7 September 2024: Day 1, East financial institution of the Guadalquivir River and birding en path to Chipiona, WINGS Spain in Autumn
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At present we comply with the Guadalquivir River from Seville to the the ocean at Chipiona, birding alongside the best way. This 51 mile stretch of river was once an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, however by the point of the Romans it was Lacus Ligustinus, a salty lake. Since then the lake has silted up and develop into a giant marsh with a river working by means of it.
The Guadalquivir River has many twists and turns and a few oxbow lakes however the downriver part (highlighted on map) has been straightened and channelized for navigation to Seville.
In the meantime the marsh on each side of the river is crisscrossed with canals to empty it for agriculture. The previous jap department of the Guadalquivir River (Brazo del Este del Guadalquivir) is minimize off from the principle channel. In 1989 4,000 acres of it, primarily following the previous river, have been protected as a pure space.
embedded Goggle map of Brazo del Estes del Gualdalquivir
eBird and our tour description each point out we’ll discover marbled duck, white-faced duck, red-knobbed coot, Spanish eagle, higher flamingo and white stork on the marsh.
… plus the hoped-for star of the present, the collared pratincole. I noticed this species loafing on river banks in Botswana however I’ve by no means seen it fly.
I’m additionally hoping to see Eurasian spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia). Right here’s a pair in Portugal discussing their subsequent transfer.
