LAGUNA DE ZÓÑAR NATURE RESERVE
SPAIN
ANDALUCIA, CORDOBA
Lat: 37°28'60" N 4°40'60" W 370 ha 355 asl
Protected/registered status
Best Time for visit; anytime ()
Birding Site Guide
Laguna de Zóñar are a series of inland saline lakes famous among birders as a stronghold for the endangered White-headed Duck; which thankfully has increased (following the eradication of the introduced North American Ruddy Duck particularly from the migratory British population) and so is now more easily seen. The reserve is on the A309 close to Puente Genil-Aguilar de la Frontera (Km 77.6) on the A45 which is south of Cordoba.
Species
On our winter visit we of course we saw White-headed Duck (13), Great Crested and Little Grebe and one Black-necked Grebe, Pochard and a Black-crowned Night Heron. Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, one Black Kite and Common Buzzard were present with many Raven. Hoopoes, Crested and Wood Lark, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Serin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler. Also surprisingly over a hundred House Martins.
Other Fauna
Look for European Otter.
Flora
Giant Reed Arundo donax is common on watercourses with Tamarisk Tamarisk canariensis being the main bankside vegetation also about are plants such as Yellowort Blackstonia perfoliata, St John's Wort Hypericum tomentosum, Roundhead Bulrush Scirpus holoschoenus and Vervain Verbena officinalis.
Author: BSG
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