The Belen Plains is reached by Taking the old N-V road towards the K.250 junction of the “new” N-V (E-90) and turning right onto the small road signposed “ Belen” c.250m. Follow this to the village and wind your way through it ( towards Torrecillas de la Tiesa) . Very shortly after leaving the built-up area, the road drops down giving views ahead to the steppe. Stop after 2.6 km. At the entrance to the track leading off right and scan the scrubby hillsides, especially to the right; in Spring White Stork and Little Owl are often seen on buildings, while this is an excellent spot for Great Spotted Cuckoo, Often located by their raucous flight calls. Kestrel, Hoopoe, Bee-eater , Thekla Lark, Sardinian Warbler and Woodchat Shrike are frequent here, Roller is occasionally present, while large flocks of Spanish Sparrow often fly over from a breeding colony present to the south.

Continuing anther c.0.2 km a track crosses the road with a small barn beside it to the left. Walking (either way) along these tracks gives the first clear views over the steppe, and regular careful stopping and scanning from the road then drops down into open steppe, and little Bustard is often present closeby. Montagu´s Harrier, Red. Legged Partridge and Quail can often be found in spring. The road then drops down into open steppe, and regular careful stopping and scanning from the road becomes the main means of locating and watching birds . in Sspring, Great and Little Bustards, Montagu´s Harrier, Red-legged Partridge, Quail, Stone-Curlew and Calandra And Crested Lark are usually present in the open areas, while rocky patches should be checked for Black-eared Wheatear and Rock Sparow , and where the road crosses stream lines, Red-rumped Swallows nest in the culverts . Seemingly bare ploughed areas should be checked as they are attractive to small numbers of Short-toed Lark . Migrants here can include Wheatear and Whinchat . Apart from Montagu´s Harrier which can be seen throughout, numerous raptors are often seen searching the plains including Black and Griffon Vultures, Red and Black Kites, Kestrel , Buzzard and few short-toed and Booted Eagles and Lesser Kestrel. In winter, the resident species are still present, though often more difficult to locate, while Hen Harrier is frequent.

Despite the very large area, 30+ Great Bustard are regularly seen from the length of this road, and often close to it. They are frequent on the northern side in the shallow but wide valley from c.4-8 km after Belen . A wide track which crosses the road 7.3 km after the village is readily accessed ( care in winter/wet weather) and gives good views out over the steppe away from the road. Homewer, it may be necessary to continue to the end of the road (c.12 km) and also search the steppe visible from Torrecillas de la Tiesa-Aldeacentenera road, or tracks running off from this. Finally, although Black-bellied Sandgrouse at present seems to give a reasonable chance of finding them here.