Extremadura '25

You might have heard the expression 'The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain'. Well Extremadura seems to be plain that rain falls on - or at least it was while I was there. It sounds like a made up name but it's real place I promise! It's steeped in History too, it's generally been a very poor province and so many of it's greatest sons have sought their fortunes elsewhere. Most notoriously in the New World - many of the famous conquistadors hailed from this part of the world. Less notorious, but just as great is Javier Esteban Pozo a photographer who runs a bird guiding and accomodation business. I originally contacted Javier with the intention of renting a hide for Montagu's Harrier, but it seemed he was running a week of hide hire for all kinds of things. Including Booted Eagle, another species I hadn't photographed up close with his accomodation thrown in too. The price was very tasty so I couldn't resist.

Day one was going to be very very long. First up was the Montagu's Harrier, and it was a good two hour drive from the accomodation. It's another raptor where you need to be in place before the sun comes up, so, 4am start on day 1 it is. The location was a large area of steppe - wild grassland, with rocks punctuating the ground all over the place. You would have some trouble farming it - it's certainly not the wheat fields of Hertfordshire! The hide was a pop up tent place in a small depression, facing a series of rocks. Montagu's are a bit like Short Eared Owls, they kind of 'erupt' somewhere after migrating from Africa. While there are places they like, you never truly know exactly where they'll arrive. Shortly after arrival the birds will display and pair up - and this is the best time to photograph them. Javier's team had been observing the birds for a couple of weeks previously from a distance. The birds have perches they like, and during the night you can place hides not too far from the perches. My hide was a pop up tent like affair, located in a small depression surrounded by the rocks. Anticipation was high as the sun started peering over the horizon - and the Montagu's started calling. One landed on a nearby rock almost straight away, but it was far too dark to get a photo.