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BIRDING TRIP: The Herons of Sanlúcar

Temperatures have finally started to drop a little in the south of Spain. The first place I visited this morning in Sanlúcar was the Camino Colorado lagoon. This place actually consists of two small lagoons that are located in the middle of houses, fruit gardens and small warehouses.



Black-crowned Night Heron
A stunning Black-crowned Night Heron

Before arriving at my first stop, I spotted a Purple Heron, close to the Martin Miguel Lagoon.



Purple Heron
Purple Heron

Purple Heron
Purple Heron

This gracious bird allowed me to take photos through the open window of my car, from a relatively close distance.


It was not difficult to find a place to leave the car near the next two lagoons. I was immediately saddened by the sight of so much litter in their vicinity. This seems to be a huge problem in this town, even more than in other places in the province.



Litter on the ground between some pine trees
A very common sight

Despite the limited size of the first two lagoons, I spotted a nice variety of birds: among them Marbled Duck, Common Redshank and a lot of Swamphen.



Small lagoon
The first of the two small lagoons that I observed in this place


Redshank
Redshank


Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt


Small lagoon
View on the second lagoon

The lagoons are not very big, but it is a good idea to bring a telescope, as you cannot walk around them. Just when I was getting ready to visit the next lagoon, I heard a little bird right above me, feeding on the branch of a tree. It was a female Black-headed Weaver, an invasive species originally from Africa.



Female Black-headed Weaver
Female Black-headed Weaver


Juvenile Little Ringed Plover
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover

As soon as I arrived at the third lagoon (called Alfredo Barragán), barely a few hundred metres away, I noticed a big colony of Little Egrets in the trees.



Little Egrets in the trees
A colony of Little Egrets

It was so interesting to watch their goings-on.



Little Egrets


Little Egrets


Little Egret


They were not the only type of heron present around this lagoon. I also spotted a lot of Cattle Egrets, Squacco Heron and Black-crowned Night Herons. The photographs were taken from the road without disturbing the birds.



Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron
Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

Screaming Black-crowned Night Heron


Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron


Black-crowned Night Heron


Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron


Adult Black-crowned Night Heron in flight


Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron


Adult Black-crowned Night Heron

It was a real pleasure to watch these birds and listen to their raw calls.




A small formation of Godwits
A small formation of Godwits


White-headed Duck
White-headed Duck


Little Grebe
Little Grebe


European Turtle Dove
European Turtle Dove

My next stop was fifteen minutes away by car, the Tarelo lagoon, at the most southern point of Doñana National Park. During a previous visit I didn't see mcuh of interest, but now there were quite a few attractive species, among them Grey Heron, Squacco Heron and Shovelers.



Bird hide
The screen with a view to the lake


The same screen seen from the opposite side

Right past the lagoon their is a track which leads well into the nearby marshes, which I decided to explore, obviously on foot.



Marshes
The marshes containing lots of different wader species


Pair of Marbled Ducks
Second pair of Marbled Ducks today


Three Glossy Ibises
Glossy Ibises

Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit


Ruff
Ruff

Ruff


Overall, a very pleasant trip with different stops, which will be worth repeating in spring.

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