It was some six or more years back that I first noticed a large shallow body of water a couple of kilometres east of Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María (more informally just called Lagunas del Puerto de Santa María). I was unable to check it out at the time so earmarked it for future exploration the following year. Unfortunately, events beyond my control meant that I was unable to do so until this spring. By then I had discovered that the site seemed to have at least two names - Laguna del Hato Carne and Laguna de los Tercios (and third place name, Las Marismas de Pozo, may also refer to the area). Initially I settled on using the name Laguna del Hato Carne in my notes but as Laguna de los Tercios seems to be the one used on E-bird I’ve opted to use it too.
Distant view of Laguna de los Tercios from a)
As can be seen from my photos it sits in a shallow basin and is, accordingly, very shallow too. Naturally, this also means its area depends on the amount of (winter) rain and that it may be ’s a very shallow so ay be entirely dry by late summer. It is also, apparently, far more brackish than other nearby lagunas. When I briefly visited the site on 18th April 2019 viewing from (b) I had 95 Flamingo, 3 Montagu’s Harrier, 54 Avocet, 3 Purple Swamphen, 9 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 2 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Glossy Ibis 9 Gull-billed Tern and 6 Black-winged Stilt (plus Dabchick and Coot). A subsequent visit produced similar numbers plus Short-toed Lark and a dozen Collared Pratincole (although in the past I’ve seen 50+ hawking over here from a distance).
Laguna de los Tercios from d)
At the time of writing the E-bird account for this site lists a meagre 28 species but since it derives from a meagre 3 checklists this can hardly reflect the site’s potential. Worryingly, this site doesn’t seem to be protected and is outside the boundaries of the Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María. At least, unlike many other lagunas in the area, it is relatively easy to view (although a ‘scope is needed).
Laguna de los Tercios from g) Reaching the laguna is fairly straight forward. From the north take exit 646A off the A-4 and at the roundabout at the top of the ramp take the first exit (be careful as this is a narrow track running parallel to the ramp down onto the CA 31. After 650m take the track down to the laguna (c2km) which should now be visible. (From the south off the A-4 you reach the track via exit 646, a bridge across the A-4 and onto the same roundabout). This is a surprisingly busy but decent gravel track down to some fincas. On both of my visits I was passed by drivers in tractors and ‘agricultural’ 4x4s none of whom seemed concerned I was there so it seems access is OK and there are no ‘camino particular’ signs en route.
A second track (c) runs down towards the laguna from a track off the minor road near the casino (note the very rough track linking this route to the one mentioned above is not navigable by car). I've walked down this track to the small laguna (which only harboured a pair of Mallards on my visit) but this track becomes almost invisible by the time it reaches the laguna (see the photo below). Distant views can also be obtained from near Laguna Chica but this path (d) doesn't seem to reach the laguna.
The laguna probably will never be a major attraction for birders but it’s certainly worth a look if you're passing and clearly has a potential for providing the odd surprise.
A second track (c) runs down towards the laguna from a track off the minor road near the casino (note the very rough track linking this route to the one mentioned above is not navigable by car). I've walked down this track to the small laguna (which only harboured a pair of Mallards on my visit) but this track becomes almost invisible by the time it reaches the laguna (see the photo below). Distant views can also be obtained from near Laguna Chica but this path (d) doesn't seem to reach the laguna.
The laguna probably will never be a major attraction for birders but it’s certainly worth a look if you're passing and clearly has a potential for providing the odd surprise.
A second view from b) - note the track on the left
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