(post 1 of 8)

LOGISTICS
I photographed Iberian lynx and you can too. Trip was late February to early March, 2024 (flying is bad these days and I got home a day late). In September 2010 my brother and I saw a wild lynx before dawn, resulting in a blurry photo. In April 2013 I got clear photos of captive lynx at Zoobotanico Jerez. Now I want clear photos of wild lynx.

I use the guide services of Iberianlynxland.com for two days. Fee is 300 euros per day, paid in cash when we meet. Days consist of guide driving me for four hours in morning search on a road where lynx are often seen, then an hour and a half lunch break at the hotel. Afternoon is a five hour session in a hide on private land which I drive to myself (you will need a rental car). Location is Sierra de Andujar, the mountains above the town of Andujar (where I gas up and pick up a few groceries at Carrefour).

(post 2 of 8)

HOTEL
I stay three nights in La Caracola guest house. When I was here with my brother we stayed at Los Piños hotel, on the main highway in front of the dirt road to La Caracola. At that time staff were smoking in the check-in gift shop and guests were smoking in the restaurant and our room smelled of smoke, which is why I do not return. However, I learn on this trip they no longer allow smoking in main buildings (but possibly still in rooms). A better option in the future might be to stay at Gato Clavo hotel, which is where the hides are.

(post 3 of 8)

NATIONAL PARK
First afternoon on my own I head up the road and turn off into Sierra de Andujar National Park. A dirt road parallels a river for a couple kilometers before ending at a bridge by a dam (where my brother and I had our lynx sighting). Great cormorants perch in a tree and troll the river for fish. On a boulder above the river I am surprised to find a smooth snake out in winter. A German visitor on the bridge had seen a European otter where the road starts, but I stop on my way out and do not see it. On my final morning I return briefly and a gray heron flies over the river.

(post 4 of 8)

MORNING LYNX SEARCH
On both mornings my guide Tomás takes me up a road where lynx spotters and guides congregate. (If a guide sees one they notify him by phone and vice versa). Thanks to other spotters we see one both days, but they are heading downslope away from us. First sighting on first day I get a decent profile shot before it heads off. If you just want to say you saw a wild Iberian lynx this works, but if you want good photos, ops are limited. On the second morning we also stop at a set of boulders where no lynx appears but I get photos of little owl and red legged partridge. As we drive we see red deer from the road. (When my brother and I were here we also saw fallow deer).

(post 5 of 8)

HIDE SETUP
The hides are on the grounds of a small hotel called Gato Clavo. No one is staying on my visit, possibly because the building by the hides is still under construction. A stone structure will house restrooms and a more permanent hide setup (completion May 2024?). The natural area in front of the hides has boulders surrounding an artificial but natural looking waterhole. Once complete, I would assume hotel guests can book the hide as a package deal? If so, this will be the place to photograph lynx. If you plan a trip, I would suggest between three and five days in the hide; winter offers the best chance of seeing lynx during the day. I see none second day, but have three excellent sightings first day.

(post 6 of 8)

STORKS AND RAPTORS
I leave for two days of architecture in Toledo followed by two days in Segovia, but get a nice wildlife surprise. White storks nest on the rooftops of Segovia, including across from my hotel (Aurea Convento Capuchinos). My room overlooks a river valley where storks fly across with nesting material. I can sit with the camera pointing out my balcony and catch them in flight. As a bonus I get shots of imperial eagle and cinereous vulture.

(post 7 of 8)

SPANISH IBEX
I leave Segovia, cross a beautiful snowy summit, and go to the base of the other side. An uphill road in the small town of Manzanares el Real ends at a trailhead for a boulder-strewn slope known as La Pedriza, an ibex hotspot. Local hikers (I speak Spanish) show me a rough uphill trail that is best for ibex (the main trail stays lower). At first I don’t see any but then spot movement high up as they are heading down. Eventually they are at eye level and some are close enough I have to zoom my 180-600 back to the middle and shorter end. Harsh sunlight is less than ideal, but at end of day some clouds briefly appear for soft light.

(post 8 of 8)

CONCLUSION
This is my eighth time in Europe, but my first time doing a dedicated wildlife portion (other than the brief couple days here with my brother). I love European architecture, but I am now kind of hooked and may seek a wildlife specific trip for my next overseas adventure. Pumas of Chile or leopards of Zambia or... (if I can ever afford it).

MrFotoFool said:

(post 2 of 8)

HOTEL
I stay three nights in La Caracola guest house. When I was here with my brother we stayed at Los Piños hotel, on the main highway in front of the dirt road to La Caracola. At that time staff were smoking in the check-in gift shop and guests were smoking in the restaurant and our room smelled of smoke, which is why I do not return. However, I learn on this trip they no longer allow smoking in main buildings (but possibly still in rooms). A better option in the future might be to stay at Gato Clavo hotel, which is where the hides are.

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Love the tiles in the room! good looking place, I think.

Nice set. Of all the pics, I think I like the lone ibex shot the most.

Fred, this is such a cool recap of your trip, thank you for putting it together! The lynx images are awesome, and your narrative and photos has us almost along for the trip with you. I thoroughly enjoyed the posts, and appreciate your sharing your adventure with us.

Can't wait to see where you go next. Hopefully you'll post a similar recap on future trips!

Great post of your trip! Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you had a good trip. I love the lynx photos! What a great experience. I hope you can do another...we only live once!

Fred, enjoyed the romp through your trip. LOVE the lynx on the rock looking back over his shoulder!!

Interesting series of posts. TFS

Very nice group of shots!

Hello Fred , Very nice looking photo's you uploaded , I really like the story recap of events , makes it very interesting.
My favorite is the lynx ( personal selfishness on my part lol )