In the wake of the 7 fauna treasures in Doñana

The anarchy generated by the million birds that refuel at this natural halt is one of its attractions. Another is the presence of the most endangered of felines, the Iberian lynx, and one of the most illustrious eagles, the imperial one. These are just a couple of examples of what fauna means in Doñana, the main Andalusian natural enclave, which was a royal hunting ground before it was a National Park.

The cataloging fits because this unique ecosystem, which covers areas of the provinces of Huelva, Seville and Cádiz, is recognized worldwide for its great ecological wealth. Wealth that is not seasonal. Any time is good to make a ecotourism getaway in this area. In summer for its striking landscapes, in spring and autumn for life in the marshes, in winter for the light.

Sunset in Doñana

Whatever period you choose to visit it, Nattule offers you an appointment with seven symbolic species of this National Park.

1. Large predators: the imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx

These two emblematic species of the Iberian fauna find one of their last population strongholds in the interior of Doñana. The areas of the Park with Mediterranean scrub, heather, mastic and cork oak, called preserves and corrals, are its ideal habitat. It is in these areas where their main prey is found, hares and rabbits, which cohabit with the large herbivores of Doñana.

Iberian imperial eagle (fauna in Doñana)

One of the places where you have the best chance of seeing these icons of fauna in Doñana is the area known as Coto del Rey and Matas Gordas. Mosaics of small lagoons, such as Sopetón, Acebuche or Santa Olalla, mountain areas and sandy clearings will be what you will see throughout your itinerary.

The best option to enjoy this sector is through a guided tour with all-terrain vehicles, since it is an area that prohibits the entry of private vehicles in many sections.

It is also possible to explore it on foot, but this second option is harder and there is less chance of seeing the animals.

Iberian lynx (fauna in Doñana)

2. Bittern, the wizard of camouflage

This small heron, a unique species of fauna in Doñana, uses the reeds of the marshes to build its nests. In this way, it has found its ideal habitat in the channels that flow through the mouth of the Guadalquivir River. It usually settles there in summer, between the months of April and September.

Bittern © Cándido Gómez Álvarez

The environment of José Antonio Valverde visitor center It is a good place to spot these birds. It is located in the northern area of the National Park, and offers incredible views of the Wolf Pike.

To get there, you will pass through areas exclusively of marshes that you will have to cross on narrow, unpaved roads, so the use of a 4×4 becomes an almost essential requirement. For this reason, the area is not usually frequented by tourists. However, it is an obligatory step within the ornithological routes in Doñana.

Although busier, the La Rocina stream is another place where you can find the bittern. The trails that run along the stream begin just 300 meters from the village of El Rocío. There, you will have several bird observatories and an interpretation center.

Arroyo de la Rocina (fauna in Doñana)

3. The black stork, an elusive traveler

Doñana is one of the areas of Andalusia with the largest number of black storks, a bird in danger of extinction. Most of them are found on the margins of the mouth of the Guadalquivir. In winter it is common to see them around the Park, in wooded masses near water courses or flooded areas.

Black stork © Cándido Gómez Álvarez

The black stork is usually an elusive bird, much less trusting than its white relative, so you will have to approach carefully and quietly. La Dehesa de Abajo, an area of rice fields and marshes, is an enclave where it is easy to find.

You can get there from the town of Isla Mayor, where a trail starts that can be easily traveled by bicycle. If you don't want to do it alone, you can join this bicycle route through the Doñana marshes.

Dehesa de Abajo © Cándido Gómez Álvarez

It is also possible that you will see a black stork around the José Antonio Valverde visitor center, another of the places where they usually go to feed.

4. In search of the horned coot, the star of the wetland

A few years ago, the horned coot went through a critical moment in which it was close to extinction in Spain. To achieve its reintroduction into nature, the reproduction center of the Cañada de los Pájaros, in the vicinity of Doñana. Today it is possible to see them again in the wild in the lagoons and marshes of the National Park.

Laguna Dulce and the Santa Olalla lagoon form a space, between the preserves and the dunes, that is maintained with water throughout the year and where you can find them.

Horned coot © Xavier Idígora Planas

It is also possible to observe them in the La Rocina stream or in the El Acebuche lagoon, although their presence is minimal. The latter is the starting point for guided tours of Doñana. From there, they are made 4×4 tours through the marshes, the usual habitat of the horned coot, and the rest of the ecosystems of the National Park.

Views from the El Acebuche visitor center

5. Gray teal, the unique duck

The gray teal is, along with the horned coot, one of the most endangered species of fauna in Doñana. And until the end of the 19th century it was the most common duck at the mouth of the Guadalquivir. It usually lives in shallow wetlands with a lot of aquatic vegetation. There are a couple of places like this within the Park where you can go look for them.

Most of the pairs of gray teal that remain in Doñana nest in the ponds of Veta la Palma, a farm located between the banks of the Guadalquivir river and the Brazo de la Torre.

You can get there by bus from Seville, to take a tour that begins in the northern part of the estate; or, much more original, enjoy a boat trip from Sanlúcar de Barrameda and start the tour in the southern part.

Gray Teal

In the pikes of Las Nuevas and Vetalengua you may also find them. The easiest thing is to look for them during the 4×4 tours that depart from the Acebuche visitor center.    

6. The queen in the aviary: the crab-eating egret

You will find the crab-eating egret especially on the banks of Doñana. This is the area that serves as a link between the scrub and marsh ecosystems. The abundance of vegetation means that many animal species gather here. In fact, it constitutes one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity in the Park.

But above all, the vera is known for the group of large cork oaks where hundreds of birds live, which has given it the name of the Doñana Aviary. The passage to this area is closed except for research purposes, so you will have to content yourself with observing from afar. However, you may see the Crab-eating Egret coming and going from the cork oak forests to the nearby mudflats to search for food.

Crab-eating egret during the breeding season © Cándido Gómez Álvarez

Nearby, the Ganges pike also shelters numerous groups of crab egrets in the branches of the tamarisk trees that surround it. Be that as it may, with this bird watching activity in northern Doñana I'm sure you'll see them.

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Doñana is Kenya with less tension in the environment. The fight for survival is fought here on a small scale, with the lynx and the rabbit taking the role of the lion and the wildebeest. Which does not detract from the interest of the visit because, after all, the traveler who chooses this National Park is not looking for a fight.

Tell me about your experiences in Doñana. How many of these species have you managed to see?

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