Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/2018/07/03/spanish-bird-photography-calera/ # A 2018 visit to the fantastic Spanish Birds of Calera Published on July 3, 2018 [![A Lesser Kestrel Having A Scratch On The Rooftop Of A Derelict Farm Building Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-lesser-kestrel-having-a-scratch-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-lesser-kestrel-having-a-scratch-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) Spring of 2018 saw me spending **two weeks in Spain.** The first week was for the [Eagles & Raptors photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/spain/) in the Sierra Morena Mountains. The second week saw me travelling to Madrid to collect the next group of clients & then on to Calera y Chozas for the [NaturesLens Spanish bird photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/spain/). The **Natureslens** photography tour to Calera has been running for a few years now & always offers a wide variety of birds to photograph on the plains & the mountains close to the area. 2018 was my first visit here after taking over guiding from the incredibly talented **Dan Trim**. Having seen his images from the previous trips he led for NaturesLens, I couldn’t wait to see them for myself. Calera y Chozas is just two hours drive from Madrid & is an area with many locations for photographic opportunities. In previous years, when **David, Pui Hang & Dan** have led trips there, the bar had been set high with images of [Azure-winged Magpie](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/azure-winged-magpie/), bee-eater, [black kite](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/black-kite/), black vulture, black-winged kite, cuckoo, great bustard, great grey shrike, [griffon vulture](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/griffon-vulture/), [hoopoe](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/hoopoe/), kestrel, [lesser kestrel](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/lesser-kestrel/), [little owl](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/little-owl/), [red kite](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/red-kite/) & red-legged partridge & more all being captured. [![One Of The Black Kites Circles The Carrion Hide Site With The Sierra De Gredos Mountain Range Behind Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-black-kites-circles-the-carrion-hide-site-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-black-kites-circles-the-carrion-hide-site-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) When we arrived, the weather forecast was not as we had hoped for the duration of the trip. But, there were definite positives to the colder weather. For example, some species were more active than they would typically be, & some were still nest-building. This meant different photographic opportunities from previous years so, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining! One species I was rather keen on seeing & photographing were the **Black Winged Stilts at the lake hide**. I had seen some fantastic images from previous years so was eager to capture some of my own. [![A Stilt Amongst The Wild Flowers Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stilt-amongst-the-wild-flowers-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stilt-amongst-the-wild-flowers-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![A Stilt Wanders Past The Lake Hide Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stilt-wanders-past-the-lake-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stilt-wanders-past-the-lake-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) The **lake hide** is positioned just above water level which allows for some strong low angle images of the Stilts & other wading birds. Due to its low level, if you are lucky & the water is still, you may get reflection shots. Further, in the afternoon, the sun will, hopefully, cast a warm glow across the lake. [![An Iberian Black Kite Comes In To Land On A Perch At The Carrion Hide Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-comes-in-to-land-on-a-perch-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-comes-in-to-land-on-a-perch-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![An Iberian Black Kite Glides Over The Field Of Heather At The Carrion Hide Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-glides-over-the-field-of-heather-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-glides-over-the-field-of-heather-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![An Iberian Black Kite Illuminated In The Late Afternoon Sun Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-illuminated-in-the-late-afternoon-sun-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-illuminated-in-the-late-afternoon-sun-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) I thought that doing two back to back trips of Spanish [bird photography](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/bird-photography/) would be exhausting, but I was wrong. There are just so many species to see & photograph at Calera that I was too excited to feel tired. I also knew that we would be one of the first people to use the **newly developed Eagle or Valley hide**. We had no eagles but we were kept busy with numerous black & [red kites](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/red-kite/), & even a few vultures. [![One Of The Kites At The Carrion Hide Site Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-kites-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-kites-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![One Of The Vultures Circles The Carrion Hide Site With The Sierra De Gredos Mountain Range Behind Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-circles-the-carrion-hide-site-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-circles-the-carrion-hide-site-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![One Of The Vultures Stood On A Rocky Outcrop At The Carrion Hide Site Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-stood-on-a-rocky-outcrop-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-stood-on-a-rocky-outcrop-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) We even had a visit from an **Egyptian Mongoose**! He arrived just as we had put away our camera gear, so no one got a shot. Apparently, they are regular visitors to this hide, so I look forward to my next encounter with this [mammal](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/mammal/). I have to say that for me, the highlight of the trip was the **Carrion hide**! The group & I were spoilt with over 100 **Griffon & Black Vultures, Red & Black Kites, plus Storks** to name a few of the species that visited. At one point, there were so many birds that it was hard to know where to point my camera! The wild lavender was starting to flower, providing us with a gorgeous foreground for some portrait shots of the birds. This hide was so impressive that several of the guests & I would have been more than happy to spend the entire week in there! Small wonder that the carrion hide is so popular. [![A Stork Comes In To Land Amongst A Number Of Other Similar Birds At The Carrion Hide Site Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stork-comes-in-to-land-amongst-a-number-of-other-similar-birds-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-stork-comes-in-to-land-amongst-a-number-of-other-similar-birds-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![An Iberian Black Kite Comes In To Land At The Carrion Hide Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-comes-in-to-land-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/an-iberian-black-kite-comes-in-to-land-at-the-carrion-hide-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![One Of The Vultures Stood Amongst The Wildflowers At The Carrion Hide Site Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-stood-amongst-the-wildflowers-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-vultures-stood-amongst-the-wildflowers-at-the-carrion-hide-site-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) However, if I had stayed in the carrion hide, I would have missed out on photographing the **Little Owls, Southern Grey Shrikes, Hoopoe’s, Lesser Kestrels, Bee Eaters** & so much more. [![A Red Legged Partridge Amongst The Wild Flowers Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-red-legged-partridge-amongst-the-wild-flowers-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-red-legged-partridge-amongst-the-wild-flowers-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![A Bustard Struts Amongst The Wild Flowers With The Layers Of The Sierra De Gredos Mountain Range Behind Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-bustard-struts-amongst-the-wild-flowers-with-the-layers-of-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-bustard-struts-amongst-the-wild-flowers-with-the-layers-of-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![A Perched Hoopoe Found In The Olive Groves That Are Around The Small Town Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-perched-hoopoe-found-in-the-olive-groves-that-are-around-the-small-town-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-perched-hoopoe-found-in-the-olive-groves-that-are-around-the-small-town-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) The **Lesser Kestrels** were also impressive not just to photograph but to watch as well. The hide overlooks an old derelict farm building roof, so you are eye level with the birds. Thanks to the late Spring, there were **at least four pairs** of [Lesser Kestrels](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/lesser-kestrel/) nesting on the roof! As a result, the activity here was constant. Since they were still in mating season, we were lucky enough to capture some exceptional & close up images of the mating birds. [![A Lesser Kestrel Calls To Another On The Rooftop Of A Derelict Farm Building Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-lesser-kestrel-calls-to-another-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-lesser-kestrel-calls-to-another-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) [![A Pair Of Mating Lesser Kestrels On The Rooftop Of A Derelict Farm Building Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-pair-of-mating-lesser-kestrels-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-pair-of-mating-lesser-kestrels-on-the-rooftop-of-a-derelict-farm-building-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) The beautiful **Bee-eater** is another immensely popular species on this Spanish bird photography tour. Highly photogenic & lots of fun to watch & photograph. [![A European Bee Eate One Of Europes Most Colourful Birds Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-european-bee-eate-one-of-europes-most-colourful-birds-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-european-bee-eate-one-of-europes-most-colourful-birds-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) Bee-eaters feed mostly on stinging insects like bees & wasps although they are also partial to moths. It was fascinating to watch them remove the sting by rapidly rubbing them on their perch, then tossing & catching their prey into the air numerous times, just for fun! They eat around 250 insects each day, so there are plenty of opportunities to capture action shots. The cute, but **grumpy looking, Little Owl** is another firm favourite for photographers. Their charismatic nature makes them my favourite owl species. They are full of attitude but adorable at the same time, & one species that I never tire of photographing. [![A Little Owl On A Perch In An Orchard Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera 1](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-little-owl-on-a-perch-in-an-orchard-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera-1.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a-little-owl-on-a-perch-in-an-orchard-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera-1.jpg) I can’t wait to go back next year for more Spanish bird photography, although I do hope that it is warmer! [![One Of The Silhouetted Against The Sky With The Sierra De Gredos Mountain Range Behind Image Captured During The 2018 Spanish Bird Photography Holiday In Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-silhouetted-against-the-sky-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/one-of-the-silhouetted-against-the-sky-with-the-sierra-de-gredos-mountain-range-behind-image-captured-during-the-2018-spanish-bird-photography-holiday-in-calera.jpg) - NaturesLens wildlife photography holidays are structured around photographic opportunity — every schedule decision is made around light, behaviour, & access. - Small groups of 4–8 photographers ensure unhurried positions & individual guidance. - Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard across the majority of our trips. ## Share this post - - - - [![A Crouched Hoopoe Photographed During The Spanish Birdlife Of Toledo Photography Holiday 1](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/a-crouched-hoopoe-photographed-during-the-spanish-birdlife-of-toledo-photography-holiday-1.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/08/18/spanish-birdlife/) ### [12 images of the fabulous Spanish Birdlife & other Wildlife of El Taray](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/08/18/spanish-birdlife/) August 18, 2019 John's images of the Spanish birdlife & wildlife demonstrate that with the widespread of hides across the estate of El Taray,… - [![A Wild Iberian Lynx Resting On A Rocky Surface Header Photographed By Pui Hang Miles During The Natureslens Elusive Iberian Lynx During Summer Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/A-wild-iberian-lynx-resting-on-a-rocky-surface-header-photographed-by-Pui-Hang-Miles-during-the-NaturesLens-Elusive-Iberian-Lynx-during-Summer-Photography-Holiday-300x225.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/07/01/photographing-the-iberian-lynx/) ### [On Tour … Photographing the Iberian Lynx](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/07/01/photographing-the-iberian-lynx/) July 1, 2025 Read a captivating trip report from when Pui Hang was photographing the Iberian Lynx in Spain's Sierra Morena. Witness rare… - [![A European Tree Frog On A Reed Photographed During The Natureslens Reptiles Amphibians Of Bulgaria Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-european-tree-frog-on-a-reed-photographed-during-the-natureslens-reptiles-amphibians-of-bulgaria-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/08/tree-frogs-of-bulgaria/) ### [8 images of the fabulous Tree Frogs of Bulgaria](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/09/08/tree-frogs-of-bulgaria/) September 8, 2019 The European tree frog (Hyla Arborea) has to be among the most adorable of all the Tree Frogs of Bulgaria… Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. 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