Parque Nacional de Donana birdwatching

The Donana National Park, occasionally called the Marismas del Guadalquivir, is situated in Spain's Andalusia, sharing the provinces of Huelva and Seville. The highest point above sea level at best 47 metres. It covers a vast area, some (343,000 acres) of protected area, semi-protected area and buffer zone. There are four visitor centres within the park. Having visited three in the past, we will try to see the Jose Antonio Valverde (JAV), some 26 kilometres in the Marismas del Guadalquivir, on an unmade road. The macadam road ends in the vast open rice-growing area of the Isla Mayor, where we start our journey out into Donana. 

Flat to the horizon, and the weather is no better!

It has been rewarding from the start of our journey. Buzzards adorn fence posts and fly low across the track.
As we pass through the Brazo de la Torre, there are Glossy Ibis, Herons and Spoonbills, and then Linda spotted a light brown bird flying through the reeds, then gone! A few minutes later, we stopped and had stunning views of a barn owl, the bird Linda had spotted flying through the reeds.

We sit in silence as the Barn Owl prepares to fly.

It flies to an adjacent fence post.

Whilst watching for prey, it turns to show its beautiful markings.

There is no hiding place out here. Startled Green, Common, and Wood Sandpipers race for the sky and then return to the water. Chiffchaffs line the fences, waiting to catch a fly. Stonechats perch and watch us pass by.

Flamingos march along the waterways, and Black Tailed Godwits search for food.

 Then, we spot an elusive Black Stork searching for food in the grasses.

A beautiful bird is nearly prehistoric in their looks.

We are so lucky; we will have seen several beautiful birds by day's end.

Sitting on the opposite bank, a female Kestrel watches for prey.

Grey Herons seem unperturbed by our passing, whilst the wintering Squacco Heron below tries to be invisible.

This Great White Egret takes a walk on the wild side!

At the end of the day, we pass across the rice fields to the Dehesa de Abajo, with Europe's largest colony of White Storks. This pair stands proud in the strong wind and light rain.

We stop at what is locally termed the gravel pits and observe a large colony of overwintering Black-crowned Night Herons.

Upwards, seventy birds roost in the vegetation just above the water.

A first-year brown-speckled juvenile perched above the adult bird.  

A fantastic day out, but once again only a tiny glimpse of what the
 Parque Nacional de Donana has to offer.

Until the next visit!

Happy Days!