A large area of variable steppe No fo Cáceres . Most of the interest lies along the Ex-390 road north of the Río Almonte bridge as far as its junction with the road north of Monroy and especially the roads which lead from this and between the villages of Santiago del Campo, Hinojal and Talavan . Acess is along the EX-390 from either Cáceres or Torrejón el Rubio.
Leave the N-521 on the edge odf Cáceres along the road signposted “ EX-390 Torrejón el Rubio “. Follow this for 15.5 km ( passing the end o of the Santa Marta de magasca route) until it reaches the bridge over the Río Almonte, and park just before the bridge (1). Walking along any of the various tracks here allows views over the river and of the bridge and both up- and down-stream should be checked. Black Stork and Egyptian Vulture are regular in addition to commoner raptors, while the river has Kingfisher, and on passage Common and Green Sandpipers. The bridge houses about 6 pairs of Alpine Swift, and Crag martin and red-rumped Swallow also breed, while the rocky banks have Thekla Lark, Black Wheatear , Blue Rock Thrush and occasional Rock Soparrow, and the scrub a range of typical species including Sardinian Warbler, Rock and Cirl Bunting and and Serin . Bee-eater often feeds along the river.
Continue uo out of the valley, and the road passes through a long stretch of overgrazed steppe with abundant “ broom” scrub, where little is of note, except the occasional raptor. After 19.2 km, take the turning to the left signposted “ Santiago del campo”. This continue through the same type of scrub but shortly clears into mixed open steppe (2). Anywhere from here for the next 5 km , Great and little Bustards, Pintailed and and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, and Stone-curlew in particular can occur, though are usually few in number. Montagu´s Harrier is occasional and Calandra and Short-toed Larks common in spring.
Enter S.del Campo, and bear right at the obvious junction , which leads out of the town after 0.8 km towards Hinojal. 0.4 km after leaving the houses, an obvious pool is present in winter while in spring, the Eucalyptus trees at the back house a Spanish Sparrow colony.
The road continues into open steppe and 1.5 km after the village (4) ( by stone marker for k 7), an excellent views is had of the Steppes to the N and E. Stop and scan for open steppe species, and this area is especially good for Great and Little Bustards in winter, and Calandra Lark year-round. Keep scanning, even where the habitat changes to rougher and rockier Lavender-dominated areas after 3.7 km. This is good for Booted Eagle and Montagu´s Harrier in spring, and Spanish Sparrow is frequent. Denser patches of low scrub, especially down by the Arroyo de Talaván ahead(5), should be checked for Spectacled Warbler, while Thekla Lark is common and Kingfisher breeds.

The road passes through more steppe, but with stone-walled fields appearing closer to Hinojal, where Black-eared Wheatear is regular. A possible “ side track” to check more steppe is found 7.8 km after S. del Campo, where a turning to the left along the road leads after 8.8 km to a junction at k 552.9 of the E-803/N-630 . Most of this road is basically dead straight, with the vegetation getting gradually rougher, ranker and scrubbier to the west. Steppe areas can hold all of the typical species mentioned above, plus Quail in the few arable fields present, while the last 1.7 km winds down through taller scrub where Thekla Lark and Bee-eater are frequent in spring, and Spectacled Warbler may be present.Take care as turning round at the junction at the end can be very difficult.
Continuing to Hinojal, turn right on the edge of the village towards “ Talavan” . This road is a little more varied , passing through steppe, then dehesa, where Bee-eater, Southern Grey and Woodchat Shrikes are notable, then out along a stream valley with light scrub cover. C.6 km after Hinojal (6) open areas can produce Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel and sometimes Roller, while Talaván is reached shortly ahead. At he end of the road, turn right and follow this out to more steppe. A small reservoir off to the left after c.1.5 km (7) should be checked for Little Grebe, duck, including Gadwall and waders along it edges, and Great Spotted Cuckoo sometimes occurs here, and open steppe species often occur, including Montagu´s Harrier, Little Bustards and Calandra lark.

The road gradually drops down to cross the end of the Embalse de Talaván at c.4.5 km, where it is best to park on the short section of old road accessible to the right(8). Varying water levels move birds around, but large numbers of wildfowl, including Great Crested, Little and Occasional Black-necked Grebes, Gadwall, and in winter Greylag Goose, Teal and Shoveler concentrate here. A few waders may be present, including breeding Little Ringed Plover, while migrants can include Sedge and reed Warblers in the bulrush and clubrush beds, and Zitting Cisticola along the rougher edges. Black-winged Kite often winters in this area, at which time Red Kite roosts in a clump of Eucalyptus up to the left, and this same group of trees houses a Spanish Sparrow colony.

The road then continues through steppe and arable fields until after c.7 km it reaches the EX-390 (9) Stopping here gives good views over surrounding fields and steppe , and large flocks of Spanish Sparrows are usually present, while Great Bustards is frequent in winter/early spring. Turning right here leads back towards Cáceres and the S.del Campo turn, and gives more views over surrounding steppe when possible to stop, while left leads towards Torrejón el Rubio, heads into progressively more dehesa, and after 6.2 km reaches the end of the road running north from Monroy.