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ES261
Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons
Location Spain, Andalucía
Central coordinates 6o 50.00' West  37o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C6
Area 14,900 ha
Altitude 0 - 40m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information This is an important wetland for breeding, wintering and passage waterbirds with the second most important Platalea leucorodia breeding colony in Spain.

Site description A large area of tidal marshes at the mouths of the Rivers Tinto and Odiel. There are extensive areas of mud and halophytic scrub and some saltpans. The main human activities are fishing, shellfish collecting and tourism.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis winter  1996  150-2,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus non-breeding  1996  150-2,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia resident  1996  400-600 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1996  50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea breeding  1996  6-20 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Little Egret Egretta garzetta resident  1996  120-300 breeding pairs  medium  B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta passage  1996  1,550 individuals  poor  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus resident  1996  150 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons breeding  1992  300 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
DEHESA DEL ESTERO Y MONTES DE MOGUER - ES6150012 Habitats Directive 2,919 protected area overlaps with site 751  
DUNAS DEL ODIEL - ES6150013 Habitats Directive 64 protected area contained by site 64  
Enebrales de Punta Umbría Natural Landscape 162 protected area contained by site 162  
ENEBRALES DE PUNTA UMBRIA - ES6150002 Habitats Directive 188 protected area overlaps with site 149  
Estero de Domingo Rubio Natural Landscape 480 protected area contained by site 480  
ESTERO DE DOMINGO RUBIO - ES6150003 Birds Directive 343 protected area overlaps with site 321  
ESTUARIO DEL RIO TINTO - ES6150029 Habitats Directive 1,162 protected area overlaps with site 391  
Isla de Enmedio Nature Reserve 480 protected area contained by site 480  
Laguna del Portil Natural Reserve 16 protected area contained by site 16  
LAGUNA DEL PORTIL - ES6150001 Habitats Directive 1,266 protected area overlaps with site 1,118  
Lagunas de Palos y las Madres Natural Landscape 693 protected area contained by site 693  
LAGUNAS DE PALOS Y LAS MADRES - ES6150004 Habitats Directive 649 protected area overlaps with site 586  
MARISMA DE LAS CARBONERAS - ES6150017 Habitats Directive 263 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Marismas del Odiel Natural Landscape 7,185 protected area contained by site 7,185  
Marismas del Odiel UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 7,158 protected area contained by site 7,185  
Marismas del Odiel Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 7,185 protected area contained by site 7,185  
MARISMAS DEL ODIEL - ES0000025 Birds Directive 6,632 protected area overlaps with site 6,183  
MARISMAS Y RIBERAS DEL TINTO - ES6150014 Habitats Directive 3,126 protected area overlaps with site 2,333  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Scrub  -
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland  -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas  -
Coastline Lagoons; Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches; Tidal rivers & enclosed tidal waters  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
fisheries/aquaculture 10%

Management considerations The main threats are from industrial pollution, infrastructural development and uncontrolled tourism. A management plan exists for part of the site.

Protection status National Partial International Partial162 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Enebrales de Punta Umbría, 162 ha). 480 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Estero de Domingo Rubio, 480 ha). 693 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Lagunas de Palos y las Madres, 693 ha). 7,185 ha of IBA covered by Natural Landscape (Marismas del Odiel, 7,185 ha). 480 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Isla de Enmedio, 480 ha). 16 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna del Portil, 16 ha). 7,185 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Marismas del Odiel, 7,185 ha). 7,185 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Marismas del Odiel, 7,185 ha). 7,185 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Marismas del Odiel, 7,185 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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