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Valderia Special Bird Protection Area (ZEPA)
WEEKEND ROUTE
León Province
INTERESTING SIGHTSEEING
- ZEPA (Valderia-Jamuz)
- Páramo Leonés
- Various wetlands and lagoons
- Cerrajera Dam
REPRESENTATIVE BIRDS
Steppe birds, water birds and farmland birds
SCHEDULE
Day 1
This route begins near the township of La Bañeza, in Jimenez de Jamuz.
When exiting the township and going towards Santa Elena de Jamuz on highway CV-231, a local road that stems from the highway will allow you to enter the cereal plain over a 4 km (2.5 miles) distance. There you will find the Valderia-Jamuz enclave, a site officially recognized as a Special Bird Protection Area, where you’ll have the chance to observe the species typical to this habitat. These species include the little bustard (after which the route was named) as well as stone curlews, hen harriers and Montagu's harriers.
The small-sized La Tabla dam is located nearby. This location has an observatory and information panels where you can read about the water species that dwell in the area.
The next location in this route is La Bañeza, then you continue on to Soguillo del Páramo.
An ornithological trip starts either at Santa Cristina del Páramo or Laguna Dalga, going down the Bajo Páramo Canal and visiting the Santa Cristina pond and other wetlands in order to observe numerous bird species, such as grey herons, northern shovellers and thousands of anadae birds.
The trip continues through the entire leonés moorland between Órbigo and Esla rivers. This area combines a number of interesting wetland areas with vast surfaces comprised by cereal plains and irrigated lands. The most representative water bird species in this riverside environment is the night heron. Likewise, along the steppe trail you’ll be able to observe great bustards, little bustards and black-bellied sandgrouses.
Day 2
When night falls, the trip continues on to Chozas de Abajo. Making a stop at Chozas lagoon is a must. This lagoon is included in the catalog of special interest wetlands and is the largest lagoon in the leonés moorland. Among the bird species that mate here we can mention black-winged stilts, redshanks, green plovers and little grebes. Additionally, during the winter season, a number of migratory bird species make a stopover in this wetland. These species include teals, tufted ducks, as well as numerous waders. Visitors are recommended to make a trip along the lagoons.
The last part of this tour takes you to Villadangos. On the town exit, next to the road leading to Benavides, you will find Villadangos Lagoon, which is recognized due to its wealth in biological and landscape terms. Some of the species that inhabit this area include kingfishers, great crested grebes, hobbies and northern shovellers. This location includes one of the few mating places for rooks, a gregarious corvidae species typical to agricultural lands.
Another option is to enter Santa Marina del Rey, which is the beginning of another ornithological route along the Cerrajera Reservoir where you’ll be able to observe numerous river bird and water bird species.
Local Action Group: POEDA
