The Return of the Pink Tide
Fuente de Piedra is Overflowing!
The final outing of my current stay in Adalusia was with Barbara and Derek Etherton. After years of record-breaking droughts that turned Spain’s largest natural lagoon into a salt desert, the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra is officially back—and it is bursting at the seams.
As of March 2026, water levels have reached heights not seen in over a decade.
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| Just a fraction of the 1000s of Greater Flamingos at Funte |
🌊 A Decade in the Making
While it's had "wet-ish" springs recently, the lagoon hasn't been this full since March 2013. Just three years ago, the lagoon dried up completely for the first time this century.
2026 (The Comeback): This year’s heavy rains have restored the lagoon to its full glory, surpassing the partial recovery of 2025.
🦩 Why the Water Matters
This isn't just about a pretty view; it’s a biological survival event. The Greater Flamingo requires specific water depths to build their mud-mound nests and protect them from predators like foxes.
Capacity: With the lagoon "full," they expect to see upwards of 25,000 pairs of flamingos nesting this season.
Biodiversity: The high water levels have done more than just create a beautiful landscape; they’ve restored a habitat for rare diving ducks and shorebirds that haven't called the main lagoon home in years. During our visit, we were lucky enough to witness this firsthand. While species like the Great Crested Grebe and Black-necked Grebe are usually confined to the shallower Laguneta (the 'small lagoon'), the current depth has allowed them to reclaim the open water.
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| Black-necked Grebe: Almost in breeding plumage. |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
The Laguneto: A Hub of Activity
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| Spotted Redshank: Two on Laguneto del Pueblo |
The surrounding fencelines and scrub were just as busy. We ticked off Cattle Egret, Black Redstart, Spanish Sparrow, Chiffchaffs, and Stonechat, while the air was filled with the songs of Cetti’s Warblers, Serins, and the unmistakable 'zitting' of the Cisticola.
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| Spanish Sparrow: A male enjoying the warm sunshine |
From the Lagunetta Hide, the water surface was dotted with rare gems. We were treated to as many as 23 of the endangered White-headed Duck and a couple of Marbled Duck, alongside Red-crested Pochards, Gadwalls, and Northern Shovelers. Spring migration continues, as Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns have begun their return, patrolling the skies overhead.
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| Gull-billed Tern: Back again over the skies of Fuente. |
The Scenic Route Home: Kestrels and Giants
We couldn't leave without a clockwise loop around the main lagoon, a drive that rewarded us almost immediately. Overhead, we were treated to an incredible display by five Lesser Kestrels—their acrobatic hunting was a true spring highlight.
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| Lesser Kestrel: On the hunt |
Our next stop was Laguna Dulce, which, much like its neighbour at Fuente de Piedra, was brimming with water. The high levels brought us some fantastic new additions to our day list: Dunlin, Little-ringed Plover, and the unmistakable, iridescent silhouette of Glossy Ibis.
We ended the day under the shadows of the Peñón de Peñarrubia. Looking up, the sky was filled with the heavy, majestic shapes of at least 12 Griffon Vultures and a lone Red Kite catching the thermals. It was the perfect, soaring end to another brilliant Spanish adventure. I’m already counting down the days until my return in late April.
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| Griffon Vulture: From a previous visit to Peñón de Peñarrubia |
