Parque National del Coto Doņana
The area known as the Coto Doņana is probably the best known of all names of the wildlife protected areas in the south of the Iberian peninsular. There are numerous Parque Naturales but only one Parque Nacional that offers stringent protected status within the province of Huelva. The province of Huelva itself lies between the Río Guadalquivir and the border with Portugal. If any of you are familiar with the Sanlucar de Barrameda area, then take time to look across the mighty river and youll see the eastern side of the Coto Doņana National Park. There wild Boar can be watched along the river bank of the park and Booted Eagles soar with Red and Black Kites along the forest fringes. 
Flocks of Avocets, Spoonbills and Glossy Ibis cross to and fro across the river in search of feeding grounds and the eastern side of the river offers just as much variety of birdlife as the Parque Nacional.
To get to the other side of the river from Sanlucar can only be done by the roads that lead through Seville to Huelva Province. There are no shortcuts or bridges along the coast and there is only one small car ferry near Seville that crosses the river. Taking the motorway from the east of Andalucia is the only sure way of getting there quickly and the journey is well worth the long detour.
As the crow flies, so to speak, the Doņana is merely a short flight along the coast from Jerez or Cadiz. The main spring migration start along the Strait of Gibraltar and birds take full advantage of the marshes and wetlands being full of water, thus offering migrating birds a chance to feed and shelter in an environment that is very sparsely populated and rich in food, for the onward journey through Spain to other European destinations. The springtime passage is spread over two or more months, peaking in April. The autumn bird migration is much more dramatic, mainly with birds of prey being visible in amazing numbers crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, anywhere from Conil on the Atlantic to Estepona on the Mediterranean.
The Coto Doņana offers travellers, wildlife of unique and unrivalled contrasts. Birdwatchers turn up each spring to watch Great Spotted Cuckoos, Collared Pratincoles and Golden Orioles as well as the many returning raptors arriving back from their winter in Africa. The National Park borders the town of El Rocío, where the Pentecostal processions take place each year. A large flooded laguna right on the doorstep of the town, holds thousands of birds and is a great place to see how many species you can identify. There are lots here and its a comfortable place to start birdwatching, affording good views and even some hides and new wooden walkways across at the nearby La Rocína visitors centre. Spoonbills, Marsh Harriers, Black and Red Kites, Bee-eaters, Azure-winged Magpies, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingos, 
Purple Herons, Black-winged Stilts as well as thousands of Coots, Moorhens, White Storks and huge flocks of all manner of waders make up a really diverse mix of colour and noise, guaranteed to get anyone who loves being out in the fresh air hooked on one of the biggest outdoor hobbies there is BIRDING!
