BIRDWATCHING.FUENTEDEPIEDRA NATURAL RESERVE. MALAGA ( SPAIN)

The Natural Reserve of Laguna de Fuente de Piedra is a wetland located in the region of Andalucia, in Antequera (Spain). The town of Fuente de Piedra, a small town that still lives near the margin of the lagoon, as part of exceptional site and seeing the thousands of tourists visit each year. Years ago, I pass by here and never seen so much water collects in the month of August. This wetland is endorreical site, is supplied through rainfall, runoff and groundwater. So many times we find it dry. But this summer has not happened.

In its basin are deposited salt and gypsum which makes it a salt lake. This salt has been exploited for hundreds of years. That is why in this natural environment many birds nest. In 1983, the lagoon was declared a Ramsar site, and in 1988, a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA).

It houses the largest colony of flamingo (Phoenicopteus ruber roseus) from the Iberian Peninsula and the second largest in Europe. Can be observed during the nesting period this year has stretched enough as it can still be seen by hundreds in the lagoon. A journey of about 4.5 km from the interpretation center close to all the different viewpoints from where you can see also other birds like black-headed gulls, the snowy plover, stilt, avocet. This observation could also see curlew.

I guarantee that if they go with the family will enjoy a lot. If they do when the sun begins to decline may also see one of the most beautiful Andalusian olive groves and reeds when the sky turns orange. These on some of the species that can be seen in the lagoon:

Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Carricero tordal)
Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Carricero común)
Actitis hypoleucos (Andarríos Chico)
Alauda arvensis (Alondra común)
Anas acuta (Anade rabudo)
Anas clypeata (Pato cuchara)
Anas crecca (cerceta común)
Anas penelope (Silbón europeo)
Anas platyrhynchos (Anade azulón)
Anas querquedula (Cerceta carretona)
Anas strepera (Anade friso)
Arenaria interpres (Vuelvepiedras)
Ardea cinerea (Garza real)
Aythia ferina (Porrón europeo)
Burhinus oedicnemus (Alcaraván común)
Buteo buteo (Ratonero)
Calandrella brachydactyla (Terrera común)
Calidris alba Correlimos tridactilo
Calidris alpina (Correlimos común)
Calidris canutus Correlimos gordo
Calidris ferruginea (Correlimos zarapitín)
Calidris minuta (Correlimos menudo)
Calidris temminckii (Correlimos de Temminck)
Calidris fuscicollis (Correlimos culiblanco)
Carduelis carduelis (Jilguero)
Cettia cetti (Ruiseñor bastardo)
Charadrius alexandrinus (Chorlitejo Patinegro)
Charadrius dubius (Chorlitejo chico)
Charadrius hiaticula (Chorlitejo grande)
Chlidonias niger (Fumarel común)
Ciconia ciconia (Cigueña común)

Circus aeruginosus (Aguilucho lagunero)
Circus cyaneus (Aguilucho pálido)
Circus pygargus (Aguilucho cenizo)
Corvus corax (Cuervo)
Emberiza schoeniclus (Escribano palustre)
Falco naumanni (Cernícalo primilla)
Falco tinnuculus (Cernícalo vulgar)
Fulica atra (Focha común)
Gallinago gallinago (Agachadiza común)
Gallinula chloropus (Polla de agua)
Gelochelidon nilotica (Pagaza piconegra)
Glareola pratincola (Canastera)
Grus grus (Grulla)
Hieraetus fasciatus (Aguila Perdicera)
Himantopus himantopus (Cigüeñuela común)
Hippolais opaca (Zarcero pálido)
Lanius meridionalis (Alcaudón real meridional)
Larus fuscus (Gaviota sombría)
Larus ridibundus (Gaviota reidora)
Limosa limosa (Aguja colinegra)
Limosa lapponica (Aguja colipinta)
Luscinia megarhynchos (Ruiseñor común)
Lymnocryptes minimus (Agachadiza chica)
Melanocorypha calandra (calandria común)
Miliaria calandra (Triguero)
Motacilla flava (Lavandera boyera)
Netta rufina (Pato colorado)
Numenius phaeopus (Zarapito trinador)
Numenius arquata (Zarapito real)
Oxyura leucocephala (Malvasía cabeciblanca)
Philomachus pugnax (Combatiente)
Phoenicopterus ruber (Flamenco)
Phoenicopterus minor (Flamenco enano)
Pluvialis apricaria (Chorlito dorado)
Pluvialis squatarola (Chorlito gris)
Podiceps nigricollis (Zampullín cuellinegro)
Porphyrio porphyrio (Calamón)
Recurvirostra avosetta (Avoceta Común)
Silvia conspicillata (Curruca tomillera)
Sterna sandvicensis (Charrán patinegro)
Tadorna tadorna (Tarro blanco)
Tetrax tetrax (Sisón común)
Tringa nebularia (Archibebe claro)
Tringa glareola (Andarríos Bastardo)
Tringa ochropus (Andarríos grande)
Tringa totanus (Archibebe Común)
Vanellus vanellus (Avefría europea)

BIRDWATCHING. ROCINA PEDERESTRIAN PATH IN DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK (SPAIN)

While throughout the year is almost deserted in summer, houses in the village of El Rocío rented as rural tourism, is a lot of traffic in this pedestrian path within the PN de Doñana in Huelva province. I to 3.5 kilometers stretching from the same village down the bridge will Rocina in these ponds and marshes that there are many birds these days. In fact it's where I saw more wildlife today as storks will focus on migration with the usual species that live in the marsh as spoonbills and flamingos.

We enter the Rocina pedestrian path, the information service opened at 8 and standing inside is important to get an idea of what we visit and the importance of this ecosystem, unique in Europe. The trail goes through three different ecosystems. The first section runs from pine trees to get closer to the observatory of El Charco del Perchel, very busy spring but this summer we have only seen some whistling ducks.  Specially the Ferruginous Duck ( aythya nyroca). A big surprise to see out of the water to a family of  boar.

From here the trail leads to the Algaida of Carrizal. The Algaida are small tributaries that drain water into the stream and bird sanctuary on its banks of cattails, sedges and reeds. In the second, the Egyptian Mongoose Algaida have heard the robin and goldfinch sing.

The next section runs through Mont Blanc, rosemary, lavender and filled with aromas almoradux morning and magpies, alerted to our presence breaks the air with their cries. In this mountain you can see white oaks, wild olive scrub associated with the myrtle, arbutus, and fusco, near water. You always think you'll see the lynx in this stretch, but today no luck.

In the last section by gallery forest walk and we searched two more observatories overlooking the Pool of the Mouth. Many Glossi Ibis (plegadis falcinellus) and spoonbills(platalea leucorodia) resting on the lagoon while various waterfowl foraging for food. While looking back the sky for raptors but is on the floor where we find the surprise with a snub-nosed viper that runs away with our presence.
This is a friendly and highly recommended trail to visit family and small have a baptism in the observation of ecosystems and habitats of special interest. There is another link to this path, conducted in spring http://laescapadadelturistaaccidental.blogspot.com/2010/04/parque-nacional-de-donana-la-marisma