The Wetlands Of La Mancha

La Mancha Húmeda

The wetlands of La Mancha in central Spain are the birding jewels in the Castilian crown; the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, the Lakes of Alcazar, the Lakes of Ruidera, and the volcanic lakes of the Campo de Calatrava. It is here you will see the rare White Headed Duck, Marbled ducks, Pochards and Red Knobbed Coots as well as Marsh Harriers, Hen Harriers and various other species of hawks and eagles. Waders and passerines such as Flamingos, Avocets, Stilts, Bearded Reedlings, Nightingales and Reed Warblers, amongst others, abound and during migration seasons any number of surprises may be seen.

Target Species depending on time of year

Little Bittern; Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey and Purple Heron; Cattle Egret, Little and Great Egret; Glossy Ibis, Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, Eared (Black-necked) and Little Grebes; Shoveler; Teal; Garganey; Red-crested Pochard; Tufted, Ferruginous, Marbled, White-headed, Duck; Purple Gallinule (Swamphen); Red-knobbed Coot; Marsh Harrier, Northern Lapwing, Kentish and Little Ringed plovers; Redshanks; Greenshanks; Common and Green Sandpiper; Dunlin; Curlew; Black-winged Stilt; Pied Avocet; Collared Pratincole; Gull-billed, Black, and Whiskered terns; Bearded Reedling; Nightingale; Pied and Spotted Flycatcher; Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler); Cettis, Great and Eurasian Reed-Warbler, and Savi´s Warbler

Purple Gallinule in the reed beds.
Purple Gallinule in the reed beds.

Western Marsh Harrier flying past
Western Marsh Harrier

Red Knobbed Coot
Red Knobbed Coot

White-headed Duck
White-headed Duck
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