It was January and the Winter days were short, we had left Zaragoza later than planned heading West towards Madrid where we would be turning South. As the road climbed higher and fresh falls of snow covering the hillsides we decided to seek a refuge for the night, the hilltop town of Medinaceli looked very picturesque with the setting Sun.


Medinaceli is home to the only three-gated Roman arch in Spain, constructed in the 1st-3rd Centuries A.D.


With the setting sun and snow, it all looked quite charming but there is a darker side to this hilltop town, that being the "Toro Jubilo" a festival that takes place here in November,
   denouncing the occupation of Spain by the Moors.
A Bull is tied to a post, a thick layer of mud is applied to it's Head Neck and Back, with this completed, balls of tar are attached to the animals Horns and set alight, once the tar is burning the Bull is set free in the enclosure, some people then terrify the beast further by running at it with red flags and trying to prod it!

Thank goodness its January.


The following day, in brilliant sunshine we were headed South through the Alcarria Baja region of Guadalajara, passing around the Embalse de Entreprēnas on the Rio Tagus, forming with the other accumulation of Embalses the "sea of Castile"


Lunch at Sayatón and another of Spain's famous rivers this one the Rio Tajo.


Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

After lunch, our road had taken us onto the great Plain of La Mancha, in the Province of Ciudad Real. South of Lillo and heading for Alcázar de San Juan you find the La Mancha Húmeda there are many semi-endorheic lagoons.
At one, the Laguna de Tirez, we chance on a flock of thirty Great Bustards that take to the air and crossing our path.


Far across the plain the distant skyline is dotted with the windmills above the towns of Consuegra and Alcázar de San Juan and these (above) are at Puerto Lapice where we made a stop for the night. The giant plain of La Mancha, famous for its wines, brandy and, Olives, stretching to the horizon and beyond.

The following morning had bought a dense fog, and a slow drive to the Tablas de Daimiel, not the of days for bird watching!
Our first bird of the day this  beautiful if wet Black Redstart,  perched on the car park wall.


Hoopoe (Eurasian) Upupa epops

Also in the car park and again damp from the fog this Hoopoe, it was doing for grubs.


Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Given the foggy conditions, even the Graylag Geese seemed unsure of what to do.

The controversial water levels here in Spains smallest natural park once again seemed very low, for years there have been huge water  level problems from aquifers to farmers boring illegal wells, in 2009 Spains secretary of state for water actually stated "we are about to lose the Tablas de Daimiel" The European Union demanded an explanation of what was happening, to this extremely important wetland that is placed somewhere near to midway between Africa and Northern Europe and performs as an important stopover for migrating birds as well as a huge breeding ground for many species.

Due to the water levels being very low once again we decided just to concentrate our time on the Laguna permanent, this is where the Rio Guadiana enters into the Tablas and the water levels more stable.



Marsh Harrier (Western) Circus aeruginosus

Later in the morning as the fog started to lift we had good views of three Marsh Harriers, two female and one male out on a dead tree.


The male bird departs for the open fields.



Bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus)

What we used to call Bearded Tits, but in fact they are closely related to the Larks. It breeds colonially in the reed beds. The two males we photographed were busy eating the reed seeds.




Chiffchaff (Common) Phylloscopus collybita

Chiffchaffs are very busy in the reeds looking for insects.


Leaving from Daimiel we night stop at the Pueblo of Luciana, close to the Rio Guadiana.
The next part of our journey would take us further South to the Sierra De Andujar.


Kingfisher (Common) Alcedo atthis

A clear frosty morning had greeted us, breakfast and a stroll along the river bank, where we found a Kingfisher warming in the weak Winter sun.
Later in the morning we observe Black Shouldered Kites and a pair of distant subadult Spanish Imperial Eagles.

Our journey continues into Lynx territory.