The Plains Of Petrola

Pétrola is located in the Castilla La Mancha Region in central Spain. The town is about 140 kilometres and a one hour drive from Alicante. The area around the town consists of miles of plains, occasionally punctuated by a small hill or a farm building. Large wind farms are now much in evidence, largely replacing the more traditional windmills which used to be here. The fields around the village of Corral Rubio are visited at all seasons by Great Bustards, Black bellied and Pin tailed Sand Grouse, and numerous other bird species can be found in the area, such as, Lapwing, Linnet and Calandra Lark.

Near the town of Pétrola there is a lagoon which in winter may attract waterbirds, such as, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail, Mallard, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, and Pochard. A selection of raptors are often in attendance, including Buzzard, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier.

To visit the area, leave the A7 motorway at the junction for Albacete and Madrid. Stay on this road past Almansa until you reach the turn off for the town of Bonete. Leave the motorway here and follow signs towards the small village of Corral Rubio. Pass through the village and into the countryside taking any amount of unmade roads across the plains, always assuming the weather has been dry, where you should check the fields for Great Bustards. Follow signs for Pétrola to visit the lagoon.