Ferrolterra Coast
Walking or bicycle routes
A Frouxeira lagoon (Valdoviño): A Frouxeira campsite - eastern bank of A Frouxeira lagoon - AC-116 - O Outeiro - O Outeiro reedbed - River Magno reedbed - A Frouxeira beach - lagoon drainage channel - A Frouxeira campsite
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Route around A Frouxeira lagoon, with several birdwatching points for a large number of waterfowl, herons and coots along the eastern bank (particularly from the new bird monitoring centre). The waterside woodland is home to numerous passerines, as are the reedbeds found all along the route. On the beach there are waders (especially Calidris alba) and also Plectrophenax nivalis, and several seabird species out at sea.
Pantín (Valdoviño): Santiago de Pantín - O Freixo - Pantín beach and reedbed - O Rodo - Rosella beach - motocross circuit - Marnela de Arriba (AC-566) - O Talieiro - Os Veceiros - Pantín waterside woodland - O Freixo - Santiago de Pantín
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: route in the vicinity of Pantín beach and reedbed. Excellent spots for watching birds at their migration stopover sites (Larus marinus, Larus argentatus, Larus canus and hundreds of Larus fuscus on the beach, plus passerines in the reedbeds and nearby fields). From O Rodo you can watch the passage of seabirds when winds are blowing from the northwest.
As Forcadas reservoir (Valdoviño): O Calvario - A Rañoa - Loira - O Latoal - Cadaíl - Loiravella - Os Bidueiros - O Pereiro - O Cadaval bridge - A Braxe - O Basteiro - reservoir dam - O Calvario
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Route around As Forcadas reservoir. Noteworthy spots for watching waterfowl, grebes and coots at O Latoal and O Cadaval bridge. Near to the hamlet of Os Bidueiros you might spot breeding Locustella naevia plus Tringa ochropus and Lutra lutra). In autumn and winter, it is usual for Pandion haliaetus to be present.
SPECIES OF INTERESTNo. of recorded species: 252
Iberian public (N): Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Botaurus stellaris, Aythya nyroca, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Locustella naevia
Iberian public (C, S & E): Bucephala clangula, Plectrophenax nivalis, Botaurus stellaris, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Phylloscopus ibericus
European public (N): Phylloscopus ibericus, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis
European public (C, S & E): Calonectris diomedea, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Puffinus mauretanicus, Plectrophenax nivalis
Occasional visitors: Bombycilla garrulus, Aythya affinis, Aythya collaris, Calcarius lapponicus, Calidris pusilla, Panurus biarmicus, Emberiza pusilla
Best times: Post-breeding passage from August to September; wintering until March. Pre-mating migration from March to May
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Route around A Frouxeira lagoon, with several birdwatching points for a large number of waterfowl, herons and coots along the eastern bank (particularly from the new bird monitoring centre). The waterside woodland is home to numerous passerines, as are the reedbeds found all along the route. On the beach there are waders (especially Calidris alba) and also Plectrophenax nivalis, and several seabird species out at sea.
Pantín (Valdoviño): Santiago de Pantín - O Freixo - Pantín beach and reedbed - O Rodo - Rosella beach - motocross circuit - Marnela de Arriba (AC-566) - O Talieiro - Os Veceiros - Pantín waterside woodland - O Freixo - Santiago de Pantín
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: route in the vicinity of Pantín beach and reedbed. Excellent spots for watching birds at their migration stopover sites (Larus marinus, Larus argentatus, Larus canus and hundreds of Larus fuscus on the beach, plus passerines in the reedbeds and nearby fields). From O Rodo you can watch the passage of seabirds when winds are blowing from the northwest.
As Forcadas reservoir (Valdoviño): O Calvario - A Rañoa - Loira - O Latoal - Cadaíl - Loiravella - Os Bidueiros - O Pereiro - O Cadaval bridge - A Braxe - O Basteiro - reservoir dam - O Calvario
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Route around As Forcadas reservoir. Noteworthy spots for watching waterfowl, grebes and coots at O Latoal and O Cadaval bridge. Near to the hamlet of Os Bidueiros you might spot breeding Locustella naevia plus Tringa ochropus and Lutra lutra). In autumn and winter, it is usual for Pandion haliaetus to be present.
SPECIES OF INTERESTNo. of recorded species: 252
Iberian public (N): Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Botaurus stellaris, Aythya nyroca, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Locustella naevia
Iberian public (C, S & E): Bucephala clangula, Plectrophenax nivalis, Botaurus stellaris, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Phylloscopus ibericus
European public (N): Phylloscopus ibericus, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis
European public (C, S & E): Calonectris diomedea, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Puffinus mauretanicus, Plectrophenax nivalis
Occasional visitors: Bombycilla garrulus, Aythya affinis, Aythya collaris, Calcarius lapponicus, Calidris pusilla, Panurus biarmicus, Emberiza pusilla
Best times: Post-breeding passage from August to September; wintering until March. Pre-mating migration from March to May
Routes by car
Long route: A Frouxeira lighthouse - Taraza - A Frouxeira lagoon (south) - Valdoviño - Loiba - As Forcadas reservoir - Vilaboa - Vilarrube beach - Pantín - Valdoviño (39 km)
Especially recommended between August and December.
Begin at A Frouxeira lighthouse (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Oenanthe oenanthe, Corvus corax), and head south, passing through an area of pine and eucalyptus forest, then an inhabited area (Taraza) and lastly an area with extensive fields (Saxicola rubetra, Locustella naevia, Lanius collurio). Once at the junction with the AC-116, turn left towards the parish of Lago.
Before you reach the roundabout to Valdoviño, look for a track which takes you to the southern edge of A Frouxeira lagoon and its new (2010) ornithological monitoring centre (Botaurus stellaris, Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Platalea leucorodia, hundreds of waterfowl). Then take the roundabout towards Valdoviño (centre) and on the north side of the village, turn off to the right to As Forcadas reservoir, spotting Fringilla montifringilla, Lanius collurio and Emberiza citrinella along the way (depending on the time of year). At As Forcadas reservoir, stop at the turn-off to Latoal (Aythya collaris, Netta rufina, Aythya ferina).
Then head towards the reservoir's tail and Vilaboa, crossing two tiny bridges (Podicepscristatus, Pandion haliaetus, Aythya affinis). From the crossroads in Vilaboa, make your way towards Vilarrube, passing through a region of crop fields divided by hedgerows (Phylloscopus ibericus, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Fringilla montifringilla).
When you reach the AC-566, keep going to the left followed by a sharp right, visiting Vilarrube dunes (Alauda arvensis, Anthus pratensis, occasional Calcarius lapponicus). Back on the AC-566, carry on towards Pantín and lastly to the built up area of Valdoviño.
Short route: Ferrol (A Malata inlet) - Doniños - San Xurxo da Mariña - Gabeiras Islands - San Xurxo beach - Cabo Prior (12 km)
Particularly productive between March and June.
From the city of Ferrol, enjoy your first birdwatching session at the bay of A Malata (Larus marinus, Egretta garzetta, Motacilla (alba) yarrellii). Carry on along the CP-3608 and then on the CP-3607, turning off towards O Vilar and O Cal de Area and to the north shore of Doniños lagoon (Tachybaptus ruficollis, Phylloscopus ibericus, Rallus aquaticus).
On the road again, continue northwards along the CP-3606 until reaching San Xurxo da Mariña, where you take a tarmacked track on the left and then head southwest towards the coastal fort of Lobadiz (Sylvia undata, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis). Here you can make out the interesting Gabeiras Islands (breeding population of Hydrobates pelagicus, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Larus michahellis).
Going back to San Xurxo da Mariña, take the CP-3606 to the nearby beach of San Xurxo (Larus argentatus, Sterna sandvicensis, hundreds of Larus fuscus) and its reedbeds (Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus scirpaceus). Continue northwards and pass through the villages of O Vilar and O Prioiro before coming to the cape of Cabo Prior (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Sylvia melanocephala, Phalacrocorax aristotelis).
Especially recommended between August and December.
Begin at A Frouxeira lighthouse (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Oenanthe oenanthe, Corvus corax), and head south, passing through an area of pine and eucalyptus forest, then an inhabited area (Taraza) and lastly an area with extensive fields (Saxicola rubetra, Locustella naevia, Lanius collurio). Once at the junction with the AC-116, turn left towards the parish of Lago.
Before you reach the roundabout to Valdoviño, look for a track which takes you to the southern edge of A Frouxeira lagoon and its new (2010) ornithological monitoring centre (Botaurus stellaris, Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Platalea leucorodia, hundreds of waterfowl). Then take the roundabout towards Valdoviño (centre) and on the north side of the village, turn off to the right to As Forcadas reservoir, spotting Fringilla montifringilla, Lanius collurio and Emberiza citrinella along the way (depending on the time of year). At As Forcadas reservoir, stop at the turn-off to Latoal (Aythya collaris, Netta rufina, Aythya ferina).
Then head towards the reservoir's tail and Vilaboa, crossing two tiny bridges (Podicepscristatus, Pandion haliaetus, Aythya affinis). From the crossroads in Vilaboa, make your way towards Vilarrube, passing through a region of crop fields divided by hedgerows (Phylloscopus ibericus, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Fringilla montifringilla).
When you reach the AC-566, keep going to the left followed by a sharp right, visiting Vilarrube dunes (Alauda arvensis, Anthus pratensis, occasional Calcarius lapponicus). Back on the AC-566, carry on towards Pantín and lastly to the built up area of Valdoviño.
Short route: Ferrol (A Malata inlet) - Doniños - San Xurxo da Mariña - Gabeiras Islands - San Xurxo beach - Cabo Prior (12 km)
Particularly productive between March and June.
From the city of Ferrol, enjoy your first birdwatching session at the bay of A Malata (Larus marinus, Egretta garzetta, Motacilla (alba) yarrellii). Carry on along the CP-3608 and then on the CP-3607, turning off towards O Vilar and O Cal de Area and to the north shore of Doniños lagoon (Tachybaptus ruficollis, Phylloscopus ibericus, Rallus aquaticus).
On the road again, continue northwards along the CP-3606 until reaching San Xurxo da Mariña, where you take a tarmacked track on the left and then head southwest towards the coastal fort of Lobadiz (Sylvia undata, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis). Here you can make out the interesting Gabeiras Islands (breeding population of Hydrobates pelagicus, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Larus michahellis).
Going back to San Xurxo da Mariña, take the CP-3606 to the nearby beach of San Xurxo (Larus argentatus, Sterna sandvicensis, hundreds of Larus fuscus) and its reedbeds (Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus scirpaceus). Continue northwards and pass through the villages of O Vilar and O Prioiro before coming to the cape of Cabo Prior (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Sylvia melanocephala, Phalacrocorax aristotelis).