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Campo de Calatrava, all in one place.

Not as attractive as other areas of the province of Ciudad Real (although the Tablas de Daimiel National Park and the SCA Calatrava Volcanic Fields are located within this space), the Campo de Calatrava offers a biodiversity of great interest to birdwatchers and nature lovers. Dominated by the Guadiana river (today almost disappeared due its big ecological problems) and its tributary the Jabalon river, the Campo de Calatrava hosts real hotspots of life, as the SPA Medium Basin of the Guadiana, the SPA Calatrava Steppes, the Mudela Fields, the Vicario Reservoir, the banks of the Jabalon river in Almagro and the Reservoir of Vega del Jabalon.

 

 

 

 

Campo de Calatrava is a very anthropic land (by La Mancha standards) where, surprisingly, the visitor can find healthy populations of large predators including over 10 pairs of Golden Eagle and 4 pairs of Spanish Imperial Eagle, but this shire also hosts very rich populations of Marsh, Montagu’s and wintering Hen Harriers, whilst Common Kestrel and, crucially, the scarce Lesser Kestrel, keeps colonies that are the best and biggest in the province of Ciudad Real. Other highlights are the common presence of large numbers of Herons (Squacco, Night and Purple), Storks (including 2 pairs of Black Stork), Grebes, Mallards, Avocets, Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Laughing & Caspain Gulls, Great-Spotted Cuckoos, Bee-Eaters, Green Woodpeckers, Wood, Crested & Thekla Larks, Wheatears such as Black and Black-Eared, Blue-Rock Thrush, Southern Grey Shrike, Azure-Winged Magpie, Hoopoe, Spanish Sparrow, Hawfinch and a plethora of amazing Sylvia Warblers.

 

 

 

 

 

This place also stands out as hosting outstandings populations of Night Owls, such as Eagle Owl, Little or Tawny Owl. Red-Necked Nightjar is also a common sight in the big net of tracks of Calatrava.

 

Other incentives for visitors interested in nature are its good populations of Red Foxes, Wild Boars and Roe & Red Deers that can be found in the mountains of Calatrava, as well as the surprising and regular presence of Otters in some very few non-degraded sections of the Guadiana river and its tributary the Jabalon.

Of particular interest is the Steppe Protected Area known as SPA of Calatrava, which houses the best populations of Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Pin-Tailed & Black-Belied Sandgrouse of La Mancha, including in its amazing birds’ list other quality species very rare and endangered, such as Quail, Stone Curlew, Calandra Lark, Southern Grey Shrike, Little Owl, Red-Billed Chough and Montagu’s Harrier.

 

 

Apart from the SPA of Calatrava, five other places deserve special attention to any birder interested in discover this historical territory:

1- The Campo de Mudela Fields, home of the best raptors populations of Calatrava and the wildest spot inside this shire. Spanish Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle and even Goshawk occurs in this beautiful and unspoilt place, but its large Holm Oak dehesas and their impressive gorges also hosts other interesting species such as Golden Oriole, Hawfinch or Rock & Cirl Bunting. Common mammals in this space are Red Fox, Wild Boar, Red Deer and the ubiquitous Egyptian Mongoose. In the Campo de Mudela Fields are found the natural springs of the Jandula river, not in vain the Sierra de Andujar is located just south of this space.

 

 

2- The Vicario Reservoir and its swamps are a centre of activity for Egrets, Herons and other Waterfowl, but a great diversity of birds of prey appears in its surrondings providing a spectacle worthy of admiration: Golden Eagle, Osprey, Black- Shouldered Kite, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and even Black Vultures can be seen soaring in the open skies of this high school of quality birders. Around the Reservoir nature lovers will also find some of the rarest orchids & wildflowers of La Mancha.

 

3- The New Calatrava Castle. From its altitudes, this awe-inspiring castle offers superb views of La Mancha & Sierra Morena in a very evocative setting, and some very best opportunities to enjoy excellent birding, with quality species such as Black Wheatear, Blue-Rock Thrush or Rock Bunting.  

 

 

4- The Old Calatrava Castle. From this ancient watch-tower, the visitor can enjoy superb views of the Guadiana river and excellent birding. Night, Squacco, Great and Purple Heron, Golden Eagle, Marsh & Montagu’s Harrier, Great & Little Bustard, Roller, Bee-Eater, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Eagle-Owl, Little Owl and Spectacled Warbler are reasons enough that are well worth.

 

5- The Jabalon Reservoir. Very close to Almagro, this Reservoir is one of the best birding spots of La Mancha. Healthy populations of Waterfowl, the regular presence of quality Herons such as Night, Squacco & Purple, roosting place for thousands of Cattle Egret, important stopover and resting place for hundreds of Shorebirds on their migration to and from Africa, big concentrations of White Storks in summer with up to two thousands of this beautiful bird, and hunting ground for some of the biggest predatory birds in Spain like Golden & Spanish Imperial Eagles are reasons enough for take time and go birding to this unique and underwatched place.

 

Almagro is the capital city of the Campo de Calatrava as well as being one of the most lovely villages in Spain.

Go Birdwatching in Campo de Calatrava with www.naturaindomita.com

Vicente Malagón. 2011. All rights reserved.

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