Birdwatching in Banyoles

Banyoles Lake and its surroundings are a lake area of ​​great geological, ecological, landscape and cultural value. It is the most important karst system in the Iberian Peninsula, made up of the Banyoles lake and several ponds, springs and flood zones.

The main habitat is obviously the pond itself, which gives life to a large number of animal and plant species. The edges of the lake are covered by important reed beds.
The forests near the lake are made up of several species, such as alder, ash, willow or poplar. In the nearby areas we can also find meadows, oak groves and pine groves.
Also very important are the tins that have formed around the lake, such as the Estanyol del Sisó or the Estanyol del Vilar.

Best times for birdwatching in Banyoles: All times of the year are good for birdwatching, but there tend to be some of particular interest such as autumn and winter.
In autumn we will be surrounded by beautiful colours, thanks to the change in color (and subsequent fall) of the leaves of a large part of the trees in the riparian forests. This time is very suitable for observing the birds in post-nuptial migration and we will already enjoy the arrival of some wintering birds.
Winter offers us the ease of observing many species, thanks to the lack of foliage on many trees. The lake and the surrounding forests provide shelter during the colder months to many species from northern Europe, and therefore the birds we will be able to find are numerous, both in diversity and in quantity.

Species of birds that can be found there: We can find many water birds, such as coots, terns, cormorants, seagulls and gulls of different species, grebes, mallards, terns and terns, terns, charraclets, .. .
In the nearby woods we will find jays, blue woodpeckers, thrushes, thrushes, goldfinches, warblers, robins, goldfinches, warblers of different species, finches, puffins, warblers, snails, nightingales, ...
The reedbeds will also give life to many small birds, many of which are frequent in summer.