Description
Coto de la Isleta is a great place to spot waders. When the tide goes out, the mud is filled with waders coming to eat and migrating birds during spring and autumn migration. Lots of Culic mare, Culic mic, Fluierar cu picioare roșii, Fluierar cu picioare verzi, Prundăraș de sărătură, Prundăraș gulerat mare, Fugaci de țărm, Nisipar, Fugaci roșcat, Sitar de mal nordic, Sitar de mal, Pasărea ogorului, Uligan pescar, Lopătar, Stârc cenușiu, Egretă mică, Egretă mare, Pescăruș râzător, Pescăruș cu cap negru, Piciorong, and many others. Also Flamingo roz. During migration, large concentrations of Pupăză, Dumbrăveancă, Scatiu, Cuc, etc. have been seen.
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Espagnol: El Coto de la Isleta es un islote con bosque de pinos rodeado de marismas perteneciente al paraje natural Marismas de Santi Petri de Chiclana de la Frontera. Cuando baja la marea, los fangos se llenan de limícolas que vienen a comer y de aves en paso durante las migraciones prenupcial y posnupcial. Gran cantidad de Culic mare, Culic mic, Fluierar cu picioare roșii, Fluierar cu picioare verzi, Prundăraș de sărătură, Prundăraș gulerat mare, Fugaci de țărm, Nisipar, Fugaci roșcat, Sitar de mal nordic, Sitar de mal, Pasărea ogorului, Uligan pescar, Lopătar, Stârc cenușiu, Egretă mică, Egretă mare, Pescăruș râzător, Pescăruș cu cap negru, Piciorong, y un largo etcétera. Tambien Flamingo roz. En paso, se han visto grandes concentraciones de Pupăză, Dumbrăveancă, Scatiu, Cuc, etc.
Details
Access
Coto de la Isleta is located west of the town of Chiclana de la Frontera. The entire space is open, there are no fences. There is only one gate at the entrance to the route, which has a pedestrian crossing. The car can be left next to the gate, parked next to a eucalyptus tree. Click on the P in the map for directions. The circular walk is about 4 km. The path can be muddy if it has rained recently, and is best at low tide or with the tide going out (see the link to the tides table below), as the path walls can sometimes be flooded with spring tides. From August to November, it is especially interesting because it is in the migratory corridor of Lopătar, which cross over the islet in large spectacular groups on their way to Africa. Also notable is the large concentration of Culic mare that come and go to eat at dusk in the surrounding marshes and that, in their autumn migration, also form large groups. On the island there are several Pescăraș albastru and a good population of Coțofană and Porumbel gulerat. And on summer nights you can hear Caprimulg cu gât roșu and Huhurez mic.
PLEASE NOTE: In July 2025 we received two comments (see below) that the path to the island had eroded in and was not passable anymore. Wellies are needed. Please leave a comment below if you visit this area and update us on the current situation.
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Espagnol: Todo el espacio está abierto, no existen alambradas ni otros impedimentos. Solo hay una cancela a la entrada del recorrido, que tiene un paso habilitado para peatones. El coche se puede dejar junto a la cancela, aparcado al lado de un eucaliptal. El camino puede tener barro si ha llovido recientemente, y es mejor en bajamar o con la marea bajando, ya que los muros de los caminos a veces pueden estar inundados con las mareas vivas. De agosto a noviembre, es especialmente interesante por estar en el corredor migratorio de las Lopătar, que cruzan por encima de la isleta en grandes bandos espectaculares en su camino a África. También sobresale la gran concentración de Culic mare que entran y salen a comer al atardecer de las marimas aledañas y que, en paso posnupcial, también forman grandes bandos. En la isla hay varios Pescăraș albastru y una buena población de Coțofană y de Porumbel gulerat. Y en las noches de verano se escuchan los Caprimulg cu gât roșu y los Huhurez mic.
Terrain and Habitat
Wetland , Sea , Scattered trees and bushes , Beach , Dunes , Mud flatsConditions
Flat , SandyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Winter , Autumn , Autumn migrationRoute
Unpaved roadDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
From Coto de la Isleta, you can walk to other nearby salt flats and marshes, also very interesting for wader watching. Wintering is spectacular throughout the Bay of Cádiz.
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Espagnol: Desde allí, se puede andar a otras salinas y marismas aledañas, muy interesantes también para el avistamiento de limícolas. La invernada es espectacular en toda la Bahía de Cádiz.

