As expected in February, La Janda was largely dry as the rice paddies are not yet reflooded. In these conditions the small ox-bow off the track near Benalup (‘l’ on the map in my notes) held what few wetland birds were around (Black-winged Stilt and Spoonbills plus Glossy Ibis near the river). Cranes were still present, though, which was a bonus.
NB - I visited La Janda after a long dry winter but within days of my return to the UK it started to rain and parts of La Janda were flooded (including the bridge over the main canal) as the ghost old laguna made its presence felt.
NB - I visited La Janda after a long dry winter but within days of my return to the UK it started to rain and parts of La Janda were flooded (including the bridge over the main canal) as the ghost old laguna made its presence felt.
It was good to see that the track across La Janda has again been regraded and repaired so is, for the moment, without deep puddles and craters (I give it two years max). Best of all, where the cobbled and pot-holed track was regularly flooded and tricky to negotiate just beyond the weir (as you head towards Benalup) a new culvert has been built and the road surface raised which should resolve the problem of flooding.
The road up to the hilltop finca has been widened and regraded but at the expense of s number of trees and bushes. Further on beyond (as you head for Benalup) the farmhouse, the bushes that were seriously encroaching on the road have been cut back making this stretch much wider making it easier to pull over (usefully so as large agricultural trucks use this route). Much of the previously badly potholed road taking you to the A 2226 has been improved and several sections tarmacked but be aware that one or two nasty potholes remain to catch out the unwary.
Removal of trees and scrub has been rather over enthusiastic at some points
.More good news comes in the shape of several large informative noticeboards dotted across the area (an initiative of the Asociacion Amigos de la Laguna de La Janda). One confirms that the tack across the Las Lomas estate from the weir to El Canal was now open to pedestrians and cyclists. It’s about 8 km to El Canal so I doubt many birders will explore the route (even on a bicycle) and it remains to be seen what advantage there might be in doing so (although the track does follow a water course for much of its route). A more profitable strategy may be to park at El Canal and walk along the path sufficiently far to obtain what should be commanding views of the Las Lomas Estate (and hence any raptors in the area). Something I hope to check out in April.
The new sign showing the old laguna and route of the recently opened path (enlarged and annotated on the right)
Another noticeboard near the egret colony helpfully gives details of the number of breeding pairs here in 2020: Cattle Egret 3,600 pairs, Night Heron 80 pairs, Little Egret 30 pairs, Night Heron 8 pairs and Squacco Heron 3 pairs. The notice also reminds visitors to stay in their cars, be quiet
On the downside, driving along the droveway towards Facinas there was more evidence of the spread and growth of olive groves in Andalucia to the detriment of steppe species like Little Bustard..
On the downside, driving along the droveway towards Facinas there was more evidence of the spread and growth of olive groves in Andalucia to the detriment of steppe species like Little Bustard..
The expansion of olive production in Andalucia threatens birds such as Little Bustard
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