la-serena

Core Sites:

• La Guarda
• Río Guadalefra
• Cabeza del Buey
• Zarza Capilla
• Capilla
• Siruela

Description:

It is located in an area with very peculiar features, defined by the extensive grazing lands and croplands of La Serena (one of the most valuable steppe lands in Spain), quartzitic mountain ranges with Mediterranean forests and scrubland and plains with Holm Oak wood pastures. The most important core sites are "Río Guadalefra" and "Cabeza del Buey" which host the greatest number of wintering cranes. The first of these sites is located between the towns of Castuera, Campanario and Quintana de La Serena, and makes full use of the wood pastures in the area. The "Cabeza del Buey" core site stretches from Castuela to Cabeza del Buey, on both sides of the Tiros mountain range. The "Zarza Capilla" core site occupies an area of grazing and cropland between Cabeza del Buey and the La Serena reservoir, although it hosts a small number of birds, as does the "Capilla" core site. The "Siruela" core site is located among predominantly grazing land and cereal fields between the towns of Talarrubias, Gabayuela and Siruela, on both sides of the River Guadalemar. As in the "Zarza Capilla" and "Capilla" core sites, the filling of the La Serena reservoir considerably reduced the feeding areas and the availability of suitable roosts.

Population:

5.000 - 7.000 birds

Where to see Common Cranes:

The "Cabeza del Buey" core site has a very marked dynamic which makes crane watching much easier. Following their daily routine during the wintering period, the birds usually spend the day at the feeding areas at Sierra de Tiros, among large expanses of wood pastures and croplands. In the evening, they fly over the Tiros Mountains at their lowest points heading towards the roosts situated to the north of the Tiros Mountains, in the grazing lands of La Serena. The best spots to see the passage of the cranes are Puerto Mejoral (which has an observatory and a Nature Classroom) and Almorchón Castle, an exceptional spot which also has extraordinary views of the surrounding area.

The journey through the grazing lands of La Serena will not disappoint bird lovers, as it is easy to see numerous steppe land birds (bustard, little bustard, sand grouse, stone-curlew, etc.).