The S'Albufera Narural Park
The S'Albufera Natural Park is possibly the most extensive and bird-rich wetland to be found on any Mediterranean island. Its 1,646.5 ha have enjoyed protection since 1988 and now have a visitor's reception area, a permanent exhibition and a good number of hides, observation platforms and marked itineraries. Visiting the park is free, but ideally you should pass through the reception area to pick up a permit (Check the Vital info section on the right to get detailed info).
The park's habitats consist mostly of wet grazing meadows, reedbeds, channels, pools with small avenues or stands of trees and bushes. It is an obligatory visit for any birder staying on the island with an interest in seeing specialities such as Moustached Warbler, Purple Gallinule and Crested Coot, in addition to a long list of wetland birds which include herons, egrets, waders, ducks, osprey, migratory warblers and terns, etc.
The itinerary focuses on two main areas: the central reserve area where the exact itinerary to follow is left to the discretion of the birder; and the "depuradora" (waterworks) and surrounding area to the south.
Bird Species that can be found in the S'Albufera Natural Park:
- Shag
- Night Heron
- Little Bittern
- Squacco Heron
- Little Egret
- Cattle Egret
- Great White Egret
- Purple Heron
- Glossy Ibis
- Shelduck
- Red-crested Pochard
- Garganey
- Marsh Harrier
- Osprey
- Eleonora's Falcon
- Crested Coot
- Purple Gallinule
- Stone Curlew
- Collared Pratincole
- Black-winged Stilt
- Kentish Plover
- Little Ringed Plover
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Spotted Redshank
- Audouin's Gull
- Gull-billed Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Black Tern
- White-winged Tern
- Hoopoe
- Bee-eater
- Red-rumped Swallow
- Short-toed Lark
- Yellow Wagtail
- Bluethroat
- Cetti's Warbler
- Fan-tailed Warbler
- Moustached Warbler
- Great Reed Warbler
- Penduline Tit
- Woodchat Shrike
