And so starts spring ...very slowly! Sub-zero temperatures throughout the month, snow lingering right through. Highlights of the month, a territorial Pygmy Owl in song, a Camberwell Beauty still slumbering in hibernation and, on a mini-break to Spain, multiple delights including Iberian Lynx, Great and Little Bustards and Great Spotted Cuckoo. No migrants of note till the final week, the doors then opening, flocks of Smew, Cranes and assorted others then trickling in.

A whirlwind tour of central Spain, reaquainting with Iberian Lynx before heading over to Extremadura for delights on the plains.

My second trip to Andujar in less than a year, the quest was two-fold, to seek out the enigmatic Iberian Lynx again, and taking advantage of the time of year, to look for Stripeless Tree Frogs and other amphibians. With these conquered, the plan was then to head over to the grasslands north of Trujillo for bustards, sandgrouse and other specialities such as Great Spotted Cuckoo.