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Description
Albufeira de Santa Maria de Aguiar is housed in a valley with gentle slopes, where the Aguiar river flows. This reservoir is one of the most important wetlands in the district of Guarda. The scarcity of other wetlands nearby makes this area an important refuge for water birds, especially for Great Crested Grebe, with this reservoir having one of the most important population centers nationally. Of the water birds also stand out species like Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Common Teal, Common Pochard, Little Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill. On the banks of the reservoir and the streams that flow into it, the aquatic and riparian vegetation is occupied by Common Snipe, Spotted Crake, Little Bittern, Grey Heron, Common Nightingale, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Reed Warbler,Sedge Warbler and Common Kingfisher.
As regards the surrounding area, the vegetation is dominated by farmland, pastures and small forest areas that allow the presence of landbirds. In the bushes and trees of the east bank it is possible to hear and, with luck, observe species such as Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Golden Oriole, Red-legged Partridge, Common Quail, Subalpine Warbler. You can also observe species like Eurasian Hoopoe, European Bee-eater, Northern Lapwing, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Grey Shrike, Magpie, Iberian Magpie and Thekla's Lark on the banks of this reservoir. You should also prospect the skies, which are often crossed by large birds of prey, such as Osprey, Black-winged Kite, Egyptian Vulture, European Honey-buzzard, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, Golden Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Red Kite, Black Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Kestrel. In the skies you can also see several species of swallows: Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, House Martin, Sand Martin; and swifts: Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift.
Details
Access
You can park your car next to the dam wall and explore all the area on foot. You can explore the dam wall, the east bank of the reservoir and the surrounding areas. See the map bellow.