Five days in the center of Spain: Valladolid and Villafafila

Published by Antonio Rodriguez (arodris AT hotmail.com)

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You can see the complete report of this trip in my blog: http://arodris.blogspot.com/

This December I travelled to Valladolid with the aim of doing some birding. Previous days were snowy, and thus, all was covered by snow. Despite that, I managed to do some interesting birding. On December 4th, I visited an area located at about 20 minutes by car from Valladolid. This area is named Área Recreativa Colagón, belongs to the city of Villanueva de Duero (south of Valladolid), and contains the Adaja river, near its mouth in the Duero river. This river has very well preserved riversides, and around it there are areas with abundant pines and farms. Good numbers of azure-winged magpies, northern lapwings, and eurasian golden plovers.

Nest day, December 5th, I visited Villafáfila (Zamora), to try to see, despite the rainy day, geese and cranes present during the previous days. The Laguna Grande in Otero de Sariegos was full of water, with abundant anatidae. Pictures are not good, due to bad light and rain, but I show you as testimony. Importantly, we saw, in addition to great bustards and cranes, one greater white-fronted goose and one Anser fabalis.