Sierra de Cádiz: Ecosystems

Sierra de Cádiz

Ecosystems

Besides the agricultural areas, characterized by the prevalence of open cultivations fields and grasslands, and Sierra of Grazalema, with a high shrub and tree covering; in the district we have a third environmental unit that convenes to differ for its high avifaunal importance: the wetlands constituted by the reservoirs and lagoon complex.

Avifauna of rocky areas

An important contingent of rapacious birds that live in the rocky cliffs of the mountains in the oriental sector of the district. This are flags species/birds with a high tourist interest, able to atract the inexpert tourist's attention that not necessarily show a special dedication to the observation of birds.

Time of the year
• The Egyptian vulture is a summer visitor, for what the best months for its observation are from March to August.

• The rest of species are sedentary for what can be observed throughout the whole year.

Observation sites
• They are mainly in the rocky cliff of the Natural Park of Sierra of Grazalema and in the Peñón de Zaframagón.

• The Egyptian vulture has reproductive pairs in the Peñón of Zaframagón as well as in the Natural Park of Sierra of Grazalema, for what it can be observed in anyone of these two points.

• Given the abundance, the griffon vulture can be sighted easily during the whole year, besides in the Peñón of Zaframagón where they are abundant as reproducer, in any point of the District.

• Two residents golden eagle pairs live in P.N. of Grazalema, but other individuals non reproducers (young digressing) can also be seen in other points of the district.

• The Bonelli's eagle had 16 pairs in the natural park in the year 2000, for what it can be observed from several points. Also, it can be seen individual in the Peñón of Zaframagón and in other rocky cliff of the district

Wetlands Avifauna.

The good state of conservation of the wetlands in the district propitiates the presence of numerous aquatic species that are of special interest for the ornithological tourism, so much for the inexpert tourist's as for the expert birdwatcher.

Species of interest
• Ardeidaes, anatidaes and other aquatic birds.

Time of the year
• The whole year (sedentary): cattle egret, purple gallinule, white-headed duck, crested coot (these two last are winter visitors in some points of the district).

• Autumn / winter (winter visitors): spoonbill, greater flamingo, marbled teal, Ferruginous duck, pintail ( Anas acuta ) and osprey.

Observation places
• Complejo Endorreico de Espera, Cola del Embalse de Arcos and Cola del Embalse de Bornos..

• In the Espera Lagoons can be seen the biggest concentrations of white-headed duck in the district.

• La Cola del Embalse de Arcos has been transformed into a habitat of wintering for the osprey, where has been seen regularly.

The best place to observe ardeidaes, as much for quantity as for variety, is the Cola del Embalse de Bornos where it has settle an important colony formed for grey ( Ardea cinerea ) and purple heron, cattle egret and night heron among others.

Migratory path.

For its proximity to the Strait of Gibraltar, the district of Sierra de Cádiz is in a transitory area of a great contingent of birds that go to their breeding places or wintering sites.

Species of interest
• Among the species in migratory path, the most numerous are the black kite, the white stork, the bee-eater and the short-toed eagle; among the less numerous ones, also of high interest is the black stork.

Time of the year
• Preferably during the postnupcial path from Europe to Africa, between the months of August and October; the different species present peaks in passing of more intensity in different moments of this period.

• During the prenupcial path from Africa to Europe the migratory path is less spectacular for the smallest number of individuals and the biggest dispersion.

Observation sites
The most suitable places to sight these species are the countryside areas, with scarce vegetation, where big aggregations of kites or storks can take place, as well as dominant points of the Sierra from where a visual wide field allows to detect the approach of the groups of birds during the path

The Territory

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