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BIRDING TRIP: Exploring the Marshes of San Fernando

Little by little there are fewer birding places left in the province of Cadiz that I haven't visited yet. The marshes of San Fernando were still unknown terrain. Due to a chilly breeze, the weather conditions were far from ideal, especially in the morning.


As soon as I started my walk around Sendero del Carrascón, setting off from a large parking site, I noticed it would be fairly easy to photograph waders up close, provided you carry a tele-photo lens. They were literally everywhere and if you approached them carefully, they were confident enough to allow you to take their picture.



Grey Plover
Grey Plover

I'd had a quick look at home at the map before commencing this route and thought it was fairly easy to follow the linear track from beginning to end, but soon found out that this area is a true labyrinth. You cannot really get lost, rather disoriented. Fortunately, especially during weekends, there will always be people walking, running or cycling around who know the place well enough in case you manage to get lost.



Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo

The most remarkable sight of the morning was certainly a large group of Grey Herons, gathering in one of the canals. Siege is the word used to denote a group of Herons. It seemed as if they were having a friendly chat altogether.



A siege of Grey Herons
A siege of Grey Herons

A siege of Grey Herons


Apart from the Grey Herons, there was a great variety of waders like Redshank, Greenshank or different types of plovers.



Common Ringed Plover
Common Ringed Plover

Common Ringed Plover looking for something edible in the mud
Common Ringed Plover looking for something edible in the mud

Since it was quite effortless to approach the birds, it presented a favorable opportunity to capture portraits of the omnipresent Little Egrets.



Little Egret
Little Egret

Little Egret


Little Egret


Little Egret


The wader birds were focusing on finding food in the mud and not frightened by a discreet photographer. It was big fun to observe a Greenshank plowing through the mud at a minimal distance from the lens.



Greenshank's bill covered in mud
Greenshank's bill covered in mud

But the hard work has yielded some delicacy

… just add some water …

… and then look for more

During my pleasant walk between the marshes I observed thirty different species. One of them was an unexpected Caspian Tern which came flying by at high speed.



Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover


Flying Spoonbill
Overflying Spoonbill

Grey Heron together with two Spoonbills
Two Spoonbills scanning the mud under a Grey Heron's supervision

Redshank
Redshank

Yellow-legged Gull with the buildings of San Fernando in the background
Yellow-legged Gull with the buildings of San Fernando in the background

Just upon finishing my two-hours-long stroll I heard a bewildered flock of House Sparrows. They were being chased by a male Kestrel but all managed to escape. The Kestrel sat on a pole for a while before returning to the building, preparing another attack.



Male Kestrel on a pole
Male Kestrel overlooking the parking lot for single House Sparrows

The House Sparrows of this flock had been more fortunate than the one that I saw hanging in the claws of a Sparrowhawk the day before.



After this quite intensive walk between the marshes, void of mosquitoes thanks to the strong wind and cold temperatures, I still had enough energy to visit another nearby place. In an area called Polvorines, few days earlier there had been sightings of several Wigeons, a species that I still hadn't marked on my life list.


As soon as I arrived I saw a Kestrel, hovering over the military zone right next to the bay that I was about to visit.



Kestrel hanging in the air
Kestrel hanging in the air

When I arrived to the marshes in my second birding spot of the day, I felt tempted to go and descend onto the shore, as the tide was low, thinking that would bring me closer to the birds. In the end it was a wise decision not to do so, as the water was rising quickly and I might have got into trouble.



White Stork
White Stork

It was only after walking for an hour or so that I was able to photograph birds from a reasonable distance, when the tide had risen enough to bring them closer to the shore.



Greenshank
Also here plenty of Greenshanks present

In the far distance I also spotted a novelty. I had seen several Great Crested Grebes before, especially at my local patch, Torrox Lagoon, but never had I seen these graceful birds in flight.



A pair of Great Crested Grebes flying low over the water
A pair of Great Crested Grebes flying low over the bay

Whimbrel
Whimbrel

Still no sign of the species I was after: the Wigeon. Only a Sandwich Tern showing of its amazing flying and diving skills.



Sandwich Tern
Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern


Sandwich Tern
A posture that reminds me of a powerful fighter plane

I was on the point of returning back to the car when a fellow birder assured me that he had seen an Osprey a bit further down the track. I decided to take a chance and walked another ten minutes, hoping to catch a glimpse of this magnificent species. I was lucky indeed, there was one, perched on a piece of wood just above the muddy surface of the marshes.



Osprey quietly sitting on a piece of wood
Osprey quietly sitting on a piece of wood

It was impossible to get closer to the bird, but despite the huge distance, my tele-photo did a great job. I knew it would take little time for the tide to submerge the perch, so all I had to do was maneuver myself in a favorable position and wait until the bird would fly off.



Few moments later: the bird is about to fly off

Osprey taking off
Launch!

After flying a few circles around, a second Osprey appeared and both birds flew in front of a line of wooden posts, occupied by some Cormorants: the perfect moment to take the shot of the day!





Although two more birders that I ran into had spotted a flock of Wigeons, and despite a final effort to go and find them in the complete other end of the bay, almost approaching the Marambay area, I didn't see any trace of them. Better luck next time. Slightly frustrated, I got into the car when a Red-legged Partridge neglectfully walked in front of me. The final photo of the day was one worth remembering!



Red-legged Partridge
Red-legged Partridge

No Wigeons, but after all a very satisfactory excursion resulting in the sighting of more than 40 different species altogether.




More information about Sendero del Carrascón, San Fernando


Sendero del Carrascón in San Fernando is a great place to spot and photograph wader birds. Be warned though, this place is a labyrinth and without any preparation you might get lost, especially when you focus on the many birds around you instead of the track. Take a good look at the map, stay on the main tracks, and don't forget your mobile phone, or it could take hours to find the shortest way back.



Right at the beginning of the suggested route there are plenty of waders

You will not easily get bored in this area. Apart from the typical wader birds like plovers, Redshank, Greenshank and Greater Flamingo, you are likely to see Herons, Cormorants and an occasional bird of prey.


These marshes attract mosquitoes, so take this into account and bring insect repellent.



Sendero El Carrascón in San Fernando
A paradise for wader birds



More information about Polvorines, San Fernando


Polvorines is an area around a former military base, used in the Spanish Civil War. I had read contradictory opinions on the internet about the possibility to access this area, due to the possible presence of a guard, but during my visit I had no problem at all. I met several people walking down the suggested trail and even saw a group of children with their teacher climbing on one of the old military bunkers.


To get inside the former military zone, in case of the sighting of a non-wader bird, you don't even have to jump any fence. I guess I will not be sued for publishing photos on this page of military installations. In any case, if this is the current state the Spanish Armed Forces are in at the moment, it is bound to happen that the Iberian Peninsula will be invaded soon by any army. I bet even the Vatican would find no trouble fighting its way in.



Low tide in the bay with a view on the Constitution Bridge

On the interior of this area, around and behind the old bunkers, you will likely find some passerines, but if you want to spot a whole array of wader birds then put your focus on the muddy area between the water and the old defense walls. You will certainly see hundreds of plovers joined by Whimbrel, Redshank, Greenshank and some Herons.



Sight on the bay from one of the cosy old bunkers

If you feel in an adventurous mood and decide to descend onto the sand, make sure the tide is not coming in, or you might find yourself a nasty surprise.



View from the old pier

You may want to spend some time on the old pier to take good shots of nearby birds.


The two photos below were taken with a difference of two hours, to show how fast the water level rises when the tide comes in.








Foraging Little Egret
Foraging Little Egret

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