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Cabañeros National Park

Montes de Toledo, Ciudad Real  >  Spain

Wild, remote and superb area of natural beauty. One of Spain's fifteen national parks. Mediterranean woodland, "Raña" landscape and scrubby mountains.

Ajouté* par Mats van Kasteren
Dernière actualisation 17 juillet 2023

Description

The huge Cabañeros national park lies in the heart of Spain. The area is very sparsely populated and is one of the few areas in Western Europe that is truly wild. With the wildlife to match it! The park hosts the world's second largest colony of Vautour moine (286 pairs in 2019), a healthy population of Aigle ibérique, Outarde barbue and many more endangered species! It is one of the few places in the world where nearly all the typical species of the mediterranean ecosystem still occur. Amongst the mammals, the Iberian lynx (rarest wild cat in the world) has a growing population in these hills and red deer is very numerous (especially on the Raña). All in all, plenty of reason to visit!

This route consists of 2 main areas: the scrubby and wooded heart of the National Park and the Raña savannah just outside the parks borders. On the route through the heart of the park, you can expect to see the typical species of the Spanish heartland "Monte". Vautour moine breeds, so does Aigle ibérique, Circaète Jean-le-Blanc, Perdrix rouge, Huppe fasciée, Fauvette orphée, Loriot d'Europe and many more species. This is also the part of the area where the Iberian lynx occurs, but chances of actually seeing one are pretty much zero. This area does not have viewpoints, but it is very possible to pull up along the road and scan the area. Check the skies especially carefully for raptors (all characteristic species may be seen).

The second part takes you over the Raña, starting from Santa Quiteria in the direction of Casa Palillos (the second visitor centre). Again you can stop along the road to scan the steppes, but there is also an observatory (Observatorio de Cigüeñas) from which you can see Cigogne blanche, red deer and steppe birds. At the visitor's centre there is also an observation platform and -tower. The main species here are: Outarde barbue, Outarde canepetière, Oedicnème criard, Cigogne blanche, Pie ibérique as well as several raptors; Vautour fauve come down from the mountains to feed, sometimes joined by Vautour moine or Vautour percnoptère. Aigle ibérique, Aigle royal, Circaète Jean-le-Blanc, Aigle botté and several harriers may be seen as well. In winter and autumn, Grue cendrée is very numerous and may be seen feeding on the acorns underneath the holm oaks.

Détails

Accès

The first half of the route is about 30 km long and starts in Retuerta del Bullaque and ends at the Visitor's centre in Horcajo de Los Montes. Follow the road south, straight through the heart of the National Park. Stop anywhere you like and can to look for birds of prey.

The second part is about 8 km long and takes you over the Raña, starting from Santa Quiteria in the direction of Casa Palillos (the second visitor centre). Again you can stop along the road to scan the steppes, but there is also an observatory (Observatorio de Cigüeñas) from which you can see white storks, red deer and steppe birds. At the visitor's centre there is also an observation platform and -tower where you can again look for steppe birds, big game and raptors.

Terrain et Habitat

Forêt , Plaine , Montagnes , Steppe , Agriculture , Prairie , Arbres et buissons disséminés

Conditions

Montagneux , Pas d'ombre , Vallonné , Sec , Paysage ouvert , Poussiéreux

Boucle

Non

Avez-vous besoin d'une longue-vue?

Peut être utile

Saison idéale pour observer

Toute l'année

Meilleure période pour une visite

Hiver , Automne , Printemps

Itinéraire

Route pavée

Niveau de difficulté de l'itinéraire

Facile

Accessible via

Voiture , Vélo

Observatoire/hutte d'observation

Oui

Informations supplémentaires

Note that this is an area of extremes: summers are very hot and winters very cold. Dress accordingly!

Voir les sites d'observation voisins publiés sur Birdingplaces

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