Birding Cadiz Province
  • Birding Cadiz Province
  • Birding Site Guide
  • Cadiz Birding Blog
  • Six of the best!
    • 1- Laguna de Medina
    • 2 - Tarifa
    • 3 - Sanlucar - Bonanza
    • 4 - Llanos de Libar
    • 5 - Bolonia Area
    • 6 - La Janda
  • Professional Bird Guides
  • Crossbill Guides & other information
  • Other Wildlife
  • Talks & Further Information
    • Information: Books, Information Centres & Leaflets
    • Talks
    • Alcala de los Gazules
    • About Me
  • Contact

Haza de la Torre, Mesas de Asta

13/5/2025

1 Comment

 
Picture

When I fist stated visiting this area almost two decades ago, I was surprised to find large flocks of Gull-billed Terns hawking over the fields between Jerez de la Frontera and Trebujena. Closer investigation revealed a large area of shallow pools and disused settling ponds c1 km from the road at Mesas de Asta.  Unfortunately a gate barred closer examination and I had to be content with 'scoping birds on a closer set of pools. Rumours that access would be provided and it would become a birding destination came to nothing.  However, the wheels of Spanish administration move slowly and a new press release (see below) indicates that this may soon be a reality.  Last month I noticed some work being done here - although I never imagined the reason might be to improve access - so hopefully the site may be open quite soon!   
Press Release (translated by Google)

The site, located in Jerez de la Frontera, will have a new environmental restoration project to boost environmental conditions and conserve the biodiversity of the wetland.

The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment of the Regional Government of Andalusia has formalized the inclusion of the wetland area known as Haza de la Torre in the Inventory of Wetlands of Andalusia (IAH), by resolution of the General Directorate of Protected Natural Areas published in the Official Gazette of the Regional Government of Andalusia (BOJA) on May 7, 2025, which can be consulted here. With this incorporation, Jerez de la Frontera now has six wetlands registered in this environmental catalogue, which currently includes 229 enclaves with relevant natural values spread throughout the Andalusian territory.

"The inclusion of Haza de la Torre in the Inventory of Wetlands of Andalusia represents a recognition of its current ecological value and a commitment to the future to guarantee its conservation, value its environmental functions and facilitate the harmonious coexistence between natural processes and the rural environment that surrounds it. With this step, the Regional Government of Andalusia reinforces its commitment to a more resilient, functional and connected network of natural spaces," said the general director of Protected Natural Spaces, José Enrique Borrallo.
The recognition of Haza de la Torre was approved at the last session of the Andalusian Wetlands Committee held in November 2024, and since then the necessary procedures have been initiated for its officialization as a unique space due to its ecological value. The wetland is located in the municipality of Jerez, in the vicinity of the rural neighbourhood of Mesas de Asta, on land that in the past housed ponds used by the sugar industry for the management of its waste. Since its abandonment, and thanks to its location and characteristics, the site began a process of natural recovery that has transformed these old artificial lagoons into an ecosystem with an outstanding wealth of fauna.

The renaturation process began in 2009, with the execution of various projects that improved the ecological conditions of the place. Part of the sediments accumulated over decades were removed and the interior walls that divided the ponds were removed, respecting the perimeter wall that currently contains the body of water. In addition, interior islands and hydraulic gates were created that allow a controlled connection with the Tabajete and Obispo pipes. Today, the water that feeds the wetland comes exclusively from rainfall, although there is the possibility of enabling additional contributions from these pipes if necessary.

Historically, this place was part of the old estuary of the Guadalquivir River, and the oldest maps identify it with names such as Laguna Grande, Laguna del Mortero or Laguna de Mesas de Asta. More than a decade after the agreements signed between the Junta de Andalucía and the company that owns the land for its restoration, Haza de la Torre has established itself as a first-rate refuge for the birdlife of southwestern Andalusia.

During the wintering seasons, more than 5,000 birds of about thirty different species have been counted. Among them, there are emblematic species such as the marbled teal, the osprey or the common crane. But what really distinguishes this enclave is its key role in the conservation of the black-billed tern, an endangered species for which Haza de la Torre has become one of the most important spaces in the entire Mediterranean basin. Notable populations of avocets and slender-billed gulls have also been detected in the wetland.

Currently, the enclave is home to the largest bird breeding community in the province of Cádiz, only behind the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park. The uniqueness of this fact lies in the small size of the wetland, of just 39.4 hectares, compared to the more than 10,000 that the natural space of the Bay occupies. This data shows the exceptional value of the wetland and the success of the environmental recovery efforts carried out in recent years.

With the aim of continuing to make progress in the ecological improvement of the wetland, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment has planned a new restoration project financed with European funds from the Next Generation EU programme, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. This initiative will be developed in collaboration with the private property of the land, through a specific agreement.

Among the planned actions, the improvement of the water storage capacity of the wetland basin by removing new sediments, the creation of a perimeter rein to facilitate water retention and prevent the entry of predators, and the adaptation of the existing islands to favor the nesting of waterfowl are contemplated. Likewise, access to the site will be improved by adapting the path and installing a wooden pergola that will allow discreet observation of the lagoon without interfering with the ecosystem. Finally, vegetation will be planted in the immediate surroundings in order to stabilise the soil, stop erosion and prevent the arrival of sedimentary dragging into the interior of the wetland.
1 Comment

Spring Update 2 - Water, water everywhere!  Lagunas Update

9/5/2025

2 Comments

 
 By August 2023 the reservoirs across the region were so depleted that they were only 21.5% full.  Unsurprisingly, there were real concerns that by the summer of 2025 water levels would reach a critical level.  However, as noted in my earlier account about Laguna de los Tollos, after years of drought the heavy and persistent rain of late 2024 and spring 2025 have topped up the area's reservoirs (embalses). The latest available figures show that several reservoirs are now at 80-94% capacity (although for some the level remains historically low).  The area's lagunas reflect this improved situation with all if those I visited showing a similarly high water levels. In fact several were at a a higher level than I've ever previously seen them.  The photos accompanying the short texts below give some idea of just how well the lagunas have recovered.  It should be noted, however, that the recovery in water levels does not mean an instant recovery in wildlife.  The lacustrine ecology has surely been badly impacted by the years of drought and will take some time to recover which probably explains why, despite the high water levels, I found relatively poor numbers of grebes, ducks, coots and terns were present. 
Lagunas de Espera
I saw my first Red-knobbed Coot over a decade ago on this reserve, a collection of three lagunas - Hondilla, Salada de la Zorrilla and Dulce de la Zorrilla.  Access from Espera is excellent as the road is metalled for much of its length (although in April the road up to the castle was under repair).  The view across rolling farmland towards Espera is wonderful and the view from the castle that dominates the village still better. 
Picture
The view back towards Espera and its castle
Whilst the road to the first laguna (Hondilla) is in excellent condition, the same cannot be said of the laguna which is now almost entirely overgrown with only a tiny sliver of open water harbouring a few ducks and coots. About 400m further along the road is the track beside the second and largest laguna (Salada de la Zorrilla). Happily this laguna has not been swallowed up by vegetation but the neglect of the reserve no better illustrated than by the state of the vegetation around the hide ("Observatorio de la Zorrilla").  Small trees and bushes entirely obscure the view of the laguna from the hide as they have done for a decade or more (see photos). All is not lost, though, as there are now a couple of illicit paths down to the lakeside. I had a few Red-crested and Common Pochard, Coot and Marsh Harrier from here.  From the useless hide it's another c1 km to the final laguna (Dulce de la Zorrilla).  Here the lack of management is again apparent -  small wooden watchpoint was constructed just upslope from the laguna which would have improved the view ... had they not put it behind  some planted saplings which now - surprise, surprise - are bushy trees preventing any view of the wetland.  This laguna - where I once had Red-knobbed Coot - is also now almost choked with vegetation (see photos).  
Lagunas de Lebrija - Laguna del Pilon
Laguna del Pilon is often dry even when the other lagunas in this complex are wet.  This year it was wetter than I've ever seen it which was wonderful to see.  By pulling off onto a rough track I was able to explore the laguna more fully than usual but it harboured few birds (a few grebes, Red-crested Pochard and a passing Hobby).  Unfortunately, the track up to the main lagunas proved to be impassable by car so I left meaning to return when I had more time ... but I never managed to do so. 
Lagunas del Puerto de Santa Maria
The track from Laguna Juncosa down to Laguna Salada was once undrivable being deeply rutted and often very wet.  Even walking down the track could be tricky as the mud was glutenous and sticky.  Now the road's in excellent condition but the view of Laguna Juncosa is blocked by vegetation and the 'official' wooden viewpoint over Laguna Salada is so distant to be useless.  Even with a 'scope I couldn't find any birds swimming on the water there. Perhaps I should have checked the illicit viewpoint at the water's edge here as as Red-knobbed Coot & White-headed Duck were reported from the area recently!   Given I've always found the third laguna in the complex, Laguna Chica, hard to view I didn't check it this time.  
Laguna de los Tercios
Although only a short distance from Laguna Chica, Laguna de los Tercios (aka Las Marismas de Pozo or Laguna del Hato Carne) does not seem to be part of the Lagunas del Puerto de Santa Maria complex (Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María).  Perhaps as a result it's far less well-known (E-bird lists only 18 checklists for this site vs well over 200 for the Puerto de Santa María lagunas).  The great advantage of this site is that the views across the laguna are not obscured by tamarisks and other scrub.  I briefly visited the place in April and had more birds than my subsequent visit to  Lagunas del Puerto de Santa Maria. I had 8 Whiskered Terns (the only one of my trip to Spain this spring),5 Red-crested Pochards, 5 Shelducks, 45+ Collared Pratincoles, 12 Black-winged Stilts, 9 Avocets and 15 Yellow Wagtails
Laguna de Medina
There was a time when Laguna de Medina was thought to be the only one of the region's lagunas to never or only very rarely run dry even at the end of summer.  Sadly, this hasn't been the case in recent years with the laguna often drying up entirely (or almost so) in the summer and doing so even in spring when water levels should be high.  Happily it was entirely inundated on my visits with drowned tamarisks marking previous high water levels.  It will take time for any reedbeds to recover and the relatively few waterbirds (given the size of the laguna) indicates that the lacustrine ecosystem hasn't recovered.  Hopefully, it will have sufficient muddy margins come the autumn to attract waders but in the meantime check for Stone-curlews in the nearby olive groves. 
Lagunas de Camino Colorado - Bonanza
I omitted to take any photos at this site but it again came up trumps for Red-knobbed Coot - a lonely single bird.  Black-headed Weavers showed well too and I kept up my good 'hit rate' here for Little Bittern. Sadly, the heron/egret colony here is now deserted. 
Embalse de Barbate
This is a distant view of the Embalse de Barbate from Alcala de los Gazules.  Last autumn you could barely see any water in the reservoir at all but despite this a couple of pairs of Osprey still breed here.  
Picture
Humedal del Pantano
I made a quick stop here en route to Carmona to look for Laughing Dove which happily obliged within a few minutes.  Like other wetlands it was satisfyingly wet but it was a disappointment that the egret colony is no longer active.  I also missed Little Bittern (usually obliging here) but had plenty of sightings of Purple Herons which nest in the reeds.
Picture
Marismas de Casablanca
I still haven't figured out access to this site but it was good to see it so wet! 

2 Comments

Update 1 Spring 2025 - Laguna de los Tollos

9/5/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
When I first visited Laguna de los Tollos in 2011 my expectations were low as I'd read that the claypits here had wrecked the local hydrology and ruined what had once been a premier site in Andalucia. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to find a large if shallow lake with Flamingos, Red-crested Pochards, Purple Swamphens and migrant waders.  Admittedly, the views were distant and, without a 'scope, it wasn't easy to check the birdlife but I was delighted to find the laguna still existed and that local people were fighting to repair the damage wrought by the extraction of clay.  
Picture
The view of the laguna from viewpoint (c) in 2011
It was only after several subsequent visits that I fully appreciated just how lucky I'd been in 2011.  By then there was a designated mirador over the 'laguna' (Mirador La Mina), a hide with a board walk on the southern perimeter and several noticeboards. However, no sooner had this welcome infrastructure been constructed than a long drought set in.  Photos online show it was still occasionally wet (spring 2016 & 2018) but never as full as it was when I first saw it.  The photos below, taken in spring 2024, shows just how dry the 'laguna' had become.  By then, the signage had become cracked and bleached by the sun, and what remained of the 'laguna' had become the haunt of dog walkers and, to judge from tyre tracks, off-road bikers.  Stone-curlews were still present and Collared Pratincoles hawked over what few wet areas remained but it was a sorry sight and a poor reward for those locals who had fought to preserve the laguna.  
Arriving back in the area in March 2025 and fully aware of the deluge of rain that had beset Andalucia through the autumn of 2024 and well into 2025, visiting this laguna was a high priority. I wasn't disappointed! 

The view from the roundabout at the edge of El Cuervo instantly confirmed that the laguna had reasserted itself.  Better still it looked even fuller than it had in 2011.  The necklace of tamarisk that surrounded the lake now looked more like a crown.  ​
PictureBlack-necked Grebe
I visited the site twice during my stay (on 20/04 see here  & on 29/04 with Nick Brown - see here) and each time was a delight even though I missed the pair of Red-knobbed Coots reported earlier this spring. The star bird was undoubtedly Ferruginous Duck which I located from the hide amongst the many Red-crested Pochard (18) and Pochard (2).  On my second visit I was pleased to relocate the Ferruginous Duck in the same area but was still more pleased to see a second more distant bird. Also bobbing about on (and under) the water were Great-crested, Little and Black-necked Grebes (6+). Gull-billed Tern, Collared Pratincole and hoards of hirundines hawked above the laguna whilst the muddy margins held 9+ Little Ringed Plover, a few Black-winged Stilts, fewer Avocets and a handful of Common Sandpipers. Fewer than a dozen Flamingos stalked though water between the drowning tamarisks reminding me how shallow this superficially extensive laguna actually was.    The scrubby margins of the laguna had Sardinian, Melodious and Reed Warblers plus half-a-dozen Bee-eaters burbling away in the sky above them.  I was pleased to later discover that the nearby clay pits hosted a small colony of this gorgeous species. 

,Although it was wonderful to see Ferruginous Duck (a scarce and endangered species in Spain), the real star of my visits was the laguna itself.  The water was so high that a section of the (new?) boardwalk just below the Mirador la Mina as flooded and impassable.  The from the mirador itself had been transformed from somewhat dull one commanding a view over a pasture dotted with puddles of differing sizes, to one showcasing a vista across a laguna roughly a kilometre in diameter. Gratifyingly, the tired noticeboards have been replaced by smart new ones.  The hide was now at the end of a pier rather than a causeway over dry land and offered a stupendous view across the water.  On the far side of the lake there was a spruce new boardwalk which permitted a better view of the northern shoreline.  A section of flooded boardwalk stymied my plans to walk around the whole lake (c6km) so that will have to wait for a future visit.  The only cloud hanging over this wonderful experience was how long I may have to wait to see it repeated. the recent drought lasted for four years and even before then the laguna never seems to have regained its full size.  This, I'm told, has been compounded  by a local landowner who has dammed a small but vital feeder create a small agricultural reservoir.  Only time will tell, but if you're visiting this area and other lagunas seem to have a lot of water, I recommend you come here and see for yourself. Like me you might be pleasantly surprised.  
0 Comments

    About me ...

    Hi I'm John Cantelo. I've been birding seriously  since the 1960s when I met up with some like minded folks (all of us are still birding!) at Taunton's School in Southampton.  I have lived in Kent , where I taught History and Sociology, since the late 1970s. I've served on the committees of both my local RSPB group and the county ornithological society (KOS).  I also worked as a part-time field teacher for the RSPB at Dungeness.  Having retired I now spend as much time as possible in Alcala de los Gazules in SW Spain.   When I'm not birding I edit books for the Crossbill Guides series.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.