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Bird watching in Cadiz at its best: an excursion through the territory of the Nightingale

The first heat of the year has clearly arrived in the south of Spain, and this was clearly noticeable during our most recent birding trip near Arcos de la Frontera. I was curious whether we would spot many juvenile birds again, and the answer was a resounding yes.





Despite the rising heat, it was a very pleasant walk in a still green environment, always close to the Guadalete river. The nature surrounding Arcos de la Frontera offers a lush landscape perfect for bird watchers. The river itself provides a constant presence of water, which is crucial for many birds in this region.



The Guadalete river
The Guadalete river

As on a previous visit to this site, it was necessary to be careful when crossing certain parts of the route as they were slightly flooded. Especially after a rainy period, some paths can be muddy and slippery. Much depends on the flow of the Guadalete. That is why it is important to know the route well and be prepared for such circumstances.





Right from the start we noticed many bird species, mainly songbirds. It seemed as if the birds wanted to make themselves heard on this beautiful spring day. The Nightingale in particular made itself heard and seen, with at least thirty specimens that were not ashamed to perform their beautiful song. It was a real spectacle to see these little singers in action. Their cheerful singing provided the perfect background music for our journey.



Nightingale sitting on the ground
One of the numerous Nightingales



In addition to the Nightingales, we also heard a few Penduline Tits. And to top it all off, we even saw a Little Bittern, a fairly rare sight in this region. The presence of these species made the trip more than successful.




Little Bittern flies up among the reeds
Little Bittern flies up among the reeds


Another highlight of the day was seeing and hearing four Iberian Green Woodpeckers. These beautiful birds, with their green plumage and loud calls, added an extra touch of colour to our tour. It was fascinating to observe them foraging for food on the tree trunks.



Iberian Green Woodpecker
Iberian Green Woodpecker

Unlike the European Green Woodpecker, the Iberian subspecies does not have black around the eye, but rather grey.



Iberian Green Woodpecker



There were also many young Grey Geese present. A passerby told us that many young chicks had been swallowed by a Grey Heron last year. Fortunately, this year seemed to be a better year for the goslings as we saw a lot of them in good health.



Adult Grey Goose surrounded by young ones
Adult Grey Goose surrounded by young ones

One of the Grey Herons hidden in the reeds

Ready to strike at the right time!





Young duck chicks are not safe from a Grey Heron


This female adult mallard duck stays close to her offspring

Pair of Cattle Egrets in a tree
Pair of Cattle Egrets

Empty bird's nest among the reeds
One of the many nests in the area




Male Blackcap between the branches of a tree
Male Blackcap


Spotless Starling
Spotless Starling


Young Moorhen
Young Moorhen




Juvenile Blackcap in a tree
Juvenile Blackcap

Juvenile Blackcap
Close-up of the same bird

Juvenile Goldfinch
One of the many juvenile birds, a Goldfinch

It was also worth watching a group of House Martins as they frantically splashed their beaks in the mud.



House Martins
House Martins


House Martins in the mud



The route we followed ended with a fairly steep climb, which means you need to be in good shape to complete this hike, but our effort was rewarded. At the top of the hill, a beautiful view of the landscape and a welcome refreshment on the terrace of an ice cream parlour awaited us.

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