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Meandro del Estajao

Sotos del Ebro



Technical Data

The path of this circular route of no more than 4 kilometers takes us into the heart of the only Nature Reserve of La Rioja. This natural space is one of the few places where the riparian forests have managed to maintain acceptable natural conditions and have resisted the various transformations carried out by the hand of man. Walking through this natural enclave is being able to go back in time and get a small idea of what the riparian forests of yesteryear were like.


  • Distance

    4 km

  • Duration

    1h 30m

  • Type

    Circular

  • Difficulty

    Low

  • Time of the year

    All

  • Entrance

    Parking

  • Final

    Parking

  • Signaling

    Yes


It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing appropriate to the weather and terrain conditions. Park your vehicle in the car park enabled for it. The itinerary takes place within a protected area. Please be especially respectful.

Description

The route begins and ends in the parking area for cars and buses located in the peripheral protection zone of the reserve. At this point we find an information panel with data regarding the reserve, as well as a fountain with drinking water. We start the route heading along the path on the left towards the "Mirador de los Patos", from where we will have a first view of the reserve, and of "a mother": a meander disconnected from the river current with retained water and less speed than the main channel of the river, which serves as an important refuge for fauna, becoming an important part of this valuable wetland. At this point, we must take the path that goes to the right, an old river retaining structure that takes us parallel to its course and where we can begin to enjoy the rich biodiversity of this place, having the river on our left, and riparian vegetation with various poplar plantations on the right. Once we reach the crossroads, we must continue straight on, here the river widens and we will be able to have a broader view of the riverbed, as well as appreciate the transformation of the floodplain, now used as a growing area for fruit trees due to its fertile land. The path continues along the old meander of the river, approaching the riverbank forest, as well as the earth slope excavated by the river itself. This escarpment accompanies us for more than 1 kilometer until we reach a final crossroads where the path on the left allows us to return to the exit parking.


Sotos del Ebro

The banks of the river Ebro as it passes through Alfaro is one of the few places in La Rioja where the river forests have managed to maintain acceptable natural conditions after the multiple transformations carried out by human action, and where it is still possible to enjoy a unique ecosystem of forests and birds on the banks of the river.

Birdwatching

Data obtained from the eBird platform

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

  • 2
  • 25/08/2024
  • José Ramón Martínez

Great Egret 2 27/08/2024
Zitting Cisticola 3 25/08/2024
Great Tit 2 25/08/2024
Carrion Crow 3 25/08/2024
Eurasian Hobby 2 25/08/2024
Eurasian Linnet 12 25/08/2024
House Sparrow 1 25/08/2024
Eurasian Blackbird 1 25/08/2024
Green Sandpiper 2 25/08/2024
Common Sandpiper 1 25/08/2024
Eurasian Moorhen 2 25/08/2024
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 25/08/2024
Common Wood-Pigeon 14 25/08/2024
Rock Pigeon X 25/08/2024
Barn Swallow 2 25/08/2024
Short-toed Treecreeper 3 25/08/2024
Common Greenshank 1 25/08/2024
Common Nightingale 1 25/08/2024
Great Cormorant 1 25/08/2024
White Wagtail 1 25/08/2024

Birdwatching

Along the route we can enjoy watching a multitude of birds. Various species of waders feed on the gravel shores such as sandpiper, stilts or plovers, species closely linked to the river such as the fast kingfisher or the little grebe, various species of ducks such as mallards, gadwalls, teals, shovelers, herons, storks, cormorants or flocks of seagulls. Many species use this place as a resting or feeding area during their migratory journeys, being possible to observe at certain times species as diverse as spoonbills, black-tailed godwits, osprey, squacco heron, glossy ibis, avocets, the shy black stork or even the rare bittern. There are many birds of prey that fly over the reserve, and kites, marsh harriers, booted eagles, sparrowhawks, common buzzards can be seen regularly. In the riverside forest are common finches, wrens, robins, blackbirds, thrushes, buntings, serins and goldfinches, among many other species that use the grove as a refuge area and that you could discover walking through this wonderful enclave.



Complete list

List of birds

Spatula clypeata

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Spatula clypeata Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Anas platyrhynchos

MALLARD

Anas platyrhynchos Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Anas acuta

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Anas acuta Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Anas crecca

GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Anas crecca Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Tachybaptus ruficollis

LITTLE GREBE

Tachybaptus ruficollis Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Columbia livia

ROCK PIGEON

Columbia livia Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Columba palumbus

COMMON WOOD-PIGEON

Columba palumbus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Streptopelia decaocto

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE

Streptopelia decaocto Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Cuculus canorus

COMMON CUCKOO

Cuculus canorus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Apus apus

COMMON SWIFT

Apus apus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Rallus aquaticus

WATER RAIL

Rallus aquaticus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Gallinula chloropus

EURASIAN MOORHEN

Gallinula chloropus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Grus grus

COMMON CRANE

Grus grus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Himantopus himantopus

BLACK-WINGED STILT

Himantopus himantopus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Charadrius hiaticula

COMMON RINGED PLOVER

Charadrius hiaticula Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Charadrius dubius

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

Charadrius dubius Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Gallinago gallinago

COMMON SNIPE

Gallinago gallinago Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Actitis hypoleucos

COMMON SANDPIPER

Actitis hypoleucos Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Tringa ochropus

GREEN SANDPIPER

Tringa ochropus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Tringa nebularia

COMMON GREENSHANK

Tringa nebularia Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Tringa totanus

COMMON REDSHANK

Tringa totanus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Chroicocephalus ridibundus

BLACK-HEADED GULL

Chroicocephalus ridibundus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Larus michahellis

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL

Larus michahellis Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ciconia nigra

BLACK STORK

Ciconia nigra Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ciconia ciconia

WHITE STORK

Ciconia ciconia Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Phalacrocorax carbo

GREAT CORMORANT

Phalacrocorax carbo Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ardea cinerea

GRAY HERON

Ardea cinerea Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ardea purpurea

PURPLE HERON

Ardea purpurea Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ardea alba

GREAT EGRET

Ardea alba Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Egretta garzetta

LITTLE EGRET

Egretta garzetta Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Ardeola ralloides

SQUACCO HERON

Ardeola ralloides Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Nycticorax nycticorax

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON

Nycticorax nycticorax Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Plegadis falcinellus

GLOSSY IBIS

Plegadis falcinellus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Platalea leucorodia

EURASIAN SPOONBILL

Platalea leucorodia Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Pandion haliaetus

OSPREY

Pandion haliaetus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Pernis apivorus

EUROPEAN HONEY-BUZZARD

Pernis apivorus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Gyps fulvus

GRIFFON VULTURE

Gyps fulvus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Hieraaetus pennatus

BOOTED EAGLE

Hieraaetus pennatus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Circus aeruginosus

EURASIAN MARSH-HARRIER

Circus aeruginosus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Accipiter nisus

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK

Accipiter nisus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Accipiter gentilis

NORTHERN GOSHAWK

Accipiter gentilis Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Milvus milvus

RED KITE

Milvus milvus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Milvus migrans

BLACK KITE

Milvus migrans Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Buteo buteo

COMMON BUZZARD

Buteo buteo Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Upupa epops

EURASIAN HOOPOE

Upupa epops Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Alcedo atthis

COMMON KINGFISHER

Alcedo atthis Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Merops apiaster

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Dendrocopos major

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

Dendrocopos major Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Dryobates minor

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER

Dryobates minor Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Picus sharpei

EURASIAN GREEN WOODPECKER

Picus sharpei Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Falco tinnunculus

EURASIAN KESTREL

Falco tinnunculus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Oriolus oriolus

EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE

Oriolus oriolus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Pica pica

EURASIAN MAGPIE

Pica pica Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Corvus corone

CARRION CROW

Corvus corone Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Cyanistes caeruleus

EURASIAN BLUE TIT

Cyanistes caeruleus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Parus major

GREAT TIT

Parus major Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Remiz pendulinus

EURASIAN PENDULINE-TIT

Remiz pendulinus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Hippolais polyglotta

MELODIOUS WARBLER

Hippolais polyglotta Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Riparia riparia

BANK SWALLOW

Riparia riparia Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Hirundo rustica

BARN SWALLOW

Hirundo rustica Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Delichon urbicum

COMMON HOUSE-MARTIN

Delichon urbicum Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Phylloscopus collybita

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF

Phylloscopus collybita Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Cettia cetti

CETTI´S WARBLER

Cettia cetti Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Aegithalos caudatus

LONG-TAILED TIT

Aegithalos caudatus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Sylvia atricapilla

EURASIAN BLACKCAP

Sylvia atricapilla Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Sylvia melanocephala

SARDINIAN WARBLER

Sylvia melanocephala Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Certhia brachydactyla

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Troglodytes troglodytes

EURASIAN WREN

Troglodytes troglodytes Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Turdus philomelos

SONG THRUSH

Turdus philomelos Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Erithacus rubecula

EUROPEAN ROBIN

Erithacus rubecula Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Luscinia megarhynchos

COMMON NIGHTINGALE

Luscinia megarhynchos Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Oenanthe oenanthe

NORTHERN WHEATEAR

Oenanthe oenanthe Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Passer domesticus

HOUSE SPARROW

Passer domesticus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Passer montanus

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW

Passer montanus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Motacilla cinerea

GRAY WAGTAIL

Motacilla cinerea Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Motacilla flava

WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL

Motacilla flava Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Motacilla alba

WHITE WAGTAIL

Motacilla alba Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Fringilla coelebs

COMMON CHAFFINCH

Fringilla coelebs Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Chloris chloris

EUROPEAN GREENFISH

Chloris chloris Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Linaria cannabina

EURASIAN LINNET

Linaria cannabina Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Carduelis carduelis

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Serinus serinus

EUROPEAN SERIN

Serinus serinus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET
Emberiza cirlus

CIRL BUNTING

Emberiza cirlus Icono Ribera Icono Carrizal Icono Estepa Icono Bosque Mediterráneo SEE SHEET