Murcia
The Autonomous Community of Murcia, is a province and region of Spain, located in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean coast. It covers an area of 11,314 km2 (4,368 square miles) and has a population of around 1.6 million people, with about a third of those living in the capital, Mercia City. The region is bordered by Castilla La Mancha to the northwest; Andalusia to the southwest; by Valencia to the northeast and by the Mediterranean Sea to the southeast.
A little under 30% of Mercian territory is mountainous. Less than 40% is inter-mountain depressions and n valleys, with the remaining almost 35% being plains and high plateaus. Most of the fertile plains lie along the Seguro River, the most famous of which is the so-called Valle de Ricote. The remaining area are served by tributaries of the Seguro, such as the Mula Basin as well as the Mundo River, the Alhárabe River and the Guadalentín.
Murcia is also home to the largest natural lake in Spain. The Mar Menor or ‘small sea lagoon’ is a saltwater lagoon adjacent to the Mediterranean. It’s almost unique and is the largest saltwater lake in Europe covering 170 square kilometres. It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 22-kilometre-long sand strip, which can vary between 100 and 1200 meters wide. It is known as La Manga del Mar Menor or ‘the Minor Sea Sandbar’.
Isla del Barón, Mar Menor – ©Felipe Ortega CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The region is one of Europe’s largest producers of fruit, vegetable and flowers, and it has important vineyards in some areas. It’s also important for tourism with the sector concentrated on its Mediterranean coast. Mild winters give way to hot, or very hot summers. While the climate is good for growing crops, it is Spain’s driest region with rainfall varying from as much as 24 inches a year to as little as 8 inches. As a result of which water needed for agriculture has put a great deal of pressure on the Segura River. A major engineering project was undertaken almost 50 years ago to bring water additionally from the Tagus River into the Segura.
Birding Murcia
The central regions of Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast hold the attractive holiday regions generally referred to as Costa Blanca, Costa del Azabar and Costa Calida. They draw millions of tourists annually. Don’t throw your hands in the air in despair for they are also the coastal regions of the provinces of Castellon, Valencia, Alicante and Murcia. These provinces are some of the most productive of Southern Spain.
Murcia, holds vast orange, lemon and pomegranate groves interspersed with fields of garlic, maze, vines and olives. Although dry for eight months of the year the landscape manages to seem full and fragrant even in June. A major river, the Segura reaches the sea at Guardamar just below Elche (Elx) and is a major resource for birdlife.
Segura River – ©diego_cue CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Close to the sea there are the freshwater lagoons of L’Albufera, and, on the Costa Blanca, the saltpans of Santa Pola and the striking limestone crag of Penyal d’Ifach. Twenty minutes inland from Torrevieja is the village of Dolores, and close by, the Parque natural del Fondo complete with barn hide. Just below the province of Murcia lies the Mar Menor, an inland sea or lagoon.
Most of these areas are accessible from the towns and villages between Murcia, Orihuela and Alicante and the locals in the towns are hospitable. Prosperity is booming and a modern road network is a boon to travellers.
Alphonso X111 Embalse – Public Domain
This is the land of Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Montagu’s Harrier, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Little Tern, Hoopoo, Pallid Swift, Black Kite, Serin, Spanish Sparrow and Swallow, Martin and Crossbill abound. So, a determined day out in true birding style would no doubt satisfy any avid birder.
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Alicante Airport Area
Satellite ViewThe first spot lies in the shadow of the Alicante airport to the North and a huge building site to the South. It is North of Santa Pola at Gran Alicante, off the N332 route, a reserve called Cot de Gaveney. The visitor centre was closed for Christmas, but has some leaflets and displays. The best viewing areas are about 300 yards form the Centre with a fingerpost to a hide. The hide is easily accessible by wheelchair and on foot of course and is close to the car parking area. There is a large expanse of water to walk around, but that may be difficult in places. A good selection of Waders included: Little Stint, Bar and Black tailed Godwit, Black Winged Stilt and the major duck species was the White Headed Duck. Little Egret, Greater Flamingo and Grey heron were also in residence. A Buzzard species and Marsh Harrier vied for territory over the reed bed. Of the passerines Crag Martin, Crested Lark, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Great Grey Shrike and huge flocks of Serin were the major players on the day we visited. -
Alphonso X111 Embalse
Facebook PageSatellite ViewThere are reported to be good numbers of Bonelle's and Golden Eagles, Chough, Peregrine and Rock Sparrow. Well that day, nada. Boxed by Cehegin, Cieza and Mula lies the Alphonso Embalse and acres of mountains and plains in between. The negative side to this journey is that the road skirting the Embalse is blocked about half way along to Cieza. But along that part of the trip Black Wheatear, Crested Lark and a possible Rock Thrush. Barely glimpsed but right jizz. No soaring raptors though. The best site for them is beyond the obstruction and it looks as if one will have to get permission to spend time in that area. The little town of Cehegan has a colony of Red-rumped Swallows. Also noted are Little Owl, Little Egret & Great-crested Grebe are present all year. -
NR Parque Natural de El Hondo
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe park is included in the Ramsar convention list of protected wetlands and as a Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. -
NR Sierra Espunas
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe Sierra Espunas is accessible by car and is predominantly a National park. We accessed it from the N340 - E15, which is the Granada route from Murcia. The town is called Alhama and the route is well served with viewing spots. Towards the Totana end there are restaurants and a Visitors Centre, but they were all closed for Christmas. (And I left the sandwiches in the Fridge!) This park is reported to host the rare mountain goat and wild boar, neither of which showed up during our visit. But Golden Eagle and Crested Tit, Firecrest and Nuthatch, Jay and Common Crossbill were quite easy to find. The park is heavily wooded and wild Spring flowers are already starting to make an appearance, so I think March or April will be magic in that area.
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Number of bird species: 368
(As at May 2026)
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Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Murcia , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them. -
eBird
PDF ChecklistThis checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
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Birding in Murcia - Where & What to See
| By Martin O'Hanlon | (Privately published) | 2021 | Paperback | 200 pages, colour photos, colour maps | ISBN: 9781527289642 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain
| (Andalucia, Extremadura and Gibraltar) | By Ernest FJ Garcia & Andrew M Paterson | Helm | 2019 | Edition 4 | Paperback | 416 pages, b/w illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9781472951847 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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Anuario Ornitol
WebsiteLast updated 2019 - El Anuario Ornitológico de la Región de Murcia (AORM) persigue recopilar todas las observaciones de interés sobre aves dentro de los límites marítimo-terrestres de esta Comunidad Autónoma. La información recogida se publicará en esta misma página con perioricidad bimestral, una vez elaborada y tras un proceso de filtrado en base a unos criterios de aceptación de citas que variarán dependiendo de las especies implicadas (ver Instrucciones). -
Asociación Ornitologica Horadada
Facebook PageIn neighbouring vAlicante province. -
Federatión Ornitología Regional Murciana
Website
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Lagunas de Campotéjar
eBird Site PageSatellite View
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eBird
SightingseBirding This Month
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Tourist office of San Pedro del Pinatar
Free Guided WalkAn evening of ornithological sightseeing in the Regional Park of San Pedro -
Wildside Holidays
Tour Operatorhttps://wildsideholidays.co.uk/murcia-2/
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Birdwatching : Official Murcia Region tourist site
WebpageIn Autumn birds from Northern Europe look for warmer places, the region of Murcia being one of their preferred destinations. At this time one can spot birds such as the flamingo, the common pochard, the common stilt and the white-headed duck. In Spring birds from Southern Africa migrate in search of warmer places, like the swallow, and the bee-eater; along with numerous birds of prey, such as Montagu's harrier and the short-toed snake eagle, visiting the region to spend the summer.