Doñana in October: flamingos and white storks

October 23, 2023 · Parque Nacional de Doñana, Spain · Clear, mild, 68°F, light breeze from the Atlantic · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Flew into Seville and drove to El Rocío the night before. The marshes around Doñana in October are past the summer heat but still plenty busy. Greater Flamingos in big blocks of pink across the far ponds, White Storks everywhere on the farm fields, and an Iberian Magpie bothering a Hoopoe in a dusty parking lot. I did the guided 4x4 in the morning for a look at the forested section and hit El Acebuche hide in the afternoon.

The Spanish light in fall is something else. No dust haze, just crisp low sun.

Greater flamingo wading in a shallow pond — Big block of flamingos at middle distance. Couldn't get close. Greater Flamingo 600mm, 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 1000

Two flamingos in head-forward pose — Two birds squabbling. Usually a sign of nothing much. Greater Flamingo 350mm, 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO 400

White stork on a nest platform — Nest platform on a pole by the road. White Stork 300mm, 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO 800

Hoopoe with crest raised — Crest up briefly. Bullied by a magpie. Eurasian Hoopoe 250mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 800

Iberian magpie in a tree — Blue wing flashes. Loud and everywhere. Iberian Magpie 300mm, 1/800s, f/7.1, ISO 400

Purple swamphen at water's edge — Walked across my sightline twice. Purple Swamphen 450mm, 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO 1000

Spanish imperial eagle on a distant snag — Very distant. I could ID it but not much more. Spanish Imperial Eagle, distant 600mm, 1/3200s, f/8, ISO 2500

Wide view of Doñana marsh — Midday from El Acebuche. Doñana marsh 23mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 160

Red deer stag in scrub — Stag in the scrub between ponds. Red Deer, fallow 300mm, 1/800s, f/7.1, ISO 2000

Spoonbill feeding in shallow water — Spoonbill just offshore from the hide. Eurasian Spoonbill 450mm, 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 640

Stilt in shallow water — Legs like red pencils. Black-winged Stilt 250mm, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 200