Madrid
When we moved to London and I found out the Commanders were playing in Madrid I knew I had to go to that game. And naturally I thought about birding possibilities in Madrid. I found John Muddeman and birded with him for a day and a half after an afternoon of birding Case de Campo on my own. Here are the highlights.
The trip started early for me as I walked in the rain to Liverpool Street Station. I got the Stanstead Express to the airport and Ryanair to Madrid. After a bit of confusion about getting my mobile to work I set off on the metro to Case de Campo. It's a sprawling park on the western edge of Madrid, about four times the size of NYC's Central Park. I had an incredible day of birding as I wandered the hills and fields of this sparce, beautiful park. By the end of a wonderful afternoon I had found 35 species, nine of them lifers. Up close pictures of a common hoopoe, (pictured), and great views of an Iberian green woodpecker were two of many highlights. Getting to the hotel was entertaining. I got a subway train to a station where I had to transfer. A helpful security guard and ticket agent eventually helped me figure out that I needed to take a different metro system to get close to the Holiday Inn. It was pouring rain as I set out for the final kilometer long walk to the hotel. The staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful. My lights didn't work and one young woman reset a blown fuse for me. She also recommended a restaurant. What I didn't realize is that supper isn't served in Madrid until 8:00 PM. The restaurant was wonderful. The staff's English was as limited as my Spanish so we had fun with that. I had what were basically mashed potato fritters to start and scrumptious pork for the main. The waiter brought me cheesecake with a pistachio topping for dessert and gave me a sin alcohol liquor for the road, one of many freebies that came with the meal. I was full as a tick when I walked to the hotel.
35 species, nine lifers
Rainy Birdy Day
I asked John to pick me up at 7:20 this morning. I was done with breakfast at 7:10 and John arrived at 7:15. We headed out immediately because the weather forecast called for deteriorating weather conditions as the day wore on. Our first stop was for great and little bustards, two rare birds that John knew where to find. We saw both of these wonderful birds early on and by the time we'd left the first general area we birded we'd already seen nine of our target species. We then went to a reservoir because it was already beginning to rain. Three more targets including incredible views of a gorgeous Sardinian Warbler. Next stop was an old garbage dump that had been completely capped. We were looking for vultures that weren't there but two special birds, Thekla's lark and cirl bunting, were. By the time we left the dump the rain was steady and at times torrential. John decided on one more stop and even though we got soaked we saw hawfinch and European serin and ended the day with great views of a beautiful male little bittern. We were so happy because it's the bird we'd gone to that spot to see. We didn't need a shower then, just towels. John dropped me at my hotel and during a lull in the rain on the advice of my front desk buddy I took a five minute walk to a local mall. After a lap of the mall, I settled on an Italian spot. The food was good and filling, the service was very good. Fuel for the journey.
80 species, 16 lifers
Waiting for Vultures
This morning John picked me up and we headed towards the mountains. They were socked in with fog and mist so we birded just below them and soon found numerous Iberian magpies and a very large flock of rock sparrows. There were two crows with the sparrows. John told me to look at them. When I did I realized they were chough not crows. What a great surprise. Another surprise was a zitting cisticola. Tiny bird that looks a lot like a stonechat but had a streaked back. We climbed up into the misty mountains and searched with no luck for cinereous vultures. We made a final stop at a park overlooking the monastery and finally saw two vultures in the breaking clouds. A great way to finish two great days of birding. John took me to the train station and I rode the train and metro to the airport where I dropped off my backpack. Then I went to the stadium. It was a mob scene but eventually I got in. There was no food or merch which really surprised me. My seat was great but the Commanders weren't. They lost in overtime to the Dophins. I then went back to the airport. A long wait, a gate change, a flight, a bus ride to the terminal, a perfect connection to Stanstead Express and a walk later I was at Plumbers Row. Very late, but home sweet home. I'm still glowing from a wonderful birding weekend. And it's the 92nd anniversary of Dad's birth.
47 species, 4 lifers