of this La Mancha birdwatching tour and you have more time to spend in the region? Have a look here.

Alternative Tour Name: Birding La Mancha Day Trip

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Why book with Oretani Wildlife?

You are looking for less travel and more time birding. You don't want hours of driving. You want to relax. You want a truly local experience. But you also want to experience a particular habitat. That's what we provide. And of course, you want real local knowledge of the hidden places or places away from the beaten track. You want to get intimate in your birdwatching in a friendly and relaxed way. Mike has always been praised on his knowledge of the area by clients and his friendly demeanour. Maybe it's his smiling Irish eyes or the assimilated relaxed attitude of this region.

What is the weather like? Isn't it hot?

Central Spain has a climate similar to a continental climate. In winter it can be cold at night but can also reach 20C at times during the day. On the steppe it can get windy and be quite chilly. Spring and Autumn are fabulous. These are the prime times to visit central Spain. Lows are normally 10-14C and with highs of 24-28C. These are temperatures that allow for comfortable and excellent birding without heat-haze. There may be some showers but rarely prolonged rain. We'll not lie, the summer is hot ranging from 32-38C and sometimes 40C. During the midday sun there isn't much activity both for humans or wildlife.