No matter how many times I visit a site when in Spain, there's always more to find out and fresh discoveries to make. The Osuna area is a particular favourite of mine despite being a two hour drive from my base in Alcala de los Gazules. This is not only because Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Roller breed in the area, but also because the town itself is a little gem dotted with handsome baroque mansions. Recently, instead of a long drive there and back I've stayed over in the town for a more relaxed experience.
Map of the Osuna farmland & the Lagunas de Lantejuela
Black-necked Grebes This spring there was an additional incentive to pay a visit in the form of an ABS field trip. So we arrived on Friday after a leisurely drive up from Alcala taking in several sites en route (including Laguna de los Tollos about which I'll post anon). Having seen a couple of Great Bustards near Osuna and since we didn't have to rush back to Alcala I opted to explore the Lagunas de Lantejuela in the afternoon. Laguna de Gobierno was, as always, firmly locked up with even the white house with a roof top viewing area firmly beyond the padlocked gates. Peering round the sides of the roadside hide (again never unlocked!) I had good views of Black-necked Grebes, White-headed Ducks, Whiskered Tern, etc. It quite defeats me why, when the local tourist board produce a leaflet about the joys of birding these lakes, they're kept firmly out-of-bounds with no information about how, if at all they might be visited. It's just as bad at most of the other lagunas where there's nowhere to pull off and no proper viewing areas. The one exception is Laguna de Ballestera where a decent track now loops round to the south of the laguna affording excellent views over the lake. Laguna de la Turquillas at the junction of the A351 seemed entirely choked with reeds and seemed to only have Marsh Harriers. Lagunas de Calderon held some water and a few birds, but the parking area and footpath to a viewpoint on the military land was, as usual, secluded behind a heavily padlocked gate and high fence.
Laguna de Ruiz Sanchez from the A351 - March 2013
1 – Laguna de Ruiz Sanchez
My first target was to investigate the track off the A 351 by the 14 km post (c3km north from Laguna de la Turquillas) which promised to give better views of the location of Laguna de Ruiz Sanchez. Set amongst low hills about 1.5 km east of the A 351 this tantalising laguna was once the largest lake (356 hectares) in the complex and the second largest in Andalucia – only Fuente de Piedra is larger.
However, it was drained in 1967 and converted to farmland. Fortunately, it was purchased by the Andalucian junta in 2006 for 6 million euros and in 2009 an ambitious restoration project began. Costing 435,000€ the project involves building two dams, adding culverts and diverting a stream to increase water flow into the laguna. It was previously home to Marbled, Ferruginous & White-headed Ducks and Crested Coot. When I passed this way in March 2013, after a wet winter, it was alive with birds – mainly waders & ducks, but viewing from the A 351 was so distant that about all can be identified with confidence are Flamingos!
My first target was to investigate the track off the A 351 by the 14 km post (c3km north from Laguna de la Turquillas) which promised to give better views of the location of Laguna de Ruiz Sanchez. Set amongst low hills about 1.5 km east of the A 351 this tantalising laguna was once the largest lake (356 hectares) in the complex and the second largest in Andalucia – only Fuente de Piedra is larger.
However, it was drained in 1967 and converted to farmland. Fortunately, it was purchased by the Andalucian junta in 2006 for 6 million euros and in 2009 an ambitious restoration project began. Costing 435,000€ the project involves building two dams, adding culverts and diverting a stream to increase water flow into the laguna. It was previously home to Marbled, Ferruginous & White-headed Ducks and Crested Coot. When I passed this way in March 2013, after a wet winter, it was alive with birds – mainly waders & ducks, but viewing from the A 351 was so distant that about all can be identified with confidence are Flamingos!
Laguna de Ruiz Sanchez - April 2014 When I previously looked here and found this track I was short of time, the track was very muddy and, without reference to Google Earth, I was unsure whether it even headed in the right direction. This April the track was in far better condition and I now knew from my internet searches that the track did indeed head towards the laguna. This time the track was in good condition and easily drivable for a kilometre or more (i.e. past the barn) where, as hoped, better views of the laguna could be obtained (see photo above). Much of the laguna had dried out compared to my previous visit, but the greater elevation gave better angle of view. The edge of the laguna (when wet) was now c500m and the centre about 1.5 km. With few birds in view it didn't seem worth looking any further and the track was getting rutted. However, I managed to confirm that, in a wetter year this track would give far better views and, buy parking near the barn it would be quite possible to explore on foot. Looking at photos on the internet it seems that the track running towards the the large fincas and smaller tracks should permit an even closer approach on foot (see map). A winter visit, track allowing, should be excellent with Peregrine, Merlin, Bonelli's Eagle and Cranes joining the wintering wildfowl.
Stone-curlew 2 – Finca track
Another track I've been meaning to investigate is one that runs across the fields near two fincas on the SE 716 (see map). It turned out to be in excellent condition and allowed good views across the fields. I failed to find any bustards or sandgrouse (as hoped), but the diversion was worth it for good views of Montagu's Harrier and a very obliging Stone-curlew.
Another track I've been meaning to investigate is one that runs across the fields near two fincas on the SE 716 (see map). It turned out to be in excellent condition and allowed good views across the fields. I failed to find any bustards or sandgrouse (as hoped), but the diversion was worth it for good views of Montagu's Harrier and a very obliging Stone-curlew.
Lesser Kestrel Tower 3 – Vereda del Alamillo
It was good to join other ABS members on Saturday meeting several friends (esp. Peter Jones, Derek & Barbara Etherton) and make a few new ones. Peter took us further along the Vereda del Alamillo than I'd ventured previously. Despite a dull start – with young olive trees dominating – it was good to find that the authorities had built a brand new Lesser Kestrel tower here (c1 km). I'm somewhat agnostic about these structures here as there are still many ruined fincas in the area with many suitable crannies for nesting kestrels. However, the kestrels had already taken up residence so perhaps it's not such a waste as I assumed.
Another 2 km along the Vereda del Alamillo brings you to a collection of ruined farm buildings beyond which the track degenerates still further. This is an excellent site for Rollers - we had two here despite it still being fairly early in the 'season' - and where we also had our only Black-winged Kite of the day. Apparently the fields between the tower and the ruins can be good for both bustards and Black-bellied Sandgrouse (per Peter Jones).
It was good to join other ABS members on Saturday meeting several friends (esp. Peter Jones, Derek & Barbara Etherton) and make a few new ones. Peter took us further along the Vereda del Alamillo than I'd ventured previously. Despite a dull start – with young olive trees dominating – it was good to find that the authorities had built a brand new Lesser Kestrel tower here (c1 km). I'm somewhat agnostic about these structures here as there are still many ruined fincas in the area with many suitable crannies for nesting kestrels. However, the kestrels had already taken up residence so perhaps it's not such a waste as I assumed.
Another 2 km along the Vereda del Alamillo brings you to a collection of ruined farm buildings beyond which the track degenerates still further. This is an excellent site for Rollers - we had two here despite it still being fairly early in the 'season' - and where we also had our only Black-winged Kite of the day. Apparently the fields between the tower and the ruins can be good for both bustards and Black-bellied Sandgrouse (per Peter Jones).
RSS Feed
