Birdwatching Around the Cadiz Area
A 1-day Cadiz Birding: La Janda Wetland Trip that covers a huge diversity of habitats. The old lake of La Janda was dried out in the 1960s and the area was turned over to farming. Today, however, La Janda represents a complex ecosystem caused its many historical uses. There are large stretches of pasture land, an important and unusual wild olive grove, rice paddy fields and canals with marshy vegetation. Together this myriad of Cadiz birding environments attract millions of birds throughout the different seasons.
Being in an unparalleled strategic situation, the last stop before leaving the continent of Europe, makes La Janda a paradise of great ecological interest and a great place to begin a Cadiz birding exploration. Birds stop to rest and recover strength and feed up, either before or after their trip across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. This makes them easy to spot in good numbers.
The area is a hunting ground, so many kinds of prey are present to satisfy the many species of birds of prey. Therefore, during the winter it is common to see Bonelli’s Eagle, Spotted and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hen Harrier, Bluethroat, Short-eared Owl and the rare Pallid Harrier. In winter a large number of Common Cranes, Black Storks, Lapwings, Golden Plovers and even the elusive Bittern, are frequently seen around the fields.
On a spring and summer Cadiz birding holiday you find species such as Montagu’s Harrier, Collared Pratincole and Common Quail, together with year-round residents such as Spanish Imperial Eagle, Purple Swamp-hen, Black-shouldered Kite and Glossy Ibis. A breeding colony of this Ibis was established in the area in 2012.
This Cadiz birding opportunity is also available as a half-day trip on request.
Cadiz Birding: La Janda Wetland Trip highlights include:
- A wealth of raptors: Bonelli’s Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Spotted and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Pallid, Marsh, Hen and Montagu's Harriers
- Wetland specialists such as Common Crane and Purple Swamp-hen
- Breeding colony of Glossy Ibis
Fancy going on a longer tour? Check out the Best of Tarifa Birding & Wildlife Tour, Spain.
Alternative Tour Name: La Janda Wetland Day Trip
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