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ES263
Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon
Location Spain, Andalucía
Central coordinates 7o 21.00' West  37o 13.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 3,390 ha
Altitude 0 - 10m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information A very important area for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds.

Site description Coastal marshes at the mouth of the River Guadiana with sand beaches, halophytic scrub, and numerous abandoned saltpans. Human activities include scrub collection, fishing and tourism.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
White Stork Ciconia ciconia resident  1996  500 breeding pairs  medium  B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia resident  1996  100 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis resident  1996  1,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Little Egret Egretta garzetta resident  1996  500 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus resident  1996  400 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta breeding  1996  200 breeding pairs  medium  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula winter  1996  5,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus breeding  1996  500 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica winter  1996  500 individuals  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata winter  1996  500 individuals  medium  B2  Near Threatened 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus winter  1996  3,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Little Stint Calidris minuta winter  1996  5,000 individuals  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Dunlin Calidris alpina winter  1996  5,000 individuals  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola breeding  1996  100 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis winter  1996  5,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus winter  1996  5,000 individuals  medium  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia resident  1996  50 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis winter  1996  500 individuals  medium  C2  Least Concern 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons breeding  1996  150 breeding pairs  medium  B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida passage  1996  300 individuals  medium  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1996  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
ISLA DE SAN BRUNO - ES6150015 Habitats Directive 386 protected area overlaps with site 364  
MARISMAS DE ISLA CRISTINA - ES6150005 Birds Directive 2,498 protected area contained by site 2,498  
Marismas de Isla Cristina-Ayamonte Natural Landscape 2,145 protected area contained by site 2,145  
RIO GUADIANA Y RIBERA DE CHANZA - ES6150018 Habitats Directive 1,546 protected area is adjacent to site 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture 15%
urban/industrial/transport 20%
tourism/recreation 80%

Management considerations The main threats are from uncontrolled building, irrigation schemes and aquaculture projects. Levels of disturbance from tourists are high.

Protection status National Partial International None2,145 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Marismas de Isla Cristina-Ayamonte, 2,145 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife