LAGUNAS DE LO MONTE

On our return visit we found the site open. It is situated on high ground about a kilometre on the landward side of the AP7. It is very easy to find for when exiting AP7 (Exit 768) follow the signage for San Miguel de Salinas (CV941). Upon leaving the exit roundabout there is a really straight road in front. In the distance you will see a RIGH-HAND BEND. There are two hazarding signs that indicate the bend, but just in front of them is a yellow sigh inscribed E.D.A.R Pilar de la Horadada (Sewage works) and below that a green sign with Lagunas de Lo Monte. TURN LEFT HERE. Traveling from San Miguel you should easily see the signs and the road in.

Co-ordinates are 37.900821 and 0.784903

Immediately you will find 'market garden' crops on the right side and further on the left a strong wire fence. There are double gates with a small car park area. This area is hidden from the Lagunas by the banking, screening and in the future, vegetation. It has been planted, watered and well set out. To the left of the car park there is a picnic area planted with saplings.
There are two large areas of water which may be connected at the far end? All the edges have have tall vegetation and there appears to be no shallows for waders. Access is restricted to the one end which has been well screened to hide human activity from the wildlife.
There are four stout looking hides about 2 metres wide with a continuous bench in the rear that needs to be stepped over to be able to get inside to look out. The interior shelves are just too thick for a bench clamp and so the scope was balanced on the seat. It was okay. All hides provide good views over to the water.

What we saw was limited. It was a hot afternoon. There was nothing flying overhead, nothing moving in the reeds, but there were a large number of dragon flies. On the two small islands there were Pochard (Porrón Europeo), two female White-headed ducks (Malvasia Cabeciblanco),Mallards (Ánade Azulón) and in the distance a Grey Heron (Garza Real) In the water were Little Grebe (Zampullín Común), Coot (Focha Cumún) and Moorhen (Gallineta Común) and nothing else.
I intend to look-in when passing, although opening times, are not that convenient. Hopefully more birds will find it and I suspect that during the migration months it could be interesting.