Monfragüe - Ross Piper

Spanish Imperial Eagle

Monfragüe National Park

Griffon Vulture

Admission free located 45 kms (28 miles) North West of Trujillo on the EX 208, this park forms one of 14 important Spanish National parks . A visitor centre at Villareal del San Carlos will provide you with a wealth of information, including maps that you can use to explore the portion of the park that is accessible to the public.

Created in 1979, some 500 square miles of land were dedicated to protecting wildlife and protected bird species with the creation of a Nature Reserve and sanctuary. Since then part of Monfragüe has been classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO..

The undulating countryside is filled with wild olive, cork and Holm oak trees, and is populated by 280 vertebrate species. The park is the global stronghold for two spectacular raptors, the enormous black vulture and the beautiful Iberian imperial eagle, both of which make their nests in tall trees within the park Besides the bird life the park abounds with all manner of reptiles, insects, arachnids and plants. Some of these are more difficult to find than the soaring birds of prey, but diligence will be rewarded with jewel beetles feeding in the large flowers of Cistus plants, lizards sunning themselves on rocks and perhaps even a fleeting sighting of an Iberian lynx, the rarest cat on the planet. If your mind gets boggled by the dizzying array of wildlife take some time to appreciate the spectacular rock formations of” Salto del Gitano”, home to large colonies of griffon vulture.
Some of the vertebrates you may be lucky enough to see are:

Black shouldered kites
Black Stork
Bonelli Eagle
Cormorant
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Iberian Lynx
Kingfisher

Nightingales
Oriole
Otter
Pena Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Red Kites
Tawny Vulture