On the 11th January 2025 led the first outing of the year to Laguna de Medina near Jerez, with s small group of members form the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society targeting a variety of wetland species in the area.
A ZEPA and RAMSAR site
The lagoon is a ZEPA zone, a Special Protection Area for Birds, natural areas protected and cataloged by the member state of the European Union in order to protect birds. it is also a recognised RAMSAR-protected lagoon. A RAMSAR site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”, an international environmental treaty signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO
The start
The start of day began with with a journey from the Gibraltar frontier where several White. storks where observed already pairing up in the nests, followed by an obligatory breakfast stop at Venta La Parada adjacent to the A-381 carriageway linking Los Barrios-Jerez, where we were welcomed by a raucous flock of Spotless Starlings. Perched on a lamppost, where two White Storks watched unperturbed, as cars arrived below. As we drove north, the mist thickened along the route, but by the time we reached Laguna de Medina, it had lifted just enough to reveal the birds. The calm, windless ‘eerie’ morning left the water mirror-flat, setting the stage for a wonderful mindfulness experience.
A revived lagoon teeming with wildife
Laguna de Medina, which had dried up during the summer drought, was now replenished as a result of abundant autumn / ear.y winter rains. Thankfully, the previously introduced carp; known for damaging submerged vegetation vital to wildfowl, seemed to be absent.
We began observations at the northern viewing platforms before moving along the main path on the southern edge of the lake. The lake was teeming with birdlife The calm morning accentuated the symphony of calls echoing from the lagoon, while the lingering mist added an ethereal quality to the experience, making the overall atmosphere even more memorable than individual sightings. A flock of circa 100–200 Greater Flamingos rested on the water, encircled by large numbers of Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed, and Mediterranean Gulls. Waterfowl were present in good numbers, with especially large number of Eurasian Coots, as expected at this site. The Red-knobbed coot proved to be elusive and failed to appear. Surprisingly, the most numerous duck was the Red-crested Pochard, with hundreds of individuals, including stunning males in splendid breeding plumage. Common Pochard were also abundant.
Other ducks observed included Mallard, Gadwall, and a couple each of Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail. About three Tufted Ducks were present, along with a male hybrid Aythya species, likely a cross between a Ring-necked Duck and another Aythya. Among the Grebes, we observed only smaller groups of Black-necked Grebes. Surprisingly, no Great Created Grebes were observed. Occasionally, a female Marsh Harrier would drift across the lake, sending flocks of waterfowl scrambling noisily to the skies.
Exploring the Surroundings
The surrounding vegetation was alive with activity: fruiting shrubs attracted Eurasian Blackcaps, numerous Song Thrushes, and a few Redwings. European Stonechats perched atop the sparse reeds, and we spotted two small flocks of Spanish Sparrows among an assortment of finches.
From the tamarisk thickets lining the lake, we heard the distinct calls of one f ther two Eurasian Penduline Tits recorded during the morning. At the end of the path, we reached the hide, which offered a closer view of the waterbirds we had observed earlier. While wading birds were scarce, we did see a Common Snipe flying over the lake. Inside the hide, the group’s preparedness shone through; equipped with thermos flasks and snacks. One participant even brought freshly baked rock buns, which were greeted with appreciation by the rest of the group and promptly devoured, delicious!
Return trip and bonus Sightings
From Laguna de Medina, we decided to take a detour towards Algeciras in search for the very rare Pacific Diver (Gavia Pacifica) which had been reported in the Bay of Gibraltar the previous days adjacent to one of the beaches in Algeciras. Unfortunately, the search proved unsuccessful. However, a bonus, as the temperatures rose slightly and the sun began to exert its presence, the mist cleared during the return journey and we were treated to sightings of stunning raptors that had eluded us earlier during the trip. These included Eurasian Griffons, Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Red Kites, Black-winged Kites, and even a first-winter Spanish Eagle. A fantastic end to the day!