Spain 2016 - Marismas del Odiel

We headed back to the Marismas del Odiel, on the other side of the Odiel River from Huelva, north of Punta Gumbria. We were trying to reverse the route we had taken a few days ago and there was some differences of opinion between the driver (me) and the navigator (Dad) and a few roundabouts were traversed more than once. We eventually found it only to discover that the visitors centre was closed on Mondays- sigh!

Statue of Columbus, across the river in Huelva, donated by the U.S. Columbus left from Huelva (actually just south) when he discovered America.

We drove down the nature reserve road, slowing to look at birds, stopping for flamingos, spoonbills and to try and identify birds we didn't immediately recognize.
The guidebook indicates that there is a tour from the visitors center that guarantees you will see flamingos.

They were in the Salinas, beside the road.

They are such weird looking birds that even though there is no shortage of them we found ourselves watching them for quite a while.

We pulled over onto a track and ate our picnic lunch and then Mum and I walked out in the Salinas. The wind was whipping the water up into foam and when we turned we actually had to lean into it to make headway.

There are control gates between these huge rectangular expanses of shallow water that allow for them to be flooded during high tide and then closed off so that the water can evaporate. I think this is probably done primarily in the summer so now they are left to the birds.

Vast expanses of mud flats. Great feeding areas for wading and sea birds.

While walking back we saw this diving bird. Every time I got the camera on him, he would dive and

I would end up with a picture like this.

We haven't been able to identify him. He looks most  like a Great Northern Diver but we are too far south for that. Looks a bit like a Goldeneye but he doesn't have a duck beak. Although a bit Grebe like he really doesn't fit any that are supposed to be here. A Mystery!