The Delta of the Ebro

I spent a morning wandering around the dunes, grasses and lagoons of the delta of the Ebro River (riu ebre in catalan).  A lot of the delta is planted with rice (arborio for paella?!), but the end of the peninsula created by the sediment the Ebro brings to the Mediterranean in its journey from the Pyrenees is wild and rich with flora and fauna.

A highlight:  as I was walking among the dunes and grasses, I looked up and saw a hiking stick with wings flying through the air.  My binoculars told me it was a pink flamingo -- I couldn't believe it.  Then I walked to the closest lagoon and saw flocks of them swishing their beaks back and forth in the water, filtering out their breakfast.  SO exciting!!

The reeds were great at hiding the ducks and geese and herons, but it was fun to sit by the lagoon and listen to the chorus of honks and quacks and squeaks and whistles of unseen birds.  A dream morning for a bird geek.