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DONANA BIRD TOURS: ITINERARY FOR THE NORTHERN MARSHES.

Visit: Johns Web Site Contact: John Butler Johns Book

This tour is of the exceptional birding sites in the northern marshes area of the Doñana Natural Park. This is a vast natural wetland where we can find the breeding and wintering sites of some of Spain's (and Europe's) scarcest birds. Hopefully we shall find Glossy Ibises, Marbled Ducks, Crested Coots, Great White Egrets and Spanish Imperial Eagles, along with many other attractive species.

SITE ONE. DEHESA DE ABAJO. This area holds the largest nesting colony of White Storks in Europe. The reed fringed lagoon holds significant numbers of Purple Swamp-hens, Purple, Squacco and Night Herons, Spoonbills, Greater Flamingos, Black-winged Stilts and egrets. Marbled Ducks are regular here and a least two pairs of Crested Coots breed in the reedbeds.

SITE TWO. ISLA MAYOR. This is a vast, flat, agricultural area (mainly rice fields) where many species of waders can be found. Eagles, Buzzards and harriers often quarter the rice fields searching for prey. .

SITE THREE. ENTREMUROS. A wide waterway between two dykes and two fords where many of the best birds in the area can often be found. Recent rarities here have included Western Reef Heron, Little Crake, Spotted Eagle, Baillon's Crake, Bittern and Temminck's Stint.

SITE FOUR. BRAZO DE LA TORRE. A long reed fringed waterway with and elevated road beside which allows good views. Great Reed Warblers, Collared Pratincoles, Gull-billed Terns, Squacco Herons, Marsh Harriers and both Short-toed and Lesser Short-toed Larks are commonly seen.

SITE FIVE. CANO DE GUADIAMAR. A large wet area where most of the herons, egrets, waterfowl, terns, eagles and harriers can be seen.

SITE SIX. CANO DE ROSALIMAN. A vast flooded plain where anything can and usually does, turn up. This is perhaps the best site for Crested Coots, Marbled Ducks and Great Crested, Black-necked and Little Grebes. Spanish Imperial Eagles, Red and Black Kites, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers and Kestrels are often seen over the site.

SITE SEVEN. JOSE ANTONIO VALVERDE VISITORS CENTRE. The centre has a snack bar, information desk, gift shop, audiovisual displays and toilet facilities. There is a large glass-plated viewing area where you can probably get the best views of Little Bitterns, Glossy Ibises, Squacco Herons, Purple Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons and Great Reed Warblers.

SITE EIGHT. LUCIO DEL CANGREJO. Another area of the Brazo de la Torre. This is an area where Collared Pratincoles and Gull-billed Terns regularly breed. Pin-tailed Sand grouse and Stone Curlews may also be found in this area. Scarce Great White Egrets and very rare White Pelicans have been recorded here on numerous occasions.

SITE NINE. CASA DE BOMBAS. Yet another part of the Brazo de la Torre. When wet this is an excellent area for all of the egrets, herons and waders. Raptors and Griffon vultures are also common here.

SITE TEN. PUENTE DE DON SIMON. One of the bridges over the Entremuros with good elevated views of the water and reedbeds where many species of waders, ducks, herons, egrets and warblers can be found.

Visit: Johns Web Site Contact: John Butler Johns Book

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