This site comprises a series of small groups of lagoons close to Cadiz Bay in Andalucia in the far south of Spain. These are generally shallow and rather small lagoons with inflowing streams and variable amounts of vegetation. The extent of the emergent and marginal vegetation is dependent on season and rainfall and often in summer some of the lagoons dry out completely. Reeds, rushes and reedmace fringe most of the lagoons and they are set in scrubland with Tamarisk, Fan-Palms, Wild Olives and Kermes Oak, or in some cases the pools are surrounded by crops. The water level and extent of vegetation greatly affect the birds that can be seen here but most years these lagoons will produce the southern Iberian wetland specialities such as White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Crested Coot and Purple Swamphen as well as many others of interest. Unfortunately the Ruddy Duck, an alien species which has wandered to Europe from the feral population in Britain, has recently been recorded in the area. This poses a threat to the already rare White-headed Duck through hybridisation.
White-headed Duck is resident along with Red-crested Pochard, Crested Coot and Purple Swamphen. Other species present all year include Black-necked Grebe, Cattle and Little Egrets and Marsh Harrier. Greater Flamingo is generally present all year if water levels allow. Summer visitors include Little Bittern and Purple Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole and Kentish Plover, Little and Whiskered Terns and Bee-eater. Marsh Harrier breeds and Montagu's is regularly seen in summer along with Egyptian Vulture, Black Kite and Short-toed and Booted Eagles. Passerine breeders include Black-eared Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike and marshland warblers such as Cetti's, Savi's and Great Reed.
Passage periods bring a wide range of migrants, particularly terns such as Gull-billed and Black, although White-winged Black is scarce, and Mediterranean Gull. Passage waders sometimes include Marsh Sandpiper but most of the familiar northern waders also occur. Small numbers of dispersing Spanish Imperial Eagle are now becoming regular in the area, Osprey, Black Kite and other raptors also occur on passage. In winter the area is very important for waterfowl with Greylag Goose and Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler and huge numbers of Eurasian Coot. Ferruginous Duck is usually recorded in winter and spring. Hen Harrier, Red Kite and Short-eared Owl hunt over the marshlands in winter and Common Kingfisher, Bluethroat and Penduline Tit are regular in the reedbeds.
During dry or otherwise unfavourable periods the birds frequently move from one lagoon to another in search of better conditions. All of the lagoons are worth visiting and most of the birds mentioned below can be seen at any group of pools.
Laguna Medina is the largest and best-known of the lagoons and lies beside the C440 road between Jerez and Medina Sidonia. About 6km before this road meets the A4 the Laguna Medina is signposted along a track to the right. Following this track leads to a gate where cars should be left. The perimeter of the lagoon can then be explored on foot, a telescope is a distinct advantage here. White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Crested Coot and Purple Swamphen all occur here. A small reedy pool known as Laguna de las Pachecas or Laguna Istata lying about 1km to the north on the opposite side of the road is worthy of investigation, Purple Swamphen and Little Bittern are regular and Savi's Warbler is often seen.
The Lagunas de El Puerto Santa Maria (also known as the Lagunas de Terry) are situated about 6km to the north of the town of El Puerto de Santa Maria and reached from the C440 by turning off towards El Portal. Continue through El Portal until the N IV is crossed, after 3km, past the casino, a track on the right follows an irrigation channel and leads to some houses on farmland. Park here and a short walk leads to the lagoons. Laguna Salada is the largest in this group of lagoons and has artificial islets. Laguna Chica has a good reedbed and Laguna Juncosa is usually completely covered in rushes. White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Crested Coot and Purple Swamphen all occur here as well as Collared Pratincole, Red-crested Pochard and Little Bittern. Moustached Warbler is a possible breeder.
The Lagunas de Espera (Lagunas de Zorilla) can be reached from Jerez de la Frontera on the N IV turning off onto the N342 to Arcos de la Frontera. From here take the C343 towards Espera, go through the village and turn left for Las Cabezas de San Juan and after 2km turn left towards a lagoon known as Hondilla. The remaining lagoons are all close by and the best are generally Hondilla and La Salada de Zorilla. Marbled and White-headed Ducks, Purple Swamphen and Crested Coot can all be seen here as well as Greater Flamingo.
The Lagunas de Puerto Real hold a similar range of species to the other groups of pools but may well be worth visiting. They can be reached from the Puerto Real to Paterna de Rivera road where just past the 9km marker post there is track heading north. Follow this and fork right and it leads to the Laguna del Taraje, which has a hide, and further on Laguna de San Antonio. Return to the road and head for Paterna de Rivera and about 7km further on a footpath to the right leads to Laguna de Comisario.
The town of Chiclana de la Frontera is situated on the N340 close to Cadiz and the Lagunas de Chiclana are found to the east of the town. La Paja lagoon is about 3km out of Chiclana beside the N340 road to Algeciras. The Jeli and Montellano lagoons are found off the C346 road to Medina Sidonia. About 2km out of Chiclana turn left towards the velodrome after which take the track to the left and continue until a junction. Right here leads to Jeli and further on another track to the right leads to Montellano. Alternatively, it is possible to walk to the lagoons from a track on the left of the C346 about 7km out of Chiclana.
Jerez de la Frontera has an airport with domestic and international flights. Most of the local towns and villages can provide accommodation particularly Jerez de la Frontera but Chiclana, Arcos de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa Maria also have hotels, hostels and campsites. The Cadiz Lagoons can also be visited on a day-trip from Gibraltar.
Birds
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Marbled Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, White-headed Duck, Western Honey-Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Common Quail, Water Rail, Baillon's Crake, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Crested Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, White-winged Tern, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Red-necked Nightjar, Pallid Swift, Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Water Pipit, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Bluethroat, Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Savi's Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Penduline Tit, Golden Oriole, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Alf King's review
Laguna de Medina should be an excellent birdwatching site but unfortunately, like many other sites in Spain, it has suffered badly from inadequate maintenance. This has meant that the ability to view the Laguna itself from the footpath is extremely limited.
Plenty of encouraging notices for birders all around but the fact that you can't actually see the birds when you are there seems to spoil all of the good work that has gone into the site.
Cons
- Poor viewing
Meridian's review
Agree with Alf..but still worth visiting. However avoid windy days particularly when "levant" blows as water can be very choppy. Saw White Headed Ducks there (2001).
If in area thoroughly recommended the short tidal Rio San Pedro near the University ( Puerto Real campus) and extensive mud flats at Puerto Real in Bahai Cadiz. All easily accessible by foot from bus stop
Half hour bus trip, bout 30 minutes interval from Gomes Bus Station , Cadiz. (10 minutes walk from railway station)
Recommended excellent 1:50,000 MAPA GUIA "LA BAHIA DE CADIZ Y SUS"
Map covers Laguna de Median and about 12 other lagunas, extensive salinas, mud flats etc, Cadiz, San Fernando, Puerto Santa Maria, Jerez
Please e mail me for more information
