Thursday, 15 August 2024

Despite being totally surrounded by miles and miles of plastic sheeting, this is a terrific little wetland, well worth taking the trouble to visit. White-headed Duck is the main attraction, not just because there are so many of them, but also because they give such close views, as do Black-necked Grebes. There’s also a heronry which includes Squacco Herons and Night Herons and a chance of Marbled Duck and Little Bittern too. There is another, similar, site the Albufera de Adra, 20km to the west. This has even more White-headed Ducks but is so obscured by fences and reeds (and greenhouses!) that Cañada de las Norias is a much better bet.

All the sites in this section are treated, in detail and with precise maps and directions, in my book ‘Finding Birds in Andalucia’

If you have any information which you feel would help to update the book, please email me at dave@easybirder.co.uk and I’ll add your observations to these pages

To view more sites in Andalucia click here

Cañada de las Norias

The view from the western end of the lake - not exactly scenic is it but you do get very close to the birds

The eastern end is a little more scenic and just as extraordinary for seeing birds at close range

Don’t miss this pool nearby (site 3 in my book) which is likely to have extra species of wildfowl and waders

These tamarisks (site 4 in my book) are where the herons breed but it’s difficult to see them clearly

A reminder of just how ugly the scenery is in this part of Almeria