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A visit to the lagoons of Chiclana: birds and surprises

After last month’s rainfall, I was hopeful that the lagoons of Chiclana would offer a good number of birds. The promise of increased water levels was tempting, and I was eager to see what had arrived. However, my visit proved to be a mix of surprises and disappointments.


My first stop was the Laguna de la Paja. This lagoon, which had been dry for years, had seen a little rainfall recently, and I was optimistic. Sadly, there wasn’t a drop of water to be found. Instead, I found birds gathered on the surrounding land. Among them were Stonechats, perched on the shrubs, Serins flitting about and a group of Red-legged Partridges. While it was nice to see the birds, it was a far cry from the wetland spectacle I had envisioned.



A small bird with a black head and orange chest perches on a branch
Male Stonechat


A small brown bird perched on dry branches
Zitting Cisticola



Next, I made my way to Laguna de Jelí and this was where the trip started to get interesting. While the lagoon wasn’t completely full, there was enough water to attract a variety of birds. The most noticeable were Yellow-legged Gulls and a large number of White Storks. The poor condition of the road made driving to the entrance gate a bit tricky, but the walk to the lagoon made it worthwhile. The landscape was peaceful, and I was accompanied by the constant songs of Sardinian Warblers and other small songbirds along the path.




Kestrel sitting on a branch
I was welcomed by this Kestrel when I arrived at the Laguna de Jelí



A sunny nature trail with a wooden bridge surrounded by lush greenery and bushes, some with red leaves
The path that leads to the lagoon


A dirt path in a rural landscape with green fields and scattered trees
The path that leads you past several viewpoints to the lagoon



Wooden viewpoint on a gravel path in a lush, green landscape
One of the wooden platforms



There are three viewpoints around the lagoon, but the first two didn’t offer much—being too far from the water. The most interesting was the third viewpoint, a round wooden hide. From there, I had a much better perspective of the lagoon and the birds congregating in the shallow water. The view was nice, although the distance from the birds made it difficult to capture the moment in stunning photos.




Wooden path leads to a bird observatory amid greenery under a clear blue sky
Entrance to the third viewpoint


Wooden birdwatching hut with slatted walls and a roof, overlooking greenery
Inside of the birdwatching hut


Birds wade in a wetland surrounded by greenery and distant trees
White Storks standing in the shallow water of the lagoon


Wetland with birds in flight and wading in water, surrounded by green fields and bushes




A small bird perched on a rusty barbed wire against a clear blue sky
Zitting Cisticola


A small bird with black, white, and orange coloring perches on a twig against a blurred green background
Another male Stonechat



While walking along the path, I heard a familiar yet distant sound—the unmistakable trumpet call of a Crane. I quickly realized the source: a flock of 27 Cranes flying north overhead. Their graceful flight added a magical touch to the day.



A plane flies in the sky alongside a V-formation of birds
27 Cranes while a Ryanair plane is making its final approach



But the true highlight came just moments later. As I stood quietly near the hide, a large flock of White Storks passed low overhead, their wings flapping in unison. The sound was clear and almost mesmerising in the otherwise serene environment. It was a rare and humbling moment that made the trip worth every minute.



Flock of White Storks flying against a clear blue sky, scattered freely
Part of the flock of White Storks


Five storks with black and white wings soar in a clear blue sky



Although the lagoon lacked water, which certainly affected the bird activity, the Laguna de Jelí remains a place of great potential. With more water, it could become a hidden gem for birdwatchers, teeming with life.




A bird perches on green leafy branches against a dark, blurry background
Linnet

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