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A Coruña
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A Coruña
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A Coruña
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A Coruña
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A Coruña

Many people are surprised that the city of A Coruña, in addition to a vast historical and scenic heritage, guards an enormous diversity of birds. In the A Coruña municipality, with only 38 km2, more than 120 species have already been recorded, and this number is only increasing. On a single day in autumn we can easily see over 50 species without leaving the concello. Combined with a walk to the neighbouring Ría do Burgo and Sabón reservoir, watchers can find up to 80 species!

Birds in the city of Hercules

Close attention will be paid to A Coruña's natural areas and large parks: the surroundings of the Torre de Hércules, the external part of the Ría do Burgo near the A Pasaxe bridge and the parks of Monte de San Pedro, Bens, Eirís and Santa Margarita.

More information

Links of interest

Ornithological routes of as Mariñas Coruñesas

Downloads PDF

The routes
Mapa de A Coruña
Open interactive map

Route by car: Port of A Coruña (San Antón castle) - Village of Bens

BEST TIME

Between September and December

DISTANCE

17 Km

DURATION

3 hours

DIFFICULTY

None

COUNCILS

A Coruña

PATH

Port of A Coruña (San Antón castle) - Torre de Hércules - San Roque - San Pedro islands - Bens park - Village of Bens and return

Mapa de Route 1
Open interactive map

Key points on the route:

  1. This is a journey through an urban environment with a high diversity of birds. It beings in the port of A Coruña at the San Antón castle (1), where black-necked grebes and european shags can be found along with turnstone, razorbill and murre.
  2. Follow the seaside promenade to the Torre de Hércules, noting the birds in the surrounding meadows and shrubs (2), such as western yellow wagtail, zitting cisticola, sardinian warbler and spotless starling.
  3. Following the promenade to the beaches of O Orzán and Riazor, the route comes to the As Escravas landfill (3) (where european shag, ruddy turnstone and purple sandpiper can be seen) and to the coast between San Roque de Fóra and the Obelisco Millennium (where eurasian rock pipit and northern wheatear can be seen) (4).
  4. Following the road, after passing the San Pedro elevator, the route comes to a lookout point over the San Pedro islands (5), where european shag and great black-backed gull can be seen.
  5. The road continues to San Pedro de Visma. 0.5 km to the east, take a right turn uphill to the Bens park (6). The whinchat and red-billed chough can be seen there. The descent leads us to the village of Bens (7), where the european crested tit can be seen.

 

Route on foot or by bike: Meadows of A Torre (A Coruña) - Torre de Hércules

BEST TIME

Autumn and winter

DURATION

1-2 hours by bicycle and 2-3 hours on foot

DIFFICULTY

None

COUNCILS

A Coruña

PATH

Meadows of A Torre (A Coruña) - Punta Herminia - Adormideiras - Torre de Hércules

Mapa de Route 2
Open interactive map

Key points on the route:

  1. This popular coastal route begins in A Torre (1) and follows trails that go across meadows. In them the western yellow wagtail, zitting cisticola and spotless starling can be seen.
  2. The trails lead to Punta Herminia (2) and its sculptures, with striking rocky shorelines where purple sandpipers and northern ravens can be found.
  3. At Punta Pragueira (3) and O Grelle (4) (also called Adormideiras Cove) it is easy to see european shags and ruddy turnstones.
  4. Returning to the Torre de Hércules, pay attention to the bush (5) that may hide migrant birds such as the eurasian wryneck and european pied flycatcher, and other residents such as the sardinian warbler.

 

Route on foot or by bike: University Campus and Elviña Castro

BEST TIME

Winter and spring

DURATION

1-2 hours by bicycle and 2-3 hours on foot

DIFFICULTY

Medium

COUNCILS

A Coruña

PATH

University Campus and Elviña Castro

Mapa de Route 3
Open interactive map

Key points on the route:

  1. The route starts at the stadium on the Elviña campus (1), where meadow pipits and cirl buntings can be found.
  2. Next, head towards the alder grove beside the O Souto creek, opposite the faculty of economics (2). From there you can see the iberian green woodpecker, grey wagtail and eurasian siskin.
  3. Next, look for the crossroads with the Elviña castro (3). Stop there to see cetti's warbler and firecrest.
  4. In the vicinity of the fort (4), sardinian warbler and northern raven can be seen.
  5. Back at the crossroads climb up to the deciduous tree grove between the faculties of science and architecture (5). From there black redstart and coal tit can be seen.
  6. On the ascent up to the faculty of philology (6) there are iberian chiffchaffs and european goldfinchses.
  7. Descend along the same path.
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritima
Cirl Bunting
Emberiza cirlus
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
The birds

With some luck, such interesting birds as great northern loon, black-necked grebe, european herring gull, sardinian warbler and red-billed chough will appear before our binoculars. It also worthwhile to take a stroll through the port, the Mendez Nunez gardens and the agricultural areas that still survive around the towns of Bens, Feáns and O Castro de Elviña. The iberian green woodpecker, iberian chiffchaff, short-toed treecreeper and cirl bunting can be found there. On the coast of San Roque purple sandpipers, turnstones and eurasian rock pipit regularly winter.

Tips and resources

  • Pay attention to traffic since we are in a city.

  • Take advantage of the early hours of the morning to watch birds, but remain attentive to the opening hours of the parks.

  • It is a good idea to avoid certain areas where dog walkers conglomerate, such as Bens and the beaches of Oza, Riazor and Orzán on sunny mornings, especially on weekends and holidays between September and May.

  • The website www.turismocoruna.com provides information on A Coruña's parks and the conditions to visit the Elviña castro.

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