Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, Cortalet Itinerary 1/2
Starting point: Castelló d'Empúries
Time: most of a day
From Castelló d'Empúries take the GIV-6216 towards Sant Pere Pescador for approximately 3kms whereon you reach the sign for the Aiguamolls reserve. Turn left here and follow on to the reserve car park and information centre, looking out for Stone Curlew in the fields on the way.
Visit the information centre for maps, information and birdy things and then investigate the Integral Reserve on foot. The first port of call should be the hides on the edge of the Cortalet lagoon where a good variety of ducks, herons, waders and other wetland birds can usually be seen, depending on the time of year and the water level of the lagoon. Cattle Egret and Purple Heron are readily observed, while Little Bittern and Great Bittern are more irregular in their appearances. Other birds usually seen here include Purple Gallinule, Night Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, or even White-winged Black Tern on migration, and Fan-tailed Warbler and Cetti's Warbler. In common with other freshwater lagoons of the Empordà marshes el Cortalet is also frequented in early spring by migrating crakes, especially Spotted Crake, but also the rarer Little and Baillon's Crake.
From here an interesting option is to head towards the meadows of Can Comes and the Estany d'Europa. In this generally open area of meadows with some bushes Stone Curlew can be seen, along with the occasional Montagu's Harrier. Species such as Tawny Pipit, Redstart, Bee-eater, Subalpine Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Northern Wheatear are regular here at migration times, where with luck you could also find Red-throated Pipit or Dotterel. Follow on to the Estany d'Europa, an interesting area to see more wetland birds.
