a

Embalse de Los Canchales

Extremadura  >  Spain

Big reservoir that attracts thousands of birds and is unlike many other places in Extremadura also very good for birding in summer.

Added* by Gerardo Pizarro
Most recent update 13 november 2023

Description

Embalse de Los Canchales is a big reservoir that was built on the Rivera de Lácara. It is a magnificent point for watching waterfowl. The Los Canchales Reservoir is considered a wetland of International importance. There are large areas of shallow water, reed thickets, grasslands and the lake is surrounded by Holm oak dehesa and large areas of irrigated and rain-fed farmland. Islands, pools and lakes are constructed especially for the birds. During the breeding season the populations on the islands include large numbers of rjava komatna tekica, črnonoga čigra, mala čigra and polojnik. Also many species of ducks, grebes and gulls can be seen. There are also breeding pairs of belolična čigra and črna čigra. During the autumn passage you can see large amounts of waders and in summer concentrations of bela štorklja with over 500 birds. Many water birds winter on the reservoir, From žličarka to dolgorepa raca and thousands of other geese, ducks and gulls. A wintering flock of žerjav of more than 1500 birds can be seen on the banks of the reservoir.

_________________________

Espagnol: El embalse de Los Canchales fue construido sobre la Rivera de Lácara, un curso fluvial que nace en la Sierra de San Pedro y desemboca en la margen izquierda del Guadiana. Es un magnífico punto para la observación de aves acuáticas. El Embalse de Los Canchales está declarado como Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves (ZEPA) y tiene además la consideración de "Humedal de Importancia Internacional". Presenta unas condiciones muy favorables para el establecimiento de numerosas especies de aves, ya que dispone de amplias superficies con aguas poco profundas, mantiene diversos tipos de vegetación asociados al agua (junquerales, praderas, carrizales y formaciones de tamujos, fresnos y sauces) y se encuentra rodeado de dehesas de encinar y grandes extensiones de cultivos de secano y regadío.

Details

Access

The reservoir can be reached from from the EX-209 as it goes through the town of La Garrovilla, where you will find a sign-posted asphalted track that leads straight to the wall of the dam, the perfect starting point for a birdwatching trip. In the area around the reservoir there are several information panels about visiting regulations and routes to follow. From the parking you can walk to the dam or walk the other way to a bird hide on a pier (see the map). If you want to do further exploring: a dirt track of 23 km long, goes around the reservoir and is built above the maximum flood level of the reservoir. Unlike other places in Extremadura the summer months are also very interesting for birding around the Los Canchales reservoir

_________________________

Espagnol: Se recomienda el acceso desde la EX-209 a su paso por la localidad de La Garrovilla, donde se encuentra señalizada la pista asfaltada que conduce directamente al muro de la presa, el punto de partida ideal para una excursión ornitológica.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Agriculture , Wetland , Scattered trees and bushes , Reedbeds

Conditions

Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Summer , Autumn migration , Spring migration

Route

Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Car , Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

Show more birds Show less birds
Show more images Show less images

Comments & Tips

Give feedback
Rate this area