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Los Hurones

Cadiz Province  >  Spain

The drive goes through interesting woodland (with good stopping places) & ends at a uniquely attractive collection of small workmens' cottages below a dam.

Adicionado* por John Cantelo
Ultima atualização 29 abril 2020

Descrição

This site is recommended as much for its scenic qualities as its birdlife but still offers the chance of excellent birding with the bonus of being able to park by a pleasant little venta (cafe) and walk up to the dam (Presa de los Hurones) which offers impressive views across the reservoir, the wooded hills and back down to the quaint village below.

It's 7.5 km from the turning off the CA 503 to the foot of the dam but after 5 km you reach a derelict 'recreation area' which can be worth a stop for species like Chamariz-comum, Pintassilgo, Felosa-poliglota and Rouxinol-comum. Listen out for the call of Pica-pau-verde in the woodland here and elsewhere. They're much harder to see than hear but worth making the effort as the distinctive Iberian race (sharpei) is increasing being recognised as a full species. Grifo-comum often sit on the crags nearby and give exellent views.

The village of Los Hurones is quite unlike any other in the area having been constructed for the workers building the dam at this relatively remote spot. The uniform design of the attractive cottages placed in neat terraces and the matching church tower gives an air of quiet tranquility and just a whiff of dystopian menace! The venta here gives you an opportunity to check the skies above for raptors whilst enjoying a coffee, beer or light snack. Don't ignore the channel below the dam as it has both Alvéola-cinzenta and alvéola-branca plus an outside chance of otters (whether you'll see any ferrets, which the village is named after is another matter!).

Although the drive and the village alone is worth a detour don't omit the steep but rewarding climb up to the dam itself. The road across the dam gives you commanding views down the valley, across the reservoir and the surrounding wooded hills. It's another good place to scan for raptors such as falcão-peregrino, Águia-calçada, Águia-d'asa-redonda, Grifo-comum and, with luck, Águia de Bonelli or Açor. During passage periods look for Bútio-vespeiro, Milhafre-preto, Abutre do Egipto, etc and Cegonha-preta. The dam itself hosts a large colony of Andorinho-dos-beirais (which ought to make the site attractive to Andorinhão-cafre as it hijacks their nests to breed). The margins of the reservoir can attract Maçarico-das-rochas.

Detalhes

Acesso

Take the CA 503 from Algar towards Puerto de Galiz and the Alcornocales and then the narrow but good metalled road on your left after c9 km (or if coming from the Alcornocales on the right c7.5 from the junction with the A 375). The drive is pleasant and the road quiet.

Terreno e Habitat

Lago , Vale , Floresta

Condições

Montanhoso

Caminho circular

Não

é útil um telescópio?

Pode ser útil

Boa temporada de observação de aves

Primavera , Verão , Outono

Melhor hora para visitar

Primavera

Rota

Estrada pavimentada

Caminho dificil

Extenuante

Acessível por

Pé , Carro

Abrigo/plataforma deobservação de aves

Não

Informação extra

Mainly a driving route but the walk up to the presa is very steep.

Veja outros pontos de observação de aves na área publicados em Birdingplaces

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