Where are we going Part 1
Where are we going – Part 1
With less than four weeks to go, we’ve been busy fixing up accommodation around the world where we want to go birding.
And we’ve been amazed by the enthusiastic support we’ve received from everyone we’ve approached, from guides and guest houses to lodges and logistical support. As soon as we’ve mentioned The Biggest Twitch and our hugely ambitious birding target, people have caught on to the excitement of the adventure and want to be part of it. So here is a foretaste of just two of the fantastic places around the world where we hope to rack up good numbers of birds:
Caiman Lodge in the Pantanal of Brazil, or
Refugio Ecologico Caiman to give it its proper name (
www.caiman.com.br) offers a potential species list of over 350 amazing birds, including our logo, the Toco Toucan and the Hyacinth Macaw from our home page.
Their website is full of exciting information about this stunning wetland area, including a video clip to whet the appetite, and we can’t wait to bird there. A quick flick through the mouth-watering Caiman bird list and it’s easy to see why birders head for this fantastic destination: Horned and Southern Screamers, genuine wild Muscovy Ducks, Jabiru Storks, Sunbitterns, and maybe even a Jaguar on the mammal front!
Moving on to a totally different habitat at
Casa Rural El Recuerdo in Extremadura, Spain (
www.casaruralelrecuerdo.com), Martin and Claudia offer relaxing comfortable accommodation for birders in the rolling plains of Extremadura. This provides the ideal base for seeing such exciting species as Great and Little Bustard, Azure-winged Magpie, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra Lark and Montagu’s Harrier.
Only a short drive to the north lies the Monfragüe National Park, home to abundant raptors including Spanish Imperial Eagle and large numbers of breeding Griffon Vultures, a sight not to be missed! The historic town of Trujillo is not only scenic but has breeding Lesser Kestrels too.