Laguna de Fuente de Piedra

The website for the above boasts that “the lagoon is the largest in Andalusia with 1,400 ha.” and that “it is a unique location within the wet zones of the Western Mediterranean being home to the largest colony of flamingoes to be found anywhere in the Iberian Peninsula, second in importance in Europe after France Camargue“. My own header picture of this very same lagoon taken in January 2024 sadly looks more reminescent of Weston Super Mare with the tide out rather than an image conjured up from the above introduction.

We had previously visited this lagoon in February 2023 when the water was down to about a quarter of its norm following 3 years without rain. The main part of the lagoon was so far away that we could not see it so no images were taken and we did not stay. Visiting again in January 2024 we were informed that the water level had substantially increased to more than three quarters of the lagoon’s capacity due to a long period of sustained rainfall. The lagoon still looked woefully depleated as all my landscape images taken of it last year show.

Why is the water still so low in January 2024 despite the sustained rainfall? Andalucia is a region known for its agriculture. There are vast areas of mono culture and illegal syphoning of water from lagoons is apparently rife. Habitat for wildlife continues to be snatched away. The image above shows 6 common crane flying over what remains of the lagoon. As the water is syphoned off the brown expanse of dried out lagoon bed increases. This and the contrasting lush cultivated land surrounding the lagoon dominate the landscape.

A stark difference which must have a massive impact on the wildlife. The image below shows what remains of what once must have been a magnificent common crane roost. There was no large colony of flamingoes. What wildlife there was, was beautiful. We spent three days travelling around the lagoon stopping at its various viewing points and below are some of the images of some of the wildlife we saw.