L'Empordà Nature Park Marshes

Natural Park & Wetland · Spain

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Photo © Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Pyrenean foothills flatten into the Mediterranean, freshwater marshes, reed beds, and lagoons create one of Spain's most vital wetland sanctuaries. This 137-square-kilometre protected landscape straddles the Empordà plain in Catalonia, where shallow waters shift seasonally between open pools and dense phragmite thickets. Salt pans and pine groves punctuate the mosaic, while the Muga River weaves through it all, ensuring a dynamic interplay of freshwater and saline habitats. The terrain itself—low-lying, water-logged, and endlessly productive—sustains an extraordinary richness of life that few inland wetlands can match.

For birders and wildlife photographers, this is sacred ground. Over 300 avian species have been recorded here, from glossy ibises and spoonbills to Audouin's gulls and elusive bearded reedlings. Spring migration floods the marshes with plovers and warblers; autumn brings raptors and herons. Golden hour light spills dramatically across open water, rendering wetland scenes in saturated hues. Access via dedicated hides and observation towers ensures intimate encounters without disturbance. Spring and autumn offer peak sightings, though winter brings its own haunting beauty.

Website parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/ca/aiguamolls-emporda

Ciconia ciconia

Cigüeña blanca

Phoenicurus ochruros

Colirrojo tizón

Sardinian Warbler

Curruca melanocephala

Curruca Cabecinegra

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Carricero común

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Martinete común

Riparia riparia

Cuculus canorus

Hirundo rustica

Golondrina común

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Avión común occidental

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Abejaruco Europeo

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Canastera común

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Oropéndola europea

Chlidonias hybrida

Fumarel Cariblanco

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Papamoscas Gris

Melodious Warbler

Hippolais polyglotta

Zarcero políglota

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Flamenco común

Anas platyrhynchos

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Cigüeñuela común

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Aguilucho lagunero occidental

Egretta garzetta

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Zampullín común

busardo ratonero

Falco tinnunculus

Cernícalo vulgar

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis

Gaviota Patiamarilla

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Abubilla común

Passer domesticus

Gorrión común

Calidris pugnax

Common Wood Pigeon

Columba palumbus

Gallinula chloropus

Gallineta común

Gulosus aristotelis

Cormorán moñudo

Western Cattle Egret

Garcilla bueyera occidental

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Jilguero Europeo

Erithacus rubecula

Petirrojo Europeo

European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Tarabilla Europea

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Gaviota Reidora

Lavandera Blanca

Little Ringed Plover

Thinornis dubius

Chorlitejo Chico

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Espátula común

Ardeola ralloides

Garcilla Cangrejera

Anthus spinoletta

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

somormujo lavanco

Serinus serinus

Serín verdecillo

Common Kingfisher

Martín pescador común

Galerida cristata

Cogujada común

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Cistícola buitrón

Cetti's Warbler

Cetia ruiseñor

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Silbón europeo

Carbonero común

Common Redshank

Archibebe común

Myiopsitta monachus

Cotorra Argentina

Eurasian Magpie

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Archibebe Oscuro

Spatula querquedula

Cerceta Carretona

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Correlimos zarapitín

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Eurasian Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Northern Pintail

Ánade rabudo norteño

Rallus aquaticus

Rascón europeo

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Curruca Capirotada

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Calidris minuta

Correlimos Menudo

European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Verderón común

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Gavilán común

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Herrerillo común

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Gorrión molinero

Common Blackbird

Motacilla cinerea

Lavandera cascadeña

Aguilucho pálido

Linaria cannabina

Pardillo común

Red-legged Partridge

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Halcón peregrino

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Cormorán grande

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla

Agateador Europeo

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Chorlito dorado europeo

Porrón europeo

Pluvialis squatarola

Tringa glareola

Andarríos bastardo

Mareca strepera

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Archibebe Claro

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Andarríos chico

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Mosquitero común

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Andarríos grande

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Ruiseñor común

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Pagaza Piconegra

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Estornino Pinto

Gallinago gallinago

Agachadiza común

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Chorlitejo Grande

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Lavandera Boyera

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

culebrera europea

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Avefría europea

Red-crested Pochard

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Calidris alpina

Correlimos común

Emberiza calandra

Escribano Triguero

Woodchat Shrike

Alcaudón común

Black-tailed Godwit

Aguja Colinegra

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Chorlitejo Patinegro

Anthus pratensis

Bisbita Pratense

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Carraca Europea

Common Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Escribano Palustre

Recurvirostra avosetta

Hydrocoloeus minutus

European Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleuca

Papamoscas Cerrojillo

Phylloscopus trochilus

Mosquitero Musical

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Carricero Tordal

Saxicola rubetra

Tarabilla norteña

Eurasian Goshawk

Branta leucopsis

Barnacla Cariblanca

Aythya fuligula

Porrón moñudo

Moustached Warbler

Acrocephalus melanopogon

Carricerín real

Turdus philomelos

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Correlimos de Temminck

Common Fallow Deer

Myocastor coypus

Eurasian Wild Pig

Jabalí europeo

European Badger

Nutria paleártica

Western Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Genetta genetta

Visón americano

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

West European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Mustela nivalis

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Capra pyrenaica

Greater White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura russula

Long-tailed Field Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Ratón de campo

Gray Long-eared Bat

Plecotus austriacus

Murciélago orejudo gris u orejudo meridional

Greater Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Murciélago grande de herradura

Eurasian Serotine

Cnephaeus serotinus

Murciélago Hortelano

Suncus etruscus

Rattus norvegicus

Kuhl's Pipistrelle

Pipistrellus kuhlii

Murciélago de borde claro

Lepus europaeus

Lepus europaeus

Western Mediterranean Mouse

Microtus arvalis

Topillo Campesino

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