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Bird watching sites

Cañada de las Norias
To access to this lagoon surrounded by green houses, buildings and roads you can take the road from Roquetas de Mar to Mojonera and Las Norias.
Just in front of the town of Las Norias there is and old and large gravel pit where it's easy to see White-headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Whiskered and Little Terns and Purple Swamp-Hen amongst the most represented species. You will have to look through your scopes close to the main road, although several tracks and roads exist where is possible to get good views. One of these places is the road which cross the lagoon, being easy to reach because is the only asphalted entrance to the right hand side. You will have here a very good view to the both sides of the lagoon where shorebirds and gulls will fly over your head.

Rambla Morales
To reach the Rambla Morales it is necessary to drive towards the "Cabo de Gata" campign site. You will have to take then the highway Almeria - Murcia and take the exit to Alquián, following the indications to the Cabo de Gata.
After passing a roundabout you will find to the right the exit to the camping site, which is very well signposted. Join the junction a flock of Dotterels has been recorded from August to mid October, although Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe and Stone Curlew are often seen as well.
Just before reaching the camping site take to the left the sand track which surrounds the camping leaving it to your right till a first junction where you must turn to the right. And follow the main track till the beach called "playa del Charco".
We will be able to make before some stops having a look to the lagoon where the Marbled Teal is present, and where flocks of Greater Flamingos are seen nearly always. Other interesting species are Gull-billed Tern, Collared Pratincole, Great Reed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Short-toed Lark and Marsh Harrier. During the migration you will increase your list with several species of waders, terns and gulls.

Las Amoladeras
Before reaching the junction to the "Camping Cabo de Gata" and the roundabout previously mentioned, you will find a signpost to the "Albergue Rural Las Almoladeras". Although at the first sight is not a very attractive place for bird watching you could see here the desert like landscape with the typical Agaves trees. Near the buildings you will see a track to the left, only accessible on foot or in bicycle that will take you to the visitors’ centre of Las Almoladeras. This place is also accessible by the main road, where there is a singpost indicating how to go to the centre. Along the walk we could see Thekla Lark, Southern Gray and Woodchat Shrikes, Hoopoe, Stone Curlew and even Curlews in the sandy areas.
The surroundings of the visitors centre can also offer chances for other species related to the dry ecosystems, although the best spot to see steppe birds, such as Dupont's Lark and Trumpeter Finch, is probably the way track to the "Faro de aproximación aeronaval" aircrafts light, which start just in front of the "Albergue Rural Las Almoladeras". This place is suitable also for hearing and seeing Black-bellied Sandgrouses, although for the Dupont's Lark you must try with the first lights in the morning between March and May, even better before the dawn, when these birds are more active.

Salinas y Cabo de Gata
If you continue the road towards Cabo de Gata cape, we will cross the small town of San Miguel where you could have a first look to the saltpans from a parking placed at its entrance, to continue then by a straight and long road with the sea to your right.
The saltpans are placed to the left of this road and although there is a hide a few kilometers away, the most interesting itinerary starts from the end of the next village taking a sand track to the left which surrounds the reserve.
From here is possible to see big flocks of Audouin's Gulls, while some Slender-billed Gulls can be also detected with patience. Although the Greater Flamingos are the biggest tourist attraction, a wide variety of waders can be found such as Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Oystercatcher... in addition to the little and Black Terns.
After a few kilometers driving and crossing a narrow section with bends, you will reach to the lighthouse of Cabo de Gata. The surroundings are suitable to see the scarce Trumpeter Finch (don't depress if you can’t find it), Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear and Thekla Lark. A small track with no very good surface just before the "Aula de naturaleza del Cabo de Gata" buildings is probably one of the best places. A few meters away the track is closed by a chain. Sometimes small parties of Trumpeter Finches fly overhead direction to the coast and Theklas Lark are really abundant.
From the surrounding areas to the lighthouse you could see the migrating seabirds with serious chances for Northern Gannets, Balearic Shearwaters, Common Terns and maybe some Great Skua.

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