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.


Next, I made my way to Laguna de Jelà 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.




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.






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.

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.


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

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