Ortigueira estuary and Cariño routes
Walking or bicycle routes
Morouzos (Ortigueira): Ortigueira (vila) - San Martiño lagoon - Morouzos beach - Os Casás - Ortigueira (centre)
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 2-3 hrs.
Basic information: Route taking in the dune system on Mourozos beach, the site of a lagoon (San Martiño) surrounded by waterside woodland at the head of Cabalar beach. The presence of migrant and wintering passerines is particularly relevant, with sightings of several rare birds (Oenanthe deserti, Circus macrourus, Elanus caeruleus).
Espasante (Ortigueira): Espasante harbour - fort - Espasante village - Santo Antonio beach - Os Pumares - Mazorgán - Agros de O Sarridal and return
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Coastal route, passing through areas of scrubland, traditional crop fields and hedgerows, all frequented by small birds, above all in spring and autumn. O Sarridal beach has a series of islets on its northern shore (breeding ground for Larus marinus, Larus michahellis and presence of Phalacrocorax aristotelis). From this area in autumn, with north or northeasterly winds, it is possible to see copious numbers of migrating seabirds.
Mera estuary (Cariño/Ortigueira): Ponte de Mera - O Peago - Muíños - A Catadoira - A Leixa - Fornelos - A Chousa - Quintá - Serantes - As Penas - Ponte de Mera
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 2-3 hrs.
Basic information: Route along the southwestern edge of the Ría de Ortigueira. Roosting areas for waders and terns opposite Fornelos and A Leixa. Nesting passerines on the edges of reedbeds and wooded hedgerows.
SPECIES OF INTEREST:No. of recorded species: 237
Iberian public (N): Anthus petrosus, Calidris maritima, Plectrophenax nivalis, Gavia stellata, Turdus torquatus
Iberian public (C, S & E): Uria aalge, Gavia arctica, Larus marinus, Podiceps auritus, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
European public (N): Puffinus mauretanicus, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis, Emberiza cirlus
European public (C, S & E): Haematopus ostralegus, Uria aalge, Larus marinus, Gavia immer
Occasional visitors: Oenanthe deserti, Larus philadelphia, Sterna forsteri, Anas rubripes, Circus macrourus, Actitis macularius, Fregata spp.
Best times: Post-breeding passage and overwintering from August to February.Pre-mating migration from March to May
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 2-3 hrs.
Basic information: Route taking in the dune system on Mourozos beach, the site of a lagoon (San Martiño) surrounded by waterside woodland at the head of Cabalar beach. The presence of migrant and wintering passerines is particularly relevant, with sightings of several rare birds (Oenanthe deserti, Circus macrourus, Elanus caeruleus).
Espasante (Ortigueira): Espasante harbour - fort - Espasante village - Santo Antonio beach - Os Pumares - Mazorgán - Agros de O Sarridal and return
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Basic information: Coastal route, passing through areas of scrubland, traditional crop fields and hedgerows, all frequented by small birds, above all in spring and autumn. O Sarridal beach has a series of islets on its northern shore (breeding ground for Larus marinus, Larus michahellis and presence of Phalacrocorax aristotelis). From this area in autumn, with north or northeasterly winds, it is possible to see copious numbers of migrating seabirds.
Mera estuary (Cariño/Ortigueira): Ponte de Mera - O Peago - Muíños - A Catadoira - A Leixa - Fornelos - A Chousa - Quintá - Serantes - As Penas - Ponte de Mera
Level of difficulty: low.
Duration: 2-3 hrs.
Basic information: Route along the southwestern edge of the Ría de Ortigueira. Roosting areas for waders and terns opposite Fornelos and A Leixa. Nesting passerines on the edges of reedbeds and wooded hedgerows.
SPECIES OF INTEREST:No. of recorded species: 237
Iberian public (N): Anthus petrosus, Calidris maritima, Plectrophenax nivalis, Gavia stellata, Turdus torquatus
Iberian public (C, S & E): Uria aalge, Gavia arctica, Larus marinus, Podiceps auritus, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
European public (N): Puffinus mauretanicus, Sylvia melanocephala, Cisticola juncidis, Emberiza cirlus
European public (C, S & E): Haematopus ostralegus, Uria aalge, Larus marinus, Gavia immer
Occasional visitors: Oenanthe deserti, Larus philadelphia, Sterna forsteri, Anas rubripes, Circus macrourus, Actitis macularius, Fregata spp.
Best times: Post-breeding passage and overwintering from August to February.Pre-mating migration from March to May
Routes by car
Long route: Espasante harbour - Ladrido - Ortigueira harbour - A Senra - Mera - Sismundi wharf - Figueroa - Fornos beach (37 km)
Preferably between October and January. Begin the route at Espasante harbour (Gavia immer, Larus marinus, Uria aalge), then go up to the village of Espasante to afterwards reach the C-642. On reaching the turn-off for Ladrido, take this road and head towards the wharf (Numenius arquata, Pluvialis squatarola, Anas platyrhynchos).
Get back on the C-642 N and head towards Ortigueira and then to the harbour (Anas penelope, Anas acuta, Numenius phaeopus; also look out for Lutra lutra). Return to the C-642, passing through Cuíña and A Senra. In this latter village, look for the tracks that pass under the railway line to the north, and come to the bank of the tidal estuary (Anas penelope, Anas acuta, Tadorna tadorna). After passing San Claudio, in front of the "A Ría" hospitality complex, you can enjoy an excellent view of the Mera estuary (Anas platyrhynchos, Tringa nebularia, Pluvialis squatarola).
At Ponte de Mera, take the road to Cariño (AC-6121) and a few kilometres further on, take the turn-off to the right towards the wharf at Sismundi (Gavia arctica, Podiceps auritus, Podiceps nigricollis). Almost in Cariño town centre, take a track to the right towards Figueroa, Figueiras and Fornos beach (Gavia stellata, Melanitta nigra, Uria aalge).
Short route: Santo Andrés de Teixido - Garita da Herbeira - Cariño - Cariño harbour - Cabo Ortegal (21 km)
From the chapel of Santo Andrés de Teixido, take the AC-2205 towards Cariño, going up beside O Teixidelo and Meizoso (Emberiza citrinella, Anthus spinoletta, Oenanthe oenanthe) to then head towards the windfarm at A Capelada on the way to Garita da Herbeira (Turdus torquatus, Monticola solitarius, Anthus spinoletta), the place with the highest sea cliffs in western Europe. Crossing the bogs before dropping down to Cariño (Pluvialis apricaria, Alauda arvensis, Saxicola rubetra), you come to an interesting copse of Scots Pines (Pinus sylvestris)(Carduelis spinus in summer, Scolopax rusticola, Ficedula hypoleuca).
Now in Cariño town centre, approach the beaches of A Abasteira and Cariño (Larus canus, Larus delawarensis, Corvus monedula) and then the harbour (Larus marinus, Calidris maritima, Alle alle).
Next take the road towards Cabo Ortegal (Scolopax rusticola, Falco peregrinus, Muscicapa striata) until coming to the lighthouse (Monticola solitarius, Phalacrocrorax aristotelis, passing seabirds in autumn).
Preferably between October and January. Begin the route at Espasante harbour (Gavia immer, Larus marinus, Uria aalge), then go up to the village of Espasante to afterwards reach the C-642. On reaching the turn-off for Ladrido, take this road and head towards the wharf (Numenius arquata, Pluvialis squatarola, Anas platyrhynchos).
Get back on the C-642 N and head towards Ortigueira and then to the harbour (Anas penelope, Anas acuta, Numenius phaeopus; also look out for Lutra lutra). Return to the C-642, passing through Cuíña and A Senra. In this latter village, look for the tracks that pass under the railway line to the north, and come to the bank of the tidal estuary (Anas penelope, Anas acuta, Tadorna tadorna). After passing San Claudio, in front of the "A Ría" hospitality complex, you can enjoy an excellent view of the Mera estuary (Anas platyrhynchos, Tringa nebularia, Pluvialis squatarola).
At Ponte de Mera, take the road to Cariño (AC-6121) and a few kilometres further on, take the turn-off to the right towards the wharf at Sismundi (Gavia arctica, Podiceps auritus, Podiceps nigricollis). Almost in Cariño town centre, take a track to the right towards Figueroa, Figueiras and Fornos beach (Gavia stellata, Melanitta nigra, Uria aalge).
Short route: Santo Andrés de Teixido - Garita da Herbeira - Cariño - Cariño harbour - Cabo Ortegal (21 km)
From the chapel of Santo Andrés de Teixido, take the AC-2205 towards Cariño, going up beside O Teixidelo and Meizoso (Emberiza citrinella, Anthus spinoletta, Oenanthe oenanthe) to then head towards the windfarm at A Capelada on the way to Garita da Herbeira (Turdus torquatus, Monticola solitarius, Anthus spinoletta), the place with the highest sea cliffs in western Europe. Crossing the bogs before dropping down to Cariño (Pluvialis apricaria, Alauda arvensis, Saxicola rubetra), you come to an interesting copse of Scots Pines (Pinus sylvestris)(Carduelis spinus in summer, Scolopax rusticola, Ficedula hypoleuca).
Now in Cariño town centre, approach the beaches of A Abasteira and Cariño (Larus canus, Larus delawarensis, Corvus monedula) and then the harbour (Larus marinus, Calidris maritima, Alle alle).
Next take the road towards Cabo Ortegal (Scolopax rusticola, Falco peregrinus, Muscicapa striata) until coming to the lighthouse (Monticola solitarius, Phalacrocrorax aristotelis, passing seabirds in autumn).