Before starting the route, birdwatching enthusiasts are recommended to make a stop next to the Charco de la Virgen, a small water reservoir located to the right of the road before reaching the bridge ... (plus +)

Before starting the route, birdwatching enthusiasts are recommended to make a stop next to the Charco de la Virgen, a small water reservoir located to the right of the road before reaching the bridge and the start of the route, where you can see little grebe and great cormorant in winter. The Carrión bridge itself is very suitable for observing common swift and all kinds of swallows, as well as bee-eaters and occasionally otters. Once the route has started, we must cross a farm and at the end of its facilities, we turn to the right following a path that takes us closer to the Gévora River. We will walk parallel to the river with holm oak pastureland to our left and typical riverside vegetation formed by ash trees, willows, alders, and reeds to the right. It constitutes a transit area between these two habitats with a great ornithological richness, with species such as the azure-winged magpie, the hoopoe, the jay, the blackbird, various warblers, the woodchat shrike, the stonechat, the red-legged partridge, etc. We cross several tributary streams of the main river. In one of them, the force of the water during the rainy season has created a series of slopes on the bank where a large colony of bee-eaters, colorful birds that excavate their nests in the earth walls, has settled. We pass by a large holm oak that contrasts with the youth of the rest of the specimens in the surrounding pastureland. Gradually, the pastureland becomes clearer, giving way to more open areas covered with grassland dotted with broom and isolated holm oaks, where sheep are the predominant livestock. The black-shouldered kite, a small raptor with unsettling red eyes, scans the landscape in search of mice and voles from its vantage point. We arrive at the La Herradura Mill. Turning to the right, among oleanders, broom, and oleanders, we reach the river next to a small dam and fish ladder. This area is a regular hunting ground for the grey heron, and other typical riverside species can be seen, such as the kingfisher, the white and grey wagtail, the dunnock, the sedge warbler, the common and barred warbler, the common nightingale, and the nightingale. The waters of the Gévora in this stretch have suffered a significant loss of native and scarce fish species, mainly due to the introduction of very voracious non-native species such as the sunfish, black bass, catfish, or gambusia; although barbel, loaches, and spirlins can still be observed. Among the pebbles on the bank, we can find shells of a large naiad (erroneously called freshwater mussel) that can reach up to 15 cm in length. Returning to the main path, we pass by another mill, built with stone and adobe; shortly after, the path turns to the left and after crossing a cattle grid, it moves away from the main channel following the course of the Landrua stream, which we will soon cross. These streams are subject to severe drought, completely drying up in summer; they are covered by extensive areas of reed, tamarisks, hawthorns, brambles, wild roses, and oleanders, species adapted to these extreme conditions and which constitute important corridors and refuge areas for the valley's fauna such as badgers, foxes, stone martens, or beech martens. Among the birds, many of those already mentioned can be found, as well as others such as the European turtle dove, the common cuckoo, the European nightjar, the lesser spotted woodpecker, the wryneck, the common chiffchaff, the corn bunting, the European serin, and all kinds of finches. The path ascends through a young regenerating pastureland. From the highest point, after passing the Masala Chavera farmhouse, we can enjoy a splendid panoramic view of our entire surroundings: the Sierra de La Caraba and the castle of Alburquerque to the north and large expanses of pastureland, among which stands out a reforestation of stone pine to the northwest. After the farmhouse, the path descends a slope covered with holm oaks accompanied by intensely scented plants such as rockrose, lavender, myrtle, and rue. During the route, various birds of prey fly over us, such as the sparrowhawk, the black and red kites, the lesser spotted eagle, the common buzzard, the short-toed snake eagle, the golden eagle, the Egyptian vulture, the griffon vulture, and even some black vultures, coming from the Sierra de San Pedro. With a turn in the path to the right, we approach a reforestation of stone pines, and after crossing the Monte Oscuro stream covered by oleanders and thick brambles, we continue along the lower path to the right that runs between the pines and the stream. Accompanied by the pleasant smell of the pines and by birds such as the short-toed treecreeper, the Eurasian blue tit, the crested tit, the firecrest, and the Eurasian wryneck, we reach the Gévora River again. The riverside vegetation is in the process of regeneration after eliminating the existing eucalyptus, favoring species such as ash and willow in order to recover the gallery forest. The stumps of the cut trees are excellent perches for different birds. Among the fauna, highlights include the kingfisher, the wagtails, the little egret, the grey heron, the corn bunting, the common and spotted sandpipers, the little ringed plover, and the European pond turtles. During the cold months, in the different sections of the route, we can enjoy wintering bird species such as the red kite, the common chiffchaff, the blackcap, the northern lapwing, the common snipe, the red-legged partridge, the great cormorant, the stock dove, the linnet, and the common linnet. We pass the Las Tres Esquinas Mill and a fence that we must remember to close after our passage because there is cattle. Shortly after, we begin to ascend a slope covered with young holm oaks and dense scrub, mostly composed of Cistus ladanifer. Arriving at the highest point of the path, we will have splendid views over the course of the Gévora in the bottom of the valley and of the Riscos de Higüela, impressive rocky cliffs that flank the passage of the river and on which a large colony of white storks has built their nests, which, thanks to the annual contribution of twigs, reach a considerable size and weight. Before reaching the Paiva farmhouse, we descend towards a stream, cross it, and ascend again towards Los Riscos. We can end the route at the foot of the rock formations where it is possible to observe birds such as the black wheatear, the thekla lark, the rock bunting, or the black redstart. The gaps and ledges offered by the rock are nesting places for our largest nocturnal bird of prey, the Eurasian eagle-owl, and also for the common kestrel. There is the possibility of crossing to the other side of Los Riscos following the path and crossing a pig farm until reaching the Los Conejeros track.
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