Aiguamolls de l'Emporda

The Parc Natural des Aiguamolls de l'Emporda

We decided to start our holiday walking in the Costa Brava quite gently with a stroll around the coastal marshland of this natural park. It is just south of Empuriabrava on the Golf de Roses and is famous for its birdlife. The walk is very simple. You start at the visitor centre and and follow a winding trail until you come to the beach - then you come back!

At first there are meadows, including one where nesting spots are provided for storks. At various points on the way there are viewpoints and hides to observe the wildlife and after a mile or so a short detour leads to a viewing platform atop a tower which provides a good panoramic view of the reserve.



In truth, we didn't see many birds at all: quite a few egrets and these white storks, which are apparently one of the reserve's specialities. Their wingspan was truly impressive as they glided overhead or came into land. In flight, their profile was like that of a pterodactyl.



As you get nearer the coast, there are good views of the hills above and to the east of Roses.



The last part of the walk was alongside a large campsite, and we had an amusing sense of the campers being tightly penned into a confined and rather artificial area, while the wild life had a much more free, agreeable and spacious home nearby.

From: Rother Walking Guide to the Costa Brava by Roger Budeler.

Distance: about 4 miles.

Rating: Three stars. A very gentle introduction to walking in the Costa Brava, but disappointingly little wild life. Wonderful butterflies however...


Sightings

We immediately began to see a butterfly that looked just like a Speckled Wood, but had orange markings, rather than the cream or white ones we are used to.



Entertainingly, a study of my European butterfly guide revealed that of course it was a Speckled Wood, and this colouring is the European norm - the British version is a deviant race.

Much more exciting, later in the walk as we neared the coast, were the large bright orange tropical-looking butterflies slowly flapping their wings, both in the air and when perched on a leaf. (I couldn't manage to synchronise my camera shutter being open with the butterflies having their wings open however.)



They were not in my butterfly book, but a bit of internet research when I got home identified them as the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus), also known as the African Monarch. They seem to be found through Africa and Asia. Apparently they breed in Majorca, but migrants are occasionally found in coastal areas on the mainland. What a treat!