L
egend has it that at the beginning of the
year 1492, once given the keys of the city of
Granada to the Spanish Catholic Kings, the
last occupant of the Kingdom of Granada's throne
- Moorish King Boabdil also known as "Boabdil
the Younger" or "The Hapless King"- started its
painful path of exile to the Mediterranean coast,
on the Morocco direction.
A large royal entourage accompanied
him on this direct way to south.
When the grieving procession reached the saddle from
which the city of La Alhambra can be seen for the last
time, Boabdil looked
back and then the tears
began streaming down
his cheeks.
The king's mother, Aixa,
was contemplating the scene. Instead of
comforting her son, the former queen moved
closer to him for mercilessly telling off the conquest of Granada by Christian troops.
"Cry as a woman for something that you were
unable to defend as a man" she said, and from
that moment the small depression between
summits where King Boabdil wept was renamed
as "Puerto del Suspiro del Moro" (Passage of the
Moorish's Sigh)...
1
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
SUAREZ´S POND:
THE HIDDEN JEWEL OF SOUTHERN SPAIN
Panoramic sight toward the Southern
Lagoon of Suarez’s Pond from hide 5
with zoom over the perch commonly
used by kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) for
scanning its potential preys.
egend apart, the
truth is that if the
King of the Moors
had been a keen birder he
would most likely not have
suffered so much. The
place where he was going
to for embarking towards
the African continent was
in that time a large and
filled with exciting wildlife
wetland.
The Guadalfeo River
formed then, at its mouth,
an impressive delta dotted
with marshlands, salt
marshes, lagoons and
small ponds where sugar
cane plantations occupied
most of the fertile lowlands around the medieval
settlements of Salobreña
and Motril.
Unfortunately, however, a progressive change
of scene has been taking
L
place in this privileged
area over the last five centuries. The crumbling became particularly dramatic
during the last third of the
XX century, when the aggressive city planning
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
stroke heavily the Mediterranean coastal zone. Vast
extensions of waterlogged
lands were buried under
hundreds of apartment
towers, recreational complexes and hotels, most of
them built with a complete
absence of environmental
awareness.
Only a small portion of
the original wetland has
reached us today, the lagoon complex named in
Specimen of purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) looking for
fresh stalks of bulrush (Typha latifolia) along the Northern Lagoon
banks. Being a resident bird at Suarez's Pond, can be observed
here from a short distance mainly in the late afternoon. That is
why this place is likely the best enclave on the European
continent for watching this sort of really
odd wading bird looking like a cross
between coot and moorhen,
which it is related to.
2
▲
This Nature Reserve is located at the southern edge of the
province of Granada, next to the Mediterranean coast and
barely 70 km (43 ½ miles) from the city of La Alhambra.
For being more accurate, the entrance to the fenced compound
of the Nature Reserve has a grid reference of 36º 43' 18.76'' N,
3º 32' 31.2'' W, corresponding to the western part of the city of
Motril and near the seaport of the same locality.
Motril is the principal town of the Costa Tropical (Tropical
Coast), as is called the “comarca” -a Spanish administrative unit
smaller than a region and longer than a municipality- defined
by the Granada province's coastline.
Spanish
“Charca
de
Suárez” (Suarez’s Pond). A
real oasis for nature and
wildlife located at the
Motril lowland whose current high level of conservation has been achieved
as the result of many people, public institutions and
environmental
groups'
selfless effort.
Thanks especially to
the hard and devoted work
of the BUXUS ecologist organization, focused heavily on awareness-raising in
the administration and
among inhabitants of the
town of Motril, this privileged enclave has come
until our days looking like
very similar to its original
wild aspect.
Suarez’s Pond is currently protected with the
designation of the area as
“Reserva Natural Concertada” -that is to say a Nature Reserve with a
commitment from the Andalusian
Governmentsince 2009. The entire
fenced enclosure lies
within the “Inventario de
Humedales de Andalucía”
(Andalusian Wetland In-
3
ventory) as of 2007 besides.
A visit to this place
means to enjoy one of the
most important areas for
birdwatching on the Iberian Peninsula whose rich
and varied birdlife comprises more than 160 different species. Within the
92 species of birds cur-
rently
considered
in
threatened status across
the length and breadth of
the Andalusian region, 51
of them are possible to see
on this quite rightly protected zone.
Even though its small
area (13.8 hectares of land
comprising the core of the
reserve, plus the recently
added area), placed next to
a highly humanized environment by Motril Western
Beach's residential complexes and hotels, Suarez's
Pond protected area constitutes itself an unique and
privileged setting for
wildlife conservation.
The strategic spot of
the Suarez's Pond along-
Cattle egrets (Bulbulcus
ibis) placidly perched on
the horse back at the
River Guadalfeo mouth.
Near there, placed in the
fertile Motril lowlands,
the Suarez’s Pond remains as the last redoubt
of the wild fauna in its
purest
form,
before
buildings and housing
developments destroyed
marshes and pools along
the Mediterranean coastal
strip.
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
How to reach it
▲
The neighboring airports to the Suarez's
Pond area are situated in the cities of
Granada, Málaga and Almería respectively. The access by car from Granada is
taking the A44 national highway to
Motril. If we wanted to arrive to Suarez's
Pond from Málaga or Almería directions,
travelling on the A7 highway it would be
required then.
Leaving from Granada then we must travel
along the A44 highway for about 60 km (37 ¼ miles) until
reaching a large roundabout type junction placed at the
end of this highway.
On reaching the roundabout we take the third exit to
the Puerto de Motril (Motril Harbour) on the GR14 road
▲
signposted " GR14-Motril-Puerto”
Coming from the roundabout, we must turn off the old N-323
Continuing along the GR14, in just three and a half
road on the right direction once reached the first housing com-
kilometres (2 ¼ miles) the path encounters a new round-
plex at the start of calle Moral (Moral street).
about where we must choose the third exit heading due
south.
Some 300 metres (¼ mile) away, we arrive to the last
junction of our driving route. The GR14 road we are following meets at this point the old N340 road running
alongside the Mediterranean coast.
From this final junction located at 329 km on the N340
road –pointed as “329 km roundabout” on the attached
map- we go straight ahead taking the second exit to the
Motril Harbour on the N323 road signposted "El
Puerto/N-323".
Going on the N323 road- commonly referred to on its
final stretch as "carretera de la celulosa" (the cellulose
road) - barely 3 km (1 ¾ miles) from the last roundabout
▲
we leave behind a small industrial state before reaching
Route by car, from the N-323 road to the entrance gate to
the urban area of the town of Motril.
Suarez's Pond protected area.
Taking the first street right -calle Moral (Moral street)after only a hundred meters we reach the Camino del
Pelaillo (Pelaillo's Path) street , only a few dozens of meters away from the beach.
On arriving to this street we must turn right. After
passing the building of Gran Hotel Elba Motril (ElbaMotril Great Hotel) and the complex built with a white
and red façade, we find finally the entrance gate to the
▲
fenced compound of Charca de Suárez (Suarez's Pond).
Route to Charca de Suárez (Suarez's Pond) from the N340
road, once we reach the roundabout at 329 Km of this road.
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
4
▲
Four Spanish pond turtles
(Mauremys leprosa) enjoying the fading sun on the
Northern Lagoon shore.
indispensable most of the
time in order to have good
sights-, here we can see
shy and elusive water bird
species from a short distance, many times even
standing out easily in the
foreground, enjoying them
from the set of hides cleverly placed for it.
Beginning with the
route description itself,
once passed the entrance
gate and after walking a
few metres we reach the
starting point of the circular stroll from which we
will discover the striking
natural features of this exceptional environment.
Keeping on the branch
trending north, from the
left-hand, the path maintains its way parallel to the
Balate de la Culebra irrigation ditch.
These kinds of artificial
watercourses - locally
known as "balates" or
"madres"-bring most of
the water that feeds this
small coastal wetland. In
the case of Balate de la
Culebra canal, its course
limits the western edge of
the currently protected
area. The Balate del Lagarto irrigation channel
runs through Suarez's
Pond from north to south,
passing halfway between
the outer lagoon and the
northern lagoon.
Although this last "balate" introduces the most
significant flow water inside the natural reserve,
another remarkable source
for supplying - especially
over the dry season- is the
provision of water coming
from Motril-Salobreña unconfined aquifer.
▲
side the Mediterranean
coastline, in the vicinity of
the African continent,
make this area an ideal
winter and summer residence for migratory birds
besides an excellent nesting site. In addition to
this, it must be taken into
account that the pond is
also an important place for
amphibian species breeding.
In contrast to other
Spanish wildlife sanctuaries for birdwatching such
as Doñana National Park
or Fuente de Piedra Natural Park -where using powerful
telescopes
is
General view of Suarez's Pond
with a rough zoning map
showing the vegetation cover.
Proposed
circular
route
through the original area of the
reserve including the starting
point near the main entrance.
5
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
Be aware of...
Before starting
with the visit we can park
our vehicle in the Camino
del Pelaíllo street. Although there is usually
enough
room
for
it,
should be beared in mind
that parking might be
hard to find in summertime, especially during the
month of August.
For the breeding season, from March to May,
the nature reserve can be
only visited by means of
guided tours. This sort of
visits last an hour and a
half as a rule, staying
closed the entrance gate to
the fenced enclosure all
this time.
Tops of bulrush leaves (Typha latifolia) constitute
for kingfisher privileged spots where perching on
for hunting, diving from there in pursuit of small
fishes, tadpoles, molluscs and insects. Despite
being considered a very shy species, hides 2 and 5
frequently provide close views of
this beautifully coloured bird.
Following with the suggested itinerary, in just 150
metres (492 feet) from the
entrance gate we arrive at
hide 1. The visibility here is
rather restricted due to the
fast growing of marsh vegetation which surrounds the
Outer Lagoon, but it is advisable having a look from
this laterally opened hide
for a short time. In addition to watching relatively
easy to see water birds
such
as
moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus), coot
(Fullica atra) or mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos), the
male of white-headed duck
(Oxyura leucocephala)
might make us enjoy its
striking and distinctive
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
look during the breeding
season. It is also important to highlight that redknobbed coot (Fulica
cristata) is here a reproductive species since 2013.
The walk continues
going round the Outer Lagoon for reaching some
200 metres (656 feet) later
the northwest corner of
the fenced piece of ground.
At this point there is a
small sugar crane (Saccharum officinarum) plantation with an explanatory
panel telling the visitor
how important this crop
type was in a not so distant
past on this nearby land to
the
Guadalfeo
River
mouth.
Originally from New
Guinea, cultivation of this
plant was introduced in
the Iberian Peninsula by
Muslims between the 8th
and 10th centuries
The most recommendable option to check opening times on special dates
such as national or local
holidays as well as for arranging guided visits of
groups is calling, in both
cases, to telephone numbers +34 618217508 / +34
682345666. These contact
numbers can be consulted
on the Motril Town Council website www.motril.es
Closely linked to the ancestral technique of irrigation used for sugar cane
crops - known generically
as "riego a manta" (a sort of
gravity-assisted irrigation
technique in which water
flows from a little higher
point to a not much lower
level by means of ruts) - has
been created a particular
ecosystem where is possible to observe Mediter-
6
The slim silhouette of black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) can be enjoyed in particular from hide 2 overlooking the Northern Lagoon. Even though being a resident species at Suarez's Pond, individuals heading south to
Spain for wintering represent here a significant increase in the population of such wading birds.
ranean tree frog (Hyla
meridionalis) and snakes
such as horseshoe whip
snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) or ladder snake
(Rhinechis scalaris).
The presence of mammals like red fox (Vulpes
vulpes), badger (Meles
meles) or weasel (Mustela
nivalis) and small and secretive passerine birds such as
nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) or bluethroat
(Luscinia svecica) contribute
to increasing natural wealth
of this agricultural landscape
designed by man.
It is interesting to note,
as regards to bluethroat,
its local denomination in
the Salobreña and Motril
areas. Popularly known as
"reina mora" (Moorish
queen), the origin of such
name dates back about
five centuries.
At that time, year after
year and with the cold
weather coming, Queen
Aixa arrived to the Castle
of Salobreña for taking her
7
annually appreciated sun
baths. This very beautiful
woman - wife of Muley
Hazen and mother of Boabdil, the last king of Granada's
moors as has already been
specified previously- used to
stay at the rooms of the said
fortress over the winter
months.
As bluethroat, wintering species in this area,
returned to the Guadalfeo
lowland every year virtually coinciding in time with
the Aixa's visit, not difficult to imagine people
linking the two circumstances. First sightings of
bluethroat announced imminent arrival of the
Queen to these lands.
The beauty of adult
males specially, with a
sleek and refined white
ruff separating the bright
and deep blue tones from
the intense orange strip
embellishing its breast
- this white patch is peculiar to the subspecies Luscinia svecica cyaneculaaided clearly to associate
this sort of bird with royalty.
So bluethroat was renamed " Moorish queen"
by most rural people,
transmitting orally such
denomination from generation to generation until
today.
Leaving behind the
sugar cane plantation, the
Balate de la Culebra ditch is
crossed in our route. It is
very likely that we can spot,
moving on its very slow
water current, Spanish
pond turtle (Mauremys
leprosa) and the two more
aquatic snake species -the
Purple heron (Ardea purpurea) overflying Suarez’s Pond area, where is relatively frequent be seen hunting small fishes, amphibians and invertebrates from the Inner Lagoon shore. Although it may be an observable bird in
summertime, it is much easier to be watched here
during the two seasonal movements of the
species. The first one from Africa to Spain
for breeding over March-April, and the
second migratory movement for returning to its wintering grounds on the African continent from approximately
the second half of August to the first week of September.
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
▲
term "Natrix" from its Latin
denomination
means
"swimmer"- viperine water
snake (Natrix maura) and
grass snake (Natrix natrix).
This latter, as well as being
an increasingly difficult to
see snake kind, sometimes
is called “ringed snake” too.
The presence of both
species
Mediterranean
tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) and grass snake (Natrix natrix) is an excellent
bio-indicator
for
the
aquatic ecosystem health.
With respect to underwater vegetal community
that colonizes the aquatic
world of irrigation ditches,
small lagoons and ponds,
here is a species of
stonewort as the Chara vulgaris longibracteata besides to other aquatic plants
like fennel pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) and
hornwort (Ceratophyllum
demersum), commonly re-
Another interesting bird that may be spotted inside the nature reserve is night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). With predominantly nocturnal habits, this sort of heron moves especially along the Northern Lagoon shoreline for feeding from twilight till daybreak. Regarded here as a resident species, it
increases considerably its number with the winter arrival and especially over migratory periods.
ferred to "coontail" in the
United Kingdom.
This latter species - also
known at this southern
spot on the Iberian Peninsula as "cama de ranas"
(frogs' bed) or "milhojas de
agua" (millefeuille of water)
- is an aquatic macrophyte
that if occurs in adequate
proportions, no more than
30 per cent extending over
the water surface, produces
beneficial effects such as
better water oxygenation.
Because of it, this kind of
plant is profusely recommended as a natural alternative for combating exotic
and invasive species.
The main problem
arises when hornwort develops in highly phosphate
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
and nitrate polluted waters
like those ones contaminated by the widely used in
agriculture
fertilizers.
Common "coontail" grows
then in an extraordinary
and
disproportionately
high way, becoming an invasive plant enabled for
drying large surfaces of
water.
Foremost
among
aquatic plants living here
stands out one threatened
species scientifically known
as “Zannichelia contorta”,
being designed as “vulnerable” on the Libro Rojo de
la Flora Vascular Española
(Red Paper on Spanish
Vascular Flora) and getting at this wetland the
only confirmed spotting of
the species along the
coastline of Granada.
The route follows now
passing next to a field area
whose soil moisture is evidenced by the great proliferation of sharp or spiny
rush (Juncus acutus).
As we move away from
the Balate del Lagarto
canal, meadows covered
with gramineous and leguminous plants begin to
dominate the landscape.
Barely 230 metres (755
feet) from the sugar cranes
we reach the hide 2, the
biggest and most important bird observatory of
the whole nature reserve.
Facing south and overlooking the Northern Lagoon, we will enjoy at this
8
Indentified as critically endangered species in the
“Libro Rojo de los Vertebrados Amenazados de Andalucía” (Red Paper on Andalusian Threatened Vertebrates), squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) was
really on the verge of extinction in Andalucia some
years ago. Towards the end of the year 1991, only remained 20 couples across the entire Andalusian territory. Fortunately, environmental actions such as
this of Suarez´s Pond have successfully achieved the
progressively increasing population of this kind of
smallish and squat-bodied heron.
Well known to birders for being a wading bird
easily overlooked on the ground
when its buff
plumage gets to bend into the background, this protected area offers visitors the opportunity of viewing individuals from a short distance as birds are
perched on branches or hunting next to the shores.
Squacco heron is here a summer visitor species
so the appropiate period for enjoying with its observation is from June to October.
Photo courtesy of Manuel Mañani
point of the route the most
impressive and amazing
sights of the wildlife inhabiting Suarez's Pond.
Practically the whole bird
species residing or visiting
to the protected area may
be watched from this
strategic viewpoint.
Passerines are widely
represented by more than
60 different species. Outstands among them Savi’s
warbler (Locustella luscinoides), on being Suarez's
Pond its unique breeding
area around the province
of Granada.
Other protected species
including in the Libro Rojo
de Vertebrados Amenzados
de Andalucía (Red Paper
on Andalusian Threatened
Vertebrates), are redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus), aquatic warbler
(Acrocephalus paludicola),
9
moustached warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
and eastern olivaceous warbler (Iduna pallida).
Water pipit (Anthus
spinoletta), common chif-
fchaff (Phylloscopus collybita),
white
wagtail
(Motacilla alba), yellow
wagtail (Motacilla flava),
european reed warbler
(Acrocephalus scirpaceus),
fan-tailed warbler (Cisticola
juncidis), black redstart
(Phoenicurus ochruros),
european stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), nightingale
(Luscinia megarhynchos),
Great egret (Ardea Alba) progressing alongside the Northern Lagoon shore. Much more
difficult to see than little egret (Egretta
garzetta), this sort of egret can be easily distinguished by its yellowish tarsus.
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
Cetti’s warbler (Cettia cetti)
and bluethroat (Luscinia
svecica) are more tangible
examples of the rich varied
birdlife whose observation
we can enjoy at Suarez’s
Pond.
Among those more
threatened species of wading birds here found,
stand out squacco heron
(Ardeola ralloides), purple
heron (Ardea purpurea),
night-heron (Nycticorax
nycticorax) and little bittern (Ixobrychus minutes).
It is worth noting too
the chance to observe
specimens of black-winged
stilt (Himantopus himantopus), avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), little
bittern (Ixobrichus minutus), common sandpiper
(Actitis hypoleucos), little
ringed plover (Charadrius
dubius), redshank (Tringa
totanus), grey heron
(Ardea cinerea), cattle
egret (Bubulcus ibis), little
egret (Egretta garzetta),
spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) and greater
flamingo (Phoenicopterus
roseus).
As regards the rest of
water birds like Anatidae
species or waterfowls, it is
possible to see emblematic
birds such as the aforementioned white-headed
duck (Oxyura leucocephala) or red-crested
pochard (Netta rufina) for
example. Also occur shoveler (Anas clypeata), gadwall (Anas strepera) ,
mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), wigeon (Anas penelope), teal (Anas crecca),
ferruginous duck (Aythya
nyroca) and marbled duck
▲
Suarez´s Pond also offers the opportunity to watch one of the most threatened with extinction bird
species in the world, the crested or red-knobbed coot (Fulica cristata).
Looking like the much more abundant Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) but with two “red knobs” over
its forehead which allow it to differentiate from that other kind of coot, crested coot belongs on
the list of 37 endangered Spanish vertebrates that includes other legally protected species such as
Iberian lynx or Spanish Imperial eagle.
Within the framework of an International of the International Action Plan initiated in the early
90’s for to save it from the disappearance, around three hundreds of coots were reintroduced into
the wild as result of the captive breeding programme carried out since then.
Four couples of birds coming from the said action plan were released in Suarez’s Pond over the
spring of 2013. A few months later, at the end of August , it could be noted that red-knobbed coot
established itself as reproductive species inside the protected area. Three marvellous little chicks
were spotted swimming behind their mother alongside the southern edge of the main lagoon.
The specimen photographed by Manuel Mañani -biologist of the Nature Reserve- corresponds
to one of these new residents of Suarez's Pond.
(Marmaronetta
angustirostris).
The waterfowl list with
the most remarkable
species might be completed with sightings of little grebe (Tachybaptus
ruficollis),
cormorant
(Phalacrocorax
carbo)
and gull species like yellow-legged gull (Larus
michahellis) or blackheaded gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).
Besides that, special
mention must be made of
the fact this small wetland
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]
area affords close up looks
at purple gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio), letting
us follow it from hides
mainly at dusk. This really
odd looking bird -almost
prehistoric in relation to
its appearance- leaves then
the protection given by the
surrounding vegetation for
feeding on the shallower
waters of the different
pools located at Suarez's
Pond.
While it is true that this
species becomes abundant
in other Spanish protected
areas as occurs at Doñana
National Park or La Albufera de Valencia Natural
Park, their broad extent
increases significantly the
complication of sighting
purple gallinule from only
a few metres unlike what
happens at Nature Reserve
of Suarez's Pond.
Going on with the rich
varied birdlife description,
most observable diurnal
raptors in this area are
marsh harrier (Circus aeuruginosus) and common
kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).
10
On light starting to fall
little owl (Athene noctua)
and short-eared owl (Asio
flammeus) leave their hidden perches used over
daytime, overflying the
pond and surrounding
croplands searching for
possible preys as mice or
moles.
If we focus now on
scrutinizing the species of
flora existing here, in the
shallower zones around
pools grow up bulrush
(Typha latifolia), yellow
iris (Iris pseudacorus) and
branched bur-reed (Sparganium erectum).
Along the edges and directly affected by possible
variations in the water
level, besides the plants
which have just been mentioned, reed (Phragmites
communis), ravenna grass
(Erianthus
ravennae),
giant or wild cane (Arundo
donax) and gipsywort (Lycopus europaeus) are able
to expand successfully too.
Cladium mariscus, the
Spanish "masiega", also
get developing inside a
small area close to the
southern shore of the
Northern Lagoon.
The presence of tree
species within the protected
area comes primarily from
specimens of purple willow
(Salix purpurea), grey willow (Salix atrocinerea) and
Salix sepulcralis, more than
4-metre-high (13 ft) in
many cases, occupying the
nearest stretch to the water
surface.
Slightly further away
from the waterlogged
areas, standing out with
heights in many cases
above 4 meters too, must
11
be noted the occurrence
here of tree specimens
such as black poplar (Populus nigra) besides castor
oil plant (Ricinus communis) and white cedar
(Melia
azederach).
African tamarix (Tamarix
africana) manages to
grow on the more sandy
and dry soils that the natural reserve includes.
As a curiosity, the highest tree of the entire protected area is a eucalyptus
tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) spotted about
midway between the Outer
and the Northern Lagoons, on the right stream
bank of Balate del Lagarto
watercourse.
From
among
the
climbing plants it is important to mention red
raspberry and blackberry
bush as belonging to the
genus Rubus and mallow
bindweed (Convolvulus
althaeoides), without forgetting that creeping
species generically known
in Spanish as "matacán"
(Cynanchum acutum).
The list of living creatures here observable ends
with the review of the insect
world, within which it is
worth highlighting the existence
of
red-veined
darter(Sympetrum fonscolombii), ruddy darter
(Sympetrum sanguineum),
European rhinoceros beetle
(Oryctes nasicornis) and,
finally, six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae).
In respect of the route
description we were walking on as far as reaching
hide 2, even though being
this observatory the most
advantageous place for
birdwartching as it has
been pointed previously, it
is very advisable to complete the total circular itinerary.
We will visit then to
hides 3 and 4 on both sides
of the Inner Lagoon -also
referred to as "Lagoon of
the Clover" because of its
shape in plan. For arriving
at the first one we must
cover about 250 metres
(820 feet) from hide 2.
Distance between hides 3
and 4 is a little over 600
metres (1969 feet) roughly.
From the small observatory 4 to hide 5 -this latter the closest to the exit or
the entrance gate, is the
same door, to the fenced
compound- there are
barely 300 metres (984
feet).
Being a tiny, secretive type of heron normally difficult to see, little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) may be occasionally spotted as it is perched on reed stems that
constitute the dense wetland cover of the Northern Lagoon shoreline.
© David Ríos Aguilar · [email protected]