Squacco Heron in the wetlands of Gautegiz Arteaga

During the last week we are enjoying the presence of one Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) in the wetlands of Gautegiz Arteaga, specially the months of May and June. This little heron shows a spectacular plumage and it is rare in our region, although it is not the first time that we see this species in these wetlands.

Resting

Squacco Heron is an ardeidae that has its breeding area around the warmer area of Mediterranean, spreading irregularly in the continental wetlands of East Europe, especially in Danube Delta. In any case, its most important breeding areas are located outside of Western Palaearctic flyway, in the south of Russia, Romania, Azerbaijan and Turkey. In this flyway, the Iberian Peninsula has a breeding population in decline since some decades not higher than 800 pairs. The northern breeding population is located in the Western French coast, in the area of La Garone.

Since 2010 this species visits regularly the wetlands of Gautegiz Arteaga in June. Therefore, other specimens have been seen between the 9th and 25th of June of 2010 and between the 12nd of May and the 5th of June of 2011.