Finding sites to put into my notes has been a lot of fun.  For many of them it's simply been a matter of visiting places covered in the half-a-dozen or more site guides for Spain that have been published over the years.  Even these well known sites often have a surprise or two up their sleeves since it's inevitable that printed texts are, to some degree, out-of-date even before they're published.  Some even contain basic errors. Laguna de Medina, one of the best know sites in the area, is a good example of this.  Most published guides fail to mention either the hide there or an alternative viewpoint on its western rim - both of which have been open for a couple of years now.   One source even claims, falsely, that there's a path right round the laguna – apparently a misinterpretation the map showing the reserve's boundary.  Less surprisingly, none comment on the sharp recent decline of the two main target birds – White-headed Duck and Crested Coot – at this iconic site or the recent colonisation by Olivaceous Warbler.

A few sites I've heard about through word of mouth.  A prime example of this is the Llanos de Libar in Grazalema.  Who'd have guessed that a narrow concrete lane which slips into the back of Montejaque takes you onto a dirt track that weaves its way along a gorgeous valley for a dozen km into  mountains?  I wouldn't have, had not Peter Jones  taken me there. If he hadn't done so I'd have missed a superb area which  pretty much all my birding friends have elected as their favourite site. Not surprising so as Bonelli's Eagle, Black and Black-eared Wheatear, Orphean Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Alpine Accentor (winter) are pretty much guaranteed and other good species can be reasonably hoped for (e.g. Common Rock Thrush). 

Another category are those sites that I've 'stumbled across' as I've pottered around the region.  Admittedly a good proportion of these are 'second rank' sites with less to offer than those ones featured in the standard bird finding guides.  Places like the  'Ruta El Abejaruco' walk (Vejer) make for a pleasant stroll rather than supply a cornucopia of remarkable birds or a long list.  Others though are much more than that – when wet the Laguna de Paja (Chiclana) holds White-headed Duck, 
Purple Gallinule, Ferruginous Duck and much else.  A prime example of a serendipitous discovery is the Mesa de Asta Marsh – not hard to find since it's just off the main Trebujena-Jerez road.  Yet in many respects this site – often wet when other places are dry and thus stuffed with birds – deserves greater recognition than many much more 'fancied sites'.  I first realised something good might be in the offing when I noticed, as I drove along the A 2000, flock after flock of Gull-billed Tern all hurrying low across the fields in the same direction.  The low shimmering sheets of water that shortly appeared on my left were alive with birds and I estimated c700 Gull-billed Terns to be present.    On subsequent visits I haven't found quite so many Gull-billed Tern, but I've had many hundreds of 
Whiskered Tern, large flocks of Collared Pratincole, dozens of Slender-billed Gull, White-headed Duck, Purple Gallinule, Montagu's Harrier, a wide variety of waders and much else.  

However, the discoveries that I've made from the comfort of my home back in the UK are in some ways the most pleasing and satisfying.  A few have been made from poring over maps, but more often than not they've been the result of a careful study of Google Earth.  Most of these have been no more than a more convenient way to reach a particular site (Laguna de Jeli for example) or the best the best access point (e.g. Laguna de Ballestera).  It's more difficult to spot good habitats, even wetlands and lagunas, from satellite images than might be imagined, but  a drop-down menu on Google Earth allows you to highlight  'parks/recreation areas' and 'water bodies' which certainly helps.   Unfortunately, many parks aren't wildlife friendly and heavy abstraction means a good number of 'water bodies' are no more.  However, thanks to a combination of 'Street View' and 'Panoramio' photos it's usually possible to check out sites 'on screen' without having to  actually go there in person!  

The notorious one-way system in  Sanlucar and traffic congestion en route to Bonanza saltpans and the Gudalquivir, is best avoided.  Accordingly, some years ago I  browsed Google Earth for an alternative route, finding one in the CA 9027 which avoids both  Sanlucar and Bonanza.  If aiming to visit La Algaida pines or the Gudalquivir this route is shorter and, even if backtracking to the saltpans, it's often a less stressful and quicker drive.  It was by taking this route one February that I discovered 'Martin Miguel Pools'; hardly a promising site, I probably wouldn't have stopped had not a flock of Little Gulls been drifting about above them.  When I did stop, I discovered a couple of wintering Whiskered Terns, White-headed Ducks  and, later in the year, found that the field here held a large Collared Pratincole colony (although it was largely deserted in 20014).  In browsing Google Earth back home I'd also came across a handful of small pools nearby, but, being off route, I probably wouldn't have detoured to look at them had they not a 'Panaramio' photo of the site shown a group of White-headed Duck.   

Although this site is only a couple of kilometres from Bonanza saltpans, one of the best known sites in the area, its  small size and moreover its location, tucked away as it is in a maze of narrow lanes, means it is almost entirely unknown.  Yet despite its size it punches well above its weight.  Finding what I'd already dubbed  'Bonanza Pools' (although 'Camino Colorado Pools' might have been a better name) on the ground proved surprisingly easy – just turning off the CA 624  onto Camino Truncosa takes you, after many twists and turns, to the pools. There are three main pools and a much less interesting fourth one (see map).  The first you reach coming from the CA 624 - (i) on map - is easy to view from the raised road, but, as parking here is tricky, it's the one I've scarcely explored. Fortunately the other two pools - (ii) and (iii) on the map - are easily viewed from Camino Colorado although care needs to be exercised at the road can be surprisingly busy. A fourth laguna - see (iv) on the map - is much nearer Bonanza, but when I've looked has been overgrown and almost dry. It may be worth a look in very wet springs. 

At first sight, early one spring, the three somewhat scruffy pools, surrounded by 'poly tunnels and dotted with rubbish, didn't look inspiring.  However, a closer look revealed several White-headed Ducks floating around at far closer range than at any other site I know. Mixed in with them were even more Red-crested Pochards and a few Black-necked Grebe.  Carefully picking their way through the reeds, in which Great Reed Warblers were belting away, were a number of Purple Gallinules.  Subsequent visits have regularly turned up Little Bittern (for which it's the most reliable site I know) and, although I've missed them myself, Marbled Teal are regular here and others have seen Ferruginous Duck.  Better still, in recent years Crested Coot have also been present.  Whether it's anything to do with my notes or this blog I don't know, but in recent years more birders have discovered 'Bonanza Pools'.  In short, this minuscule site is currently far better for special sought after Andalucian species than well known and highly regarded sites like  Laguna de Medina!  

Back in 2011 I heard that a new centre for the study 'Migration and Global Change' was going to be built on what was previously a military base just east of Tarifa at Punta Camorro.  Given the current dire state of the Spanish economy, I rather assumed that this plan would never come to fruition.  So imagine my delight and surprise this spring when I found that building works were in hand and the centre was due to be completed in autumn 2014.  The bulk of the 1.6 million euro bill (900,000€) comes from Red Electrica de Espana, presumably in mitigation for being allowed top dot the landscape (including parts of the Natural Park!) with wind generators. 

This time I hope funding is in place to set the place up properly with basic necessities (like a water and power supply),  that there's no question about the access being in some way unsafe and that the political will is there to see the project through.  According to the various stories I've been told over the years, all of these (and more) were the reasons why the purpose built raptor watching centre at Cazalla stands empty.  This scandalous 'white elephant' sits above the road into Tarifa as a depressing monument to EU funded waste and incompetence.  Recently it's been suggested to me that the EU is looking to get its money back since the place looks destined to remain mothballed permanently.  I don't know whether this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me since the EU are also looking to get a multi-million refund for the abandoned Seville-Malaga AVE trainline. Whilst in many ways this makes sense, it'd be a shame as that would mean the place would never come into use.  Its position makes it an ideal location for a centre to educate and inform locals/tourists - something that seems to have been willfully neglected in the past.

Only time will tell whether the new centre will fare any better – it's certainly ideally located for birdwatching, but perhaps less so to pick up 'passing trade' from tourists (if indeed this is part of the centre's brief).   With accommodation and other facilities, the new centre should hopefully generate some income of its own. There's a doleful history of facilities in Spain (and doubtless elsewhere) being built, in part with EU funding, and then standing unused or, at best under used, as the funding for running costs aren't in place.  

Perhaps foolishly, I'm optimistic that this time, they've got it right and that this new centre will make a significant contribution  to the study of migratory birds.  The detailed 'mission statement' (see -http://www.fundacionmigres.org/en/seccion/Migration/and/global/change/164/290/436/0/2/0/36) is full of worthy scientific aims and agendas. Apparently, it's main areas of activity will be 
                            the scientific study migration and global change, research, collection of data, bio-diverstiy 
                             technological development develoopment and application of environmental solutions
                            Training (seemingly aimed at post graduate students)
                            Conferences and publications
.... and who could argue with that? 

And yet ........

The organisation has to get a better grip on modern technology than it has been in the past and publicise its work and results to a wider, international audience.  A new promised blog 'Migration at the Strait of Gibraltar' will be a start.  Using Facebook and Twitter to post daily figures for migration totals surely wouldn't be too hard.  I hope too that the whiff of the scientific ivory tower I had as I read through the proposals is more about my mis-perceptions than the reality to come.Birders talking to birders may be very jolly, but if we're ever going to be serious about the environment and conservation we need to engage the wider public.   It always astonishes me that so many holiday makers blithely sit below one of Europe's most extraordinary spectacles, that is the mass migration of storks and raptors, without apparently noticing! Making them notice, and above all care about the fact, has got to have a high priority.  This priority may yet be buried somewhere in the 'mission statement', but the fact that it isn't obvious suggests to me that getting out in the community and engaging local organisations, schools, etc isn't the priority I think it ought to be.  Yet I remain optimistic - other organisations are taking up this baton and it's to be hoped that once established this new centre will do more in this vital area than seems to be promised.