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Photo byKeith Dickinson
Looking NW across the lake at Es Grau)

Menorca Balearic Islands

Overview

This is reserve forms the core of the Es Grau Biosphere Reserve that stretches from Mao to Port Addia (approximately 15 kilometres North of Mao). The reserve was created in 1995 and expanded in 2003 to conserve the habitat, flora and fauna of the area. The lake is the largest body of fresh water on the island and plays host to large flocks of wintering waterfowl as well as waders on passage. There are 3 trails that can be followed, it is not permitted to wander away from the trails.

Birds

Notable Species

Wintering birds on the lake include various duck species, Greylag Goose and Great Cormorant and during passage periods gulls, terns and waders such as Wood Sandpiper can be seen.

Raptors such as Red Kite, Booted Eagle and Osprey occur on passage and the wooded areas around the lake have Crossbill and Firecrest.

Sardinian Warbler and Thekla Lark are common in open areas and scrub in the area.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Black-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, Mediterranean Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Greylag Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Black Kite, Red Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora's Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Stone-curlew, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Whiskered Tern, Eurasian Scops Owl, Pallid Swift, European Bee-eater, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark, Tawny Pipit, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Linnet, Balearic Crossbill

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

The eastern end of the lake can be explored by returning to the Es Grau road and just before the resort itself at about km6 there is a lay-by and the reserve entrance is signposted.

Alternatively continue into Es Grau and the sea and walk back to the lake.

Access and Facilities

To reach S'Albufera es Grau take the PM710 out of Mao and after 1km turn off right on to the Es Grau road. After 3.5km the reserve entrance is signposted on the left. For the beach trail keep on the main road until you reach the village of Es Grau, there is car parking here and the beach trail can be reached by walking around the bay to reach the signposted start to the trail.

Toilets at the Reserve Visitor Centre, open Daily 9.00am to 3.00pm year round, with later opening on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, to 5.00pm Nov-Mar and to 7.00pm Apr to Oct.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

S'Albufera es Grau on Spain Info website

Content and images originally posted by Steve