Following an invitation, I had the chance to accompany my friend Christoph Roland on a short birding break to Madrid in mid-December. We spent two days of great winter-birding in the fun and relaxing company of Manolo Andrés, connecting with 2,5 lifers for me (Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti, Azure-winged Magpie Cyaonopica cyana and the Iberian subspecies of Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpei).
Manolo showed us some great places in the direct vicinity of the city of Madrid, which are obviously not typically visited by foreign birdwatchers. Our endurance in the cold and foggy conditions payed off with an astonishing 13 species of raptors, Great Bustard (Otis tarda) and more, only missing Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) which remains on my list of western palearctic breeding species yet to be seen.
Thanks to Manolo, Christoph, Pedro, Alberto and Sarah for having us!
Read a short trip-report here soon.
