Lagunas de Lebrija

Seville Province, Spain > Spain

This little known collection of small launas may not be as productive as the nearby Lagunas de Espera but has many of the same birds and is easier to reach.

Added* by John Cantelo
Most recent update 13 April 2020

Description

Of the three lagunas in this small complex that are viewable from the track or nearby road, one is often completely dry, another is choked with reeds and the third difficult to view. However, they are relatively easy and quick to access and, on a good day, hold most of the species associated with the better known Lagunas de Espera nearby (inc Red-knobbed Coot .

Arriving from the north on the SE 6201 the first laguna you reach is the Laguna del Pilon (c1.5 km from the turning off the SE 5207). This is the shallowest laguna and is usually bone dry in the summer months and sometimes so in winter when rainfall is low. Check for White-headed Duck when flooded and for Little Ringed Plover and Black-winged Stilt around the margins. It can attract good numbers of hirundines & swifts. Black-winged Kite occur in the area.

Another 1.5 km along the road turn right along a reasonable track (going left here takes you to the Lagunas de Espera). After c1km you reach the first laguna (on your right) - Laguna de la Galiana - which is usually so choked with reeds that little can be seen. A few hundred metres further on you reach the larger Laguna de la Cigarrera on the left. Although difficult to view this can hold White-headed Duck , Red-crested Pochard , Purple Swamphen and, occasionally, Red-knobbed Coot. The irritatingly thick screen of tamarisk that limits the view does, however, hold Western Olivaceous Warbler (generally absent or scarce at the lagunas de Espera nearby) and can have large numbers of roosting Spanish Sparrow

Details

Access

The first of three viewable lagunas, Laguna de Pilon, is next to a minor road SE 6201 (which connects Las Cabezas de San Juan and Gilalbin) and easy to view. The other two are c1.5km along a reasonable track off the same road.

Terrain and Habitat

Reedbeds , Lake , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Summer , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Unpaved road , Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Extra info

There are two additional lagunas in this complex - Laguna de Vocesa and Laguna de la Peoa - but both are on private land (although a small part of the latter can just be seen from the embankment overlooking Laguna de la Galiana).

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