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Albufeira de Santa Maria de Aguiar

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo  >  Portugal

This place is the most important wetland for water birds in the northern interior of Portugal. Also a good spot to observe soaring birds and passerines.

Added* by Sandra Fernandes
Most recent update 13 јуни 2022

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 цуцулест нуркач, with this reservoir having one of the most important population centers nationally. Of the water birds also stand out species like патка лажичарка, Дива патка, патка ластовичарка, сива патка, патка берија, црвеноглав кожувар, мал нуркач, црна лиска, зеленонога блатна кокошка, Црвенонога сабјарка, сабјарка, црвена чапја, ибис and чапја лажичарка. On the banks of the reservoir and the streams that flow into it, the aquatic and riparian vegetation is occupied by обична бекасина, дамчеста барска кокошка, Мал воден бик, сива чапја, славејче, свиларче, полски трскар, обичен трскар, трскар рогозар,мал трскар and рибарче.

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 зелен клукајдрвец, голем клукајдрвец, мал клукајдрвец, сојка, саријазма, Red-legged Partridge, потполошка, Црвеногушо коприварче. You can also observe species like Пупунец, пчеларка, калуѓерка, црвеноглаво страче, Iberian Grey Shrike, страчка, 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 орел рибар, Black-winged Kite, египетски мршојадец, осојад, Black Vulture, белоглав мршојадец, орел змијар, мал орел, златен орел, блатна еја, ливадска еја, јастреб врапчар, јастреб кокошкар, црвена луња, црна луња, сив сокол, сокол ластовичар, Обична (Црнонокна) ветрушка. In the skies you can also see several species of swallows: селска ластовичка, Пештерска (Црвенкаста) ластовица, карпеста ластовичка, градска ластовичка, брегова ластовичка; and swifts: обична пиштарка, голема пиштарка, сива пиштарка.

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.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , River , Lake , Mud flats , Steppe

Conditions

Flat , Dry

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Autumn migration , Spring migration , Summer , Spring

Route

Unpaved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

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Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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