{"id":3015,"date":"2025-07-10T08:12:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T08:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/encantosdeorellana.com\/birdwatching-in-the-orellana-reservoir-extremadura\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T11:25:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T11:25:09","slug":"birdwatching-in-the-orellana-reservoir-extremadura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/encantosdeorellana.com\/en\/birdwatching-in-the-orellana-reservoir-extremadura\/","title":{"rendered":"Birdwatching in the Orellana Reservoir (Extremadura)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Orellana Reservoir<\/strong>, together with the Sierra de Pela, La Serena and its wetland tails, is one of the most spectacular destinations for ornithological tourism<\/strong> in the Iberian Peninsula. Declared SPA, Ramsar<\/strong> and part of the Natura 2000 Network<\/strong>, it offers more than 200 annual species<\/strong> in a mosaic of wetlands, dehesa, cereal plains and quartzite mountains. This guide incorporates all available information<\/strong> \u2014species, routes, seasonality, regulations, interpretation centers and conservation projects\u2014 so you can make the most of your visit. <\/p>\n\n

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Key Figures and Ecosystem Diversity<\/h2>\n\n
Data<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
SPA extension<\/td>42,600 ha<\/td><\/tr>
Designations<\/td>SPA (1991) \u00b7 Ramsar (1992) \u00b7 SCI\/SAC<\/td><\/tr>
Main habitats<\/td>Wetland, dehesa, cereal steppe, quartzite rock, Mediterranean forest<\/td><\/tr>
Registered species<\/td>+200 birds (65 wintering aquatic birds censused 2024)<\/td><\/tr>
Wintering aquatic birds<\/td>~95,000 individuals (2024 census)<\/td><\/tr>
Common crane roost<\/td>up to 14,000 individuals<\/td><\/tr>
Heron colony<\/td>>2,000 pairs (mixed)<\/td><\/tr>
Black stork concentration<\/td>>100 post-nuptial individuals (Aug.\u2013Sep.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

The proximity of so many habitats creates very productive transitions<\/strong>: you can go from the song of the black-winged kite in a dehesa to the courtship of the great bustard in the plains and, in a 20-minute drive, observe black storks on a rocky outcrop.<\/p>\n\n

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Detailed Observation Calendar<\/h2>\n\n
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Quick tip:<\/strong> if your goal is a specific species, plan your visit according to the table and detailed paragraphs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Month<\/th>Main attractions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Jan\u2013Feb<\/strong><\/td>Maximum concentration of ducks and gulls; cranes in roost; wintering birds of prey (red kite, pallid harrier).<\/td><\/tr>
Mar\u2013Apr<\/strong><\/td>Great bustard and lesser bustard courtship; arrival of Montagu’s harrier, European roller and European bee-eater; first layings in heron colony.<\/td><\/tr>
May<\/strong><\/td>Peaks of reproductive activity: black stork, little tern, gull-billed tern; late passage of waders.<\/td><\/tr>
Jun\u2013Jul<\/strong><\/td>Aquatic broods; grebes and great crested grebes with chicks; lesser kestrel in full swing hunting insects.<\/td><\/tr>
Aug<\/strong><\/td>Reservoir level drop \u2192 mudflats + waders; regional record of black stork feeding.<\/td><\/tr>
Sep\u2013Oct<\/strong><\/td>Mixed migratory passage: geese, osprey; arrival of the first wintering ducks.<\/td><\/tr>
Nov\u2013Dec<\/strong><\/td>Massive entry of cranes (Crane Festival, 1st Saturday of Dec.); replenishment of cormorant and gull roosts.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Winter (Dec.\u2013Feb.)<\/h3>\n\n
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  • Wetland<\/strong>: flocks of mallard, gadwall, wigeon, teal, common pochard and tufted duck.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cranes<\/strong>: up to 14,000 individuals entering the reservoir at dusk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Gulls<\/strong>: black-headed and lesser black-backed gull floating in large rafts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Birds of prey<\/strong>: red kite, wandering young Spanish imperial eagle, active eagle owl at dusk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

    Spring (Mar.\u2013may)<\/h3>\n\n
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    • Steppe<\/strong>: lek<\/em> of great bustard and drumming of the lesser bustard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Artificial island colonies<\/strong>: little tern, gull-billed tern, black-winged stilt, common redshank.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Mountain and rocky outcrop<\/strong>: return of the Egyptian vulture and breeding of Bonelli’s eagle; rock show of black wheatear and blue rock thrush.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

      Summer (Jun.\u2013Aug.)<\/h3>\n\n
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      • Aquatic birds<\/strong>: broods of great crested grebe and black-necked grebe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Black stork<\/strong>: >100 individuals in August in shallow tails.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Hours<\/strong>: sunrise or last hour essential; perfect side light for photography.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

        Autumn (Sep.\u2013Nov.)<\/h3>\n\n
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        • Postnuptial wader passage<\/strong>: ruff, common sandpiper, green sandpiper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • First geese<\/strong> towards Do\u00f1ana; osprey on its way to Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Installation of crane roosts<\/strong> (mid-November).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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          List of Featured Species<\/h2>\n\n

          Aquatic and Wetland Birds<\/h3>\n\n
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          • \ud83d\uddf9 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos<\/em>) \u2013 resident and massive wintering bird.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Red-crested pochard (Netta rufina<\/em>) \u2013 breeds in tails and islands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula<\/em>) \u2013 common in winter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus<\/em>) \u2013 showy nuptial displays.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Common crane (Grus grus<\/em>) \u2013 winter icon (Dec.\u2013Feb.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Black stork (Ciconia nigra<\/em>) \u2013 up to 4 nests in Puerto Pe\u00f1a + post-nuptial concentration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Cattle egret, little egret, black-crowned night heron \u2013 mixed colony >2,000 pairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \ud83d\uddf9 Little tern (Sternula albifrons<\/em>) and gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

            Steppe and Plain Birds<\/h3>\n\n