Large Lagoon – The largest wetland in the Guadalhorse Nature Reserve 📷 Málaga – Spain

When I explore a place for the first time, my expectations are high and everything takes me by surprise; I let myself be surprised, allowing every place I see and every thing I notice to be wonderful. Not all places in the city, by which I mean in nature, are the same, but they are all beautiful.

The Guadalhorse Nature Reserve is one of the largest areas, covering more than 64 hectares, though of course not all of it can be explored as much of it is fenced off to prevent humans from disturbing the natural environment and, above all, the birds that live in the wild there. The reserve forms part of the mouth of the Guadalhorse River, which is twice the size of the reserve itself. Within it, there are rivers that have formed, as well as lagoons of varying sizes and depths; each one has its own special characteristics, meaning that each is home to different wildlife. That was one of the things that surprised me most.

On this occasion, my plan was to visit, explore and walk around the so called Large Lagoon, which is the largest lagoon within the reserve. To do this, I took two buses and, after a long walk, as the reserve is at the western edge of the city, I reached the path that runs alongside one of the branches of the river’s estuary.

I crossed the bridge, looking down at the river branch below and taking note of the many signs along the way. One of them mentioned Laguna Grande, which is 1.9 km long. Several areas of the reserve share a common path before branching off; in this case, the path runs alongside the so-called Río Viejo for about 450 metres.

On this stretch of the path, everything looks dry; the tracks are dirt tracks, where you always need to take care, and there are many signs warning people not to stray from the path; furthermore, the use of bicycles or scooters is not permitted.

On either side of the path there are grasslands, but in the distance you can see the mountainous landscapes surrounding the city; as I walked, I began to notice the saltiness in the air, which grew stronger as I approached the lagoon. I did glance at the map from time to time, but the truth is that the paths are very well signposted and, if you follow them, it’s not difficult to find your way. I think I only looked at the map to check whether I was very far from my destination.

According to one of the signs at the entrance to the vegetation along the roadside, this is known as ‘riparian vegetation’, which is shaped by the characteristics of the local water and soil. As for the birds, they vary depending on the lagoon, but also on the season, and I was hoping to see plenty of them. I could hear them in the distance and my expectations were growing.

It’s incredible how there’s an ecological relationship between the river system and the lagoons in this nature reserve; from the river, in the distance, I could see the birds flying over both areas, separated only by the vegetation and the paths.

One path led to another; I turned left, then right, and the whole landscape seemed the same, until I could soon see the fencing surrounding the lagoon to keep people out and preserve its natural state.

As I neared the observatory, I came across a sign stating that this entire area originally belonged to a farm and the land was used for agriculture and livestock farming, but later, for various reasons, such as sand and gravel extraction, excavations were carried out to extract these materials; consequently, the land is, in fact, man-made. Even some time later, rubble was dumped in the excavation areas, and the only part that remained in its original, natural state was the Río Viejo, which never flowed into the sea.

Subsequently, a grassroots movement called for the area to be designated a nature reserve in 1989, the very same year the city suffered severe flooding and certain alterations were made to the River Guadalhorse. It was then that the land was expropriated, the existing structures were demolished, and in the 1990s work began on restoring the natural área,a truly magnificent and beautiful project designed to protect the city’s native species.

When I arrived at the Large Lagoon observatory, the view was breathtaking and truly beautiful; I had never seen anything like it, let alone been so close to so many different birds, not to mention the stunning species found there. Even though I could only see them from a distance, I was able to enjoy them.

Inside the observatory, there were information boards explaining various facts, including that this lagoon is the reserve’s largest wetland, with shallow waters dotted with small islets. The salinity favours the growth of microcrustaceans such as Artemia, which is the main food source for the birds there, including the common flamingo.

The species of birds vary depending on the time of year, but according to the information available, there are: northern shovelers, mallards, little grebes, white-fronted geese, common teals and, occasionally, marbled teals and white-headed ducks. There are also other birds, but of a marine origin, such as gulls. Flamingos, herons, spoonbills and little bitterns are mentioned, as well as the curlew billed ibis with its iridescent plumage.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading and the sheer number of birds that inhabit this place; the sign mentioned even more, although there were actually two signs, one of which was illustrative. It spoke of stork-billed storks, avocets, sandpipers and many more species.

The sign said that you can sometimes spot peregrine falcons, ospreys and harriers. I didn’t manage to see these species, but just knowing that they are, or might be, there filled me with excitement.

Everything I was seeing filled me with wonder, and I tried to zoom in with my phone to capture as much as I could. I loved the little islets, and how the birds were on the shores, feeding, bathing and playing in the water. Some were flying overhead, and the whole place was a paradise for them and, of course, for me too.

I can’t put into words how I felt at that moment; I could have spent hours watching them and wished I’d had a pair of binoculars to see them up close. I knew I still had two more lagoons to visit, or rather, one lagoon and the old river, but the sun was about to set, so I set off for home.

It’s been a wonderful experience and I’ll definitely be back to explore this beautiful nature reserve much further. Just look at the beauty of this unspoilt protected area. It’s a paradise.

Thank you very much for joining me today; warm regards to you all. See you soon.
Amonet.