From 8 - 13 June 2024, I spent 6 days in the Extremadura to look for birds and other wildlife. My last visit to this area was in May 2012.
Just like then, I spent the night at 2 different locations: Casa Rural Las Canteras near Trujillo and at Hospederia Parque de Monfragüe near Monfragüe National Park.

Below are the locations that I visited.

Extremadura Birding Hotspots

Driving west from Madrid

1. Arenales del Baldío y Cerró del Molino de Velada (Parking near the pond; GPS: 40.006875, -4.994007)
Little known area between Gredos and the Tagus River. 
Target Birds: Bijeneter, Iberische Klapekster and the steppe and raptor birds, including colonies of kites in the groves and streams and abundant nests of different species of birds.

2. Embalse de Navalcán (Parking: GPS: 40.044764, -5.147819
A reservoir surrounded by Mediterranean forest. Well preserved and little known. Great place with great views. 
Target Birds: Monniksgier, Spaanse Keizerarend and other raptors.

3. Embalse de Arrocampo – Saucedilla (Parking/Visitor Center: GPS: 39.848684, -5.676973)
This is a large artificial marshland, created to cool of the water used by the nuclear power plant before flowing back into the Tagus. The water is surrounded by bulrush vegetation and the warm water supports a rich feeding ground for many sought after and truly magnificent species, most notably, the Purperkoet. Also a range of amphibians, reptiles and mammals (most notably Egyptian Mongoose). Near the village of Saucedilla a series of bird hides gives excellent views of the birds:
Bird hide 1: GPS: 39.848309, -5.678481
Bird hide 2: GPS: 39.843268, -5.683587
Bird hide 3: GPS: 39.837998, -5.684206
Bird hide 4: GPS: 39.838449, -5.675222

The best spot for Purperkoet is the corner of the first birdwatching hide (near the visitors center). 
Target Birds: Purperkoet, Purperreiger, Kwak, Woudaap, Hop, Ralreiger, Kleine Zilverreiger, Bruine Kiekendief and Slangenarend.

At the Southern edge of the village of Saucedilla, near the football pitch, there is a small Visitor Center (next to the parking spot: GPS: 39.848703, -5.676850) where you can get the keys to the 4 hides overlooking the marshland, be advised though, the center has rather strange opening hours, so check the internet carefully. The trail towards the hides starts just next to the Visitors Center. You can also drive by car to all hides if you want to. A bit further way, West to the Reservoir, there are bird hide 5 (GPS: 39.852225, -5.705346) and bird hide 6 (GPS: 39.836104, -5.713037) that are worth checking out.

4. Almaraz Reservoir (Parking: GPS: 39.814382,-5.688659)
Parque Periurbano Almaraz is on the outskirts of the town of Almaraz and borders on the one hand with the Arrocampo reservoir and on the other it is a meadow of holm oaks, so you can see typical birds of humid areas and on the other hand of dehesa habitat. The area can be overgrown and neglected. 
Target Birds: Meerkoet, Aalscholver, Kleine Zilverreiger, Grote Zilverreiger, Ralreiger, Purperreiger, Woudaap, Dodaars, Waterhoen, Lepelaar, Visarend, Fuut, Purperkoet, Grijze Wouw and Bijeneter.

Trujillo Area

5. Bélen plains (Start of dirt road near Bélen: GPS: 39.485855, -5.834221)
Nice steppe area to be discovered from a dirt road between Bélen and Aldeacentenera. Best place to find Bustards is at the beginning of this road, when you are quite close to Belen. Look carefully into the fields on the East side of the road.
Target Birds: Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Corn bunting, White Storks, Southern Grey Shrike, Kestrel and Lesser Kestrel, Little Owl, Great and Little Bustards, Sandgrouse, Spotless starling, Spanish sparrow and Hoopoe.

6. Embalse de Alcollarín (Parking: GPS: 39.253181,-5.741695 & 39.266784,-5.736979)
South-East of Trujillo. The Alcollarín Dam was built on the bed of the Alcollarín River and is situated in an area of dehesa. Most interesting is the shallow northeastern end of the reservoir, but the whole length of the reservoir is interesting. Halfway the reservoir is a viewpoint which offers a beautiful view across the whole reservoir. From there a dirt road runs to the most interesting part. There you will find a pool held back by a small weir, surrounded by dehesa. The dead trees that still stand in the water are used as resting and nesting trees. Alcollarín is a superb site that, itself, is worthy of a full day’s visit. It water surface is almost always coated with hundreds, sometimes thousands of ducks, plus plentiful Great Crested and Little Grebes. The shoreline could harbour Black Storks, Spoonbills, Great and Little Egrets and waders like Wood Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilts. Its hinterland is good for Thekla’s and Crested Larks, Hoopoe and Woodchat Shrikes.
Target Birds: Lachstern, Vorkstaartplevier, Roodstuitzwaluw, IJsvogel, Lepelaar, Kleine Zilverreiger, Grote Karekiet, Kleine Torenvalk, Wielewaal, Steltkluut

7. Embalse de la Albuera
Driving from Trujillo south towards La Cumbre, you will pass a small pond (Embalse de la Albuera) that is worth checking for birds (GPS: 39.445159, -5.895646).

8. Trujillo (Plaza Mayor: GPS: 39.460473, -5.881442)
In the heart of Extremadura is Trujillo with one of the finest main squares in Spain, an imposing Moorish fort (GPS: 39.462488, -5.883470) build atop a massive granite outcrop and medieval palaces. Lovely town with nesting White Stork, Lesser Kestrel, Alpine Swifts and Pallid Swifts.

Cáceres Area

9. Cáceres Plains
South-West of Santa Marta de Magasca. Los llanos de Cáceres, or the steppes of Cáceres, is a large steppe area and one of the best places for steppe birds in Extremadura. A rural road runs across the steppes from which a large part of the steppes can be overlooked. These steppes consist entirely of grassland. There is no agriculture. You can go to the bird hide of La Pulgosa (GPS: 39.477523, -6.193474), but actually you can stop at many points along this dirt road. The dirt road can be driven with a normal car. Parking can be done easy all along the dirt road.
Target Birds: Grote Trap, Kleine Trap, Witbuikzandhoen, Zwartbuikzandhoen, Kuif, Kalander, Thekla en Kortteenleeuweriken, Kwartel, Rode Patrijs, Kuifkoekoek, Hop, Scharrelaar, Steenuil, Griel, Scharrelaar, Zwarte Spreeuw. But also a very good area for raptors like Monniksgier, Vale Gier, Slangenarend, Dwergarend, Spaanse Keizerarend, Steenarend, Bruine Kiekendief, Grauwe Kiekendief, Rode Wouw, Zwarte Wouw, Kleine Torenvalk. 

10. Embalse del Guadiloba (GPS: 39.490816, -6.295138)
Just East of Caceres lies this a large reservoir in the Plains of Cáceres. There is usually not too much to see on the water itself other than a few Coots and Mallards. The shoreline should have waders like Little Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpipers. In the scrub around the reservoir you may see Great Spotted Cuckoos but certainly Crested and Thekla’s Larks plus plentiful Hoopoe, Corn Buntings, Iberian Magpies and Iberian Shrike. In the surrounding steppes you could be hopeful for both bustard species, both sandgrouse, Calandra Larks, possible Tawny Pipit, Little Owl and migrants.

11. Embalse de Valdesalor (North side: GPS: 39.362393, -6.293979 & 39.362434, -6.290502)
This is a large reservoir South of Caceres. Be looking out for waders along its northern shores. 
Target Birds: Spoonbill, White Stork, Black-winged Stilt, Dunlin and other waders. In 2023, the site played host to a vagrant Pectoral Sandpiper.

12. Embalse de Talavan (Bird hide: GPS: 39.672446, -6.297304)
25 km North of Caceres. The Talaván reservoir is a relatively small reservoir. An observation hut has been placed along the road from which a reed field can be viewed. To the left of this observation hut is a path where the back of the lake (GPS: 39.668043, -6.309136) can be reached.

13. Garganta del Fraile
The Garganta del Fraile is located next to the Monfragüe National Park, East of the town of Serradilla. In principle, all bird species can be seen here that can also be seen at Peñafalcon, but the big advantage here is that almost no one knows this place and it is therefore very quiet. There is a viewpoint / picnic area (GPS: 39.828032, -6.102142). Best option is to continue driving down the  path by car. You first pass a beautiful bridge and eventually you come to the waterfall in the gorge (GPS: 39.835885, -6.100232). When there is sufficient water, this place is very attractive to birds.

Monfrague NP

14. Villarreal de San Carlos (GPS: 39.847449, -6.029787)
Villarreal de San Carlos is the only village in the Monfragüe National Park. It is actually a large square with one street lined with about 20 houses, most of which serve the information center of the Monfragüe National Park. The small tourist office is on the corner, which is not much, but they do have the free map of the area. It is available in several languages. This map is a MUST! From this village you can take several beautiful walks. The green trail is said by many to be one of the most beautiful walks in the area. The yellow one is also recommended!

15. Salto del Gitano (Parking: GPS: 39.827542, -6.057644)
A huge rockface carved out by the river Tagus. A large observation platform allows for great views. The most reliable place in the park for the endangered Zwarte Ooievaar, of which 3-5 pairs breed every year; look for their nest just above the water line and in the big crevice in the center of the rock face. In June, check for the other speciality here – the very scarce White-rumped Swift (Kaffergierzwaluw) – as they then have returned from Africa.
Target Birds: Monniksgier, Vale Gier, Aasgier, Oehoe, Zwarte Ooievaar, Slechtvalk, Slangenarend, Dwergarend, Havikarend, Steenarend, Blauwe Rotslijster, Grijze Gors, Thekla Lark.

16. Portillo del Tietar (Parking: GPS: 39.857508, -5.958511)
This is the best spot for the emblemic species of Monfragüe National Park such as Spaanse Keizerarend and Monniksgier. But Rotskruiper and Oehoe are also very well possible. You can leave your car by the side of the road on a clearing just 100 meters past the mirador. Tight spot though.

Car Drive Monfragüe NP (Route 1 in Crossbill Guide Extremadura)

17. Start at Hospederia Parque de Monfragüe (GPS: 39.780962, -6.015502)

18. Arroyo de la Vid Stream
Driving from Torrejon el Rubio towards Monfragüe, you drive through fine Holm Oak dehesas. Half way, park here (GPS: 39.804823, -6.025534) to check out the stream and puddles next to the road for Terrapins, Viperine Snakes and amphibians.

19. Rio Tajo Bridge (Parking: GPS: 39.829686, -6.035908)
Park here and check out the area, including the bridge and the water below.

20. Mirador de la Tajadilla (Parking: GPS: 39.838642, -5.995324)
Viewpoint before the dam in the Tiétar River. It overlooks a small Griffon Vulture colony.

21. Mirador Malavuelta
On 4 May 2012, I found a quite tame Red Fox lying on the road here (GPS: 39.836966, -5.989238). I spend 15 minutes with it and made a nice video.

22. Portillo del Tietar (Parking: GPS: 39.857508, -5.958511)
See nr. 16 above.

23. Almaraz Reservoir (Parking: GPS: 39.814382,-5.688659)
See nr. 4 above.

24. Embalse de Arrocampo – Info Center (GPS: 39.848703, -5.676850)
Pick up the key for the 4 bird hides. See nr. 3 above.

25. Orchid Route Almaraz (GPS: 39.806680, -5.667970)
Take this dirt track and follow the signs for the orchid route. There are tall herbs here with some 11 species of orchids.

26. Route to Jaraicejo (GPS: 39.754455, -5.738521)
Follow this nice parallel road to the A5 towards the town of Jaraicejo. Go to the old Jaraicejo Bridge (GPS: 39.646139, -5.818454) which is a good spot to find birds and butterflies.

27. Chapel Ermita de Santa Maria (GPS: 39.684529, -5.865619)
Park the car here to explore the surrounding dehesa.

28. Return at Hospederia Parque de Monfragüe (GPS: 39.780962, -6.015502)

Accommodation

1. Casa Rural Las Canteras (Euro 79 p.n. ex. breakfast ) (GPS: 39.534512, -5.934123)
Casa Rural Las Canteras is located in the Extremadura countryside, 10 km outside the town of Trujillo, in a birdwatching reserve. The natural environment in which it is located is amazing, with absolute tranquility and amazing hosts. Las Canteras Casa Rural has its own restaurant which serves typical regional dishes such as lamb stew, tomato soup and Iberian ham. But it is expensive (25 euro for simple meal). Breakfast (all though cheap) is very, very basic. The place is a little run down.

Nice bird tour: Leaving Casa Rural, turn left towards the town of Monroy and Embalse de Talaván (hotspot nr 12), via some interesting birding spots (GPS: 39.562135, -5.983796).
You may turn off to go towards the town of Santa Marta de Magasca, but stop here first to scan the area (GPS: 39.551981, -6.050058).

2. Hospederia Parque de Monfragüe (Euro 79,50 p.n. incl. breakfast) (GPS: 39.780962, -6.015502)
Location is perfect near Monfraguë NP. However, the hotel is a little run down but the restaurant food is ok. Wifi is horrible.