Barcelona and the Ebro delta December 2014

At Camp Nou

Our family decided to celebrate at our parents home in Alfaz del Pi, Alicante province. I departed some days ahead and arrived in Barcelona. I enjoyed Barcelona playing at home on Camp Nou, and the day after headed towards the Ebro-delta. The delta is about 200 km south of Barcelona and is by far the most important wetland on the Med Coast. I had just been there once before, on the northern side of the river. This time I has hired a guide, Jaume Soler Zorita from Audouin Birding Tours. We met in Poblenou- where I also stayed overnight and started birding. Jaume was excellent.

Plowing of rice fields make a fiesta for the egrets and herons.

What was a bit irritating was the fact that it was hunting day in the Ebro wetlands, which meant that birds were disturbed. According to Jaume hunters were allowed to hunt Coot's once a year, and that was today...Anyway, we drove out of the hunting zone and visited rice fields and wetlands bordering the sea. The rice fields were dominated by egrets and herons; Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret and Grey Heron. Another dominating species out in the wetlands were Greater Flamingo. Together with the Laguna de Fuente Piedra in Andalucia, Delta del Ebro is the most important breeding site for this species. The delta is also the most important site for Audouin's Gull in Europe. They are common here, in addition you will find Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull, several species of terns and in winter many arctic waders wintering.

Little Egret; common in the Ebro delta

The most unusual Jaume and I had this day was anyway a Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). It is very rare in Spain, and I had never had it before here.

The Ebro delta is a huge area which means you should stay here at least a couple of days. It is however difficult to work and easy to get lost on all the small roads and tracks. I would really recommend that you hire a guide here. As for accomodation, I stayed in Poblenou situated next to the lagunas El Clot and Tancada and alo close to the sea. For birders, I think this is an ideal staring point. Remember, there are also excellent beaches here, and you can also do sea watching for shearwaters and gannets. Next time I go here, it will be late spring when still some migration is going on and all the breeders are back.

Wetlands near the coast in the Ebro Delta