7 September 2024: Day 1, East financial institution of the Guadalquivir River and birding en path to Chipiona, WINGS Spain in Autumn
Click on right here to peer my night time vacation spot these days
Lately we observe the Guadalquivir River from Seville to the the sea at Chipiona, birding alongside the way in which. This 51 mile stretch of river was once an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, however by the point of the Romans it used to be Lacus Ligustinus, a salty lake. Since then the lake has silted up and turn out to be a large marsh with a river operating thru it.
The Guadalquivir River has many twists and turns and a few oxbow lakes however the downriver phase (highlighted on map) has been straightened and channelized for navigation to Seville.
In the meantime the marsh on either side of the river is crisscrossed with canals to empty it for agriculture. The previous japanese department of the Guadalquivir River (Brazo del Este del Guadalquivir) is bring to an end from the principle channel. In 1989 4,000 acres of it, principally following the outdated river, had been secure as a herbal space.
embedded Goggle map of Brazo del Estes del Gualdalquivir
eBird and our excursion description each point out we’ll in finding marbled duck, white-faced duck, red-knobbed coot, Spanish eagle, higher flamingo and white stork on the marsh.
… plus the hoped-for famous person of the display, the collared pratincole. I noticed this species loafing on river banks in Botswana however I’ve by no means observed it fly.
I’m additionally hoping to peer Eurasian spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia). Right here’s a couple in Portugal discussing their subsequent transfer.