Laguna de la Paja from (b) As hoped I was able to visit this laguna several times this spring and, after the wettest March for 70 years, I couldn't have picked a better time. The place was very wet and fairly buzzing with birds. I was fortunate too to visit with Richard and Michelle Page-Jones who have a place nearby in Chiclana and have visited the site far more times than I have. It was Richard who pointed out to me that a now demolished goat farm had left behind a concrete platform which allowed you to park under the eucalypts along the road into Chiclana (b). (Although take care when pulling off since drivers behind you may not realise that there's space to get off the road). From here you get an excellent view of the laguna. From this vantage point we could see twenty or more Purple Gallinules, a trio of Purple and a single Squacco Heron, a White-headed Duck or two and, best of all, 8 or 9 Ferruginous Duck. The sheer density of breeding gallinules here was extraordinar. Glossy Ibis also came over and it's clear that, when wet, this can be a very attractive site.
Purple Gallinule - Laguna de la Paja
Gate into Laguna de Paja reserve Unfortunately, access to other parts of the laguna continue to be unclear. As it's on an embankment, viewing from the N 340 gives reasonable view over the laguna (although beware the road here can be quite busy). However, parking here is impossible and there's no room by the reserve gate to pull off obliging you to leave your car elsewhere(see map). The old 'Polanco' store is closed so you need to park either further along the A 9034 or by the roundabout to the south and walk back. when we visited, the gate into the reserve was hanging off its hinges and the fence next to it more hole than wire. The path into the reserve, despite several information boards was weedy and neglected.
Ferruginous Duck from (b) looking towards (c) Another viewpoint can be accessed via Callejon de Borregitos (see map) by taking the first turning on the right (Camino de los Montes Universales) which takes you to some ruined yellow buildings. It should be possible to park here (or at least no signs forbid it!).
The sendero across the reserve
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