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Autumn Narcissus Narcissus serotinus
© Teresa Farino
Autumn in Extremadura
A profusion of invertebrates and other wildlife in the environs of the Monfragüe National Park and the Llanos de Cáceres
An autumn visit to the pseudosteppes and Mediterranean habitats of Extremadura can be very rewarding, not just for birds, but also for all manner of invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, with a few choice late-flowering bulbs thrown in for good measure. As for Teresa's spring trip, we'll be based at Casa Rural Las Canteras, set in the middle of a vast expanse of rolling plains, interspersed with small streams and patches of holm oak dehesa.  Natterjack Bufo calamita© Teresa Farino The nearby Monfragüe National Park comprises a mosaic of primeval Mediterranean forest and dehesa (traditional wood–pasture), traversed by rivers and long quartzite ridges, providing a wide range of habitats for all manner of wildlife.
The delightful patio at Las Canteras is home to Stripeless Tree Frogs and Moorish Geckos, with other reptiles and amphibians typically seen in Extremadura in the autumn including Spiny-footed Lizard, Large Psammodromus, Viperine and Ladder Snakes, Spanish Terrapin, Iberian Water Frog and Natterjack Toad. 
Scalloped Blush
Compsoptera jourdanaria© Teresa Farino
The patio lights also attract many moths at night, highlights among which might include Grass Eggar, Grass Processionary, Mediterranean Tiger, Speckled Footman, geometrids such as Scalloped Blush, Smoky Bloom, Grass Viridian, Dusky Brown Silver-line, Coppery Taupe, Occitan Lined, Feathered Thorn and Vestal, with Beautiful Gothic and the Afro–Iberian Pseudozarba bipartita, Small Wainscot and Episema glaucina among the noctuids.
Seasonal butterflies include Swallowtail, Cardinal, Lang's Short-tailed, Long-tailed and African Grass Blues, Spanish Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow, Cleopatra, Bath White, Mallow Skipper, and the possibility of second-brood Two-tailed Pashas, while a surprisingly rich dragonfly fauna is on offer at this time of year, highlights among which include Violet Dropwing, Long and Epaulet Skimmers, Broad Scarlet, Southern Darter, Migrant Hawker, Small and Western Willow Spreadwings and Blue-eye. Among the other invertebrates seen on previous occasions at this time of year are Conehead Mantis nymphs, the horned dung-beetle Copris hispanus, the bouncy huntsman spider Eusparassus dufouri, and orthoptera such as the Tricolor Grasshopper (Paracinema tricolor), but we're hoping for many more!
 Copris hispanus hispanus© Teresa Farino
Hoopoe Upupa epops
© Teresa Farino
Outstanding among the avian fauna of Monfragüe and the surrounding area at this time of year are Black and Griffon Vultures plus good numbers of wintering Red Kites and Marsh Harriers. Wetland habitats commonly turn up Water Rail, Snipe and many other waders, plus the occasional Kingfisher, Black Stork or Spoonbill. Depending on the season, we might also encounter the first of tens of thousands of Cranes that spend the winter in the dehesas and rice paddies of the region. Of most interest among the smaller birds are Calandra Lark, Rock Bunting, Hoopoe, Spotless Starling and Iberian Magpie, while the plains should offer autumn congregations of Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Little and Great Bustards.
Floristically, if the autumn rains have already arrived, we should also be able to find bulbs such as Autumn Narcissus, Autumn Snowflake and Merendera. And last, but by no means least, in previous years we have had excellent sightings of Otters, including cubs, in this part of Extremadura at this time of year.
 Otter mother and cubs Lutra lutra© Teresa Farino
Autumn in Extremadura
Leader: Teresa Farino
2016 Dates: Tuesday 11 October – Tuesday 18 October
Price: 1,380€ per person, including half-board, en suite accommodation at Casa Rural Las Canteras, picnic lunches, transport by hired minibus throughout, all entry fees and the services of the leader. A single-room supplement of 145€ is applicable. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.
Although the cost of the tour is given in euros, clients may pay in sterling, the exchange rate to be calculated at the time of payment using www.oanda.com.
Pick-up details: For this tour, participants will be booking their flights independently. There is really only one choice of airport for tours in Extremadura, which is Madrid. Several airlines (easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe, British Airways, Iberia, etc.) fly to this destination from the UK, which should make your life as easy as possible.
We shall be collecting participants from Madrid airport at 15.00 on Tuesday 11 October 2016, and returning to the airport by 14.00 at the end of the tour on Tuesday 18 October 2016, so please make sure that you do not select an outbound flight that arrives in Madrid after 14.30 on 11 October, or a return leg that departs before 16.00 on 18 October, otherwise you might miss it!
 Southern Darter Sympetrum meridionale© Teresa FarinoPlease contact Teresa to discuss flight times and pick-up arrangements further if you have any queries, as the itinerary is flexible, up to a point.
If you wish to extend your visit in order to explore Spain further, please remember that if you require transport to the hotel you must arrange to be at Madrid airport by 3pm on Tuesday 11 October. Alternatively, you can go straight to Casa Rural Las Canteras and meet us there.
Group size: maximum 8 clients.
Booking information: please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about this tour.
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| Office phone: | (+34) 942 735154 |
| Mobile phone: | (+34) 656 337129 |
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| Address: |
Apartado de Correos 59
39570 Potes
Cantabria
Spain
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