Fauna

The Estany still maintains a high faunal value and we find a great diversity of species due to the great amplitude of habitats that are concentrated in this small area. It is worth noting the interest of some of the species, some very rare and with populations subject to a significant danger of regression, such as the European pond turtle.

Undoubtedly, birds are the most visible element. The character of the Estany de Sils as a wetland means that there are many migratory species that make stops along their journeys to shelter and look for food. Others, on the other hand, use this area as a place for reproduction.

The herpetofauna is also very diverse and unique. It highlights, a part from the European pond turtle, the marbled newt, the palmate newt and the grass snake.

Some of the exotic species of the Estany de Sils that have a greater negative impact on the environment are the mosquitofish, the common carp, the pond slider, the red swamp crayfish and the American mink.

Categories of threat*

Least Concern

Near Threatened

Vulnerable

Endangered

Critically Endangered

*The threat category is indicated at the catalan level or, if it is not defined, at the spanish level. 

The Estany de Sils is the habitat of some species that are in endangered, that is, if trends do not change, they will end up disappearing.

Protecting their habitat, such as the Estany de Sils, and recovering other wetlands, are essential actions to save these species from disappearance. The kingfisher, the European pond turtle and the common snipe are some of the species most affected by the loss of wetlands.

European pond turtle

European pond turtle

Emys orbicularis

Endangered / Protected in Catalonia

The European pond turtle is one of the most emblematic animals of the Estany de Sils and its surroundings and has one of the largest populations in Catalonia. It is a very endangered species, which unfortunately suffers in recent years the undesirable competition of an introduced species, the pond slider. When it is warm, you can see turtles sunbathing near the water in the early hours of the morning, but when the sun is already very strong they take refuge among the vegetation or in the water. In midsummer they usually have a fairly nocturnal behavior.

Photo by: Júlia Ferrer

Common reed bunting

Common reed bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Critically endangered

In winter many species of small birds visit the Estany de Sils from northern Europe: Common Chaffinch, song thrush, Eurasian siskin, among others. Even so, one of the most characteristic of flooded areas is the Common reed bunting, which is often seen on top of the dry stems of reeds.

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Common kingfisher

Common kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Endangered / Protected in Catalonia

It is a small bright blue bird, with an orange breast and a long, pointed beak. It lives near river courses because it feeds on fish, insects and aquatic larvae. It can be seen flying at high speed at low altitude above the water. When it sees a prey, it dives and dives into the water folding its wings. It lives in environments with clean waters and very preserved riparian forests.

Photo by: Guillem Mayor


SPRING
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Spring breaks out in the Estany de Sils with the early flowering of the grey willow. Later the flowering of the meadows is added, where beautiful specimens of orchids grow and the abundant clumps of yellow iris. This is the best time to observe birds, thanks to the abundance of water that is used by migratory aquatic species to rest and feed. The clutches of ducks are added to the spectacle of a nature that at this time shows its maximum vitality.

Marbled newt

Marbled newt

Triturus marmoratus

Least Concern / Protected in Catalonia

The marbled newt is a very unique species. It is only found in northern Spain, southern France and northern Portugal. In Catalonia we find it in the regions of the northeast, and in the Terres de l'Ebre (Ebre Lands).

We can observe its striking green, with patterns of black spots, if we go out at twilight or at night. We will find it in irrigating channels, pools or lagoons of clean water, camouflaged in the dense vegetation next to the water.

If we are not lucky enough to see it live, perhaps we can observe its posts of 200 to 400 eggs, on the edges of the pools.

Photo by: Adrià Compte

Mallard

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Least concern

Although the mallard is found in Sils lasting all year round, it is in the spring when its presence becomes more evident, since a large number is concentrated to breed. Then it is easy to see the endearing image of females followed by their friendly and numerous ducklings, which can sometimes exceed a dozen.

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Mediterranean tree frog

Mediterranean tree frog

Hyla meridionalis

Near Threatened / Protected in Catalonia

Frogs and toads wake up in the spring after winter lethargy. The Mediterranean tree frog is one of the most beautiful representatives, although it is very difficult to see in the middle of the leaves of reedbeds, lilies and bulrushes where it climbs, because its green color camouflages it perfectly. The voice of this little frog of climbing habits is, but perfectly audible, especially on days of clouds and high humidity. For this reason it is called that its song indicates rain, which is not an error at all.

Photo by: Antonio Saez

Litlle egret

Litlle egret

Egretta garzetta

Least Concern / Protegida en Catalunya

With immaculate plumage, the little egret concentrates in shallow waters where, thanks to its long legs and sharp beak, it captures fish, frogs and small aquatic invertebrates.

Photo by: Antonio Saez

Northern shoveler

Northern shoveler

Anas clypeata

Least Concern

The Northern shoveler, seen up close, surprises by its spoon-shaped beak that gives it its name and that allows it to filter aquatic animals from the water. Most of these ducks breed further north, but in spring in the middle of the migratory movement season they are usually frequent and some days abundant in Sils.

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Western marsh harrier

Western marsh harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Least Concern / Protected in Catalonia

Spring, in the middle of the migration season, is the best time to observe this beautiful predatory bird in Sils. The Western marsh harrier lives in wetlands. The female, much larger than the male, is seen flying above the grasslands and reedbeds looking for food, mainly small reptiles, amphibians, rodents and young of other birds. In general, it is not brave enough to capture adult aquatic birds, unless they are injured or sick. That is why when they pass near the ducks, they take a short flight to show them that they are in good health.

Photo by: Antonio Saez


SUMMER
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With the heat, the water level drops to concentrate almost exclusively in irrigating channels, near which the ducks gather to molt their feathers, protected by the dense vegetation of the Carex grasslands (locally called "balcallons") that at this time complete their annual growth. In the middle of these grasses bloom the field bindweed and the purple loosestrife, while flocks of bee-eaters and swallows look for insects near the water and groups of waders crowd the muddy grounds.

Damselflies

Damselflies

The damselfly is one of the few insects appreciated by people, perhaps for its attractive colors and acrobatic flight. But, beware! Behind this beauty hides a ruthless carnivore. As young they live in the water and are able to chase even tadpoles and small fish. In summer we can see them flying over any flooded surface.

Photo by: Antonio Saez

European bee-eater

European bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Least Concern / Protected in Catalonia

The bee-eater is one of the most beautiful birds in our house for its variety of colors. The name comes from his fondness for eating bees and wasps, and it is understood that with this diet in winter he migrates to Africa. Once they have finished breeding, bee-eaters usually concentrate near the water and that is why in summer they are very frequent in the Estany. Between the fact that the rain alters them and that the highest concentrations of migrant individuals occur at the end of summer, when serious storms usually begin, they are popularly known in the region with the name of the "birds of bad weather".

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Barn swallow

Barn swallow

Hirundo rustica

Vulnerable / Protected in Catalonia

For many people the swallow is one of the most endearing birds. In summer, and before embarking on the migration to African lands, many swallows concentrate in the surroundings of the lagoons where they find abundant food to gather strength before their long journey.

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Wood sandpiper

Wood sandpiper

Tringa glareola

Least Concern / Protected in Catalonia

When the water level drops, numerous muddy terrains are exposed that are used by waders, aquatic birds that look for their food in the mud or shallow waters. There are many species of waders, but one of the easiest to see is the Wood sandpiper. Many of these birds migrate south at the end of summer, after breeding in northern Europe taking advantage of the short spring of those lands.

Photo by: Jaume Mos


AUTUMN - WINTER
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With the autumn rains, the water level begins to rise again, which favors the stay of migratory birds that move south. Little by little, the trees lose their leaves and the grasslands dry up. In the middle of winter, many days, the lagoons awaken frosty and covered with fog, while birds from northern Europe such as Common snipe, Northern lapwings, Eurasian teal and many small birds huddle near water, bare trees or roam the half-flooded meadows. The early bloom of the snowdrop gives a shy note of color in a landscape asleep by the cold.

Northern lapwing

Northern lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Least Concern

It is known that Northern lapwings warn of the cold. In more or less large flocks they appear in winter, especially if temperatures drop considerably, and spread through open areas of meadows and crop fields. Occasionally, some individuals remain among us in summer and, even, there is the suspicion that some years they have bred in the Estany de Sils.

Photo by: Jaume Mos

Common snipe

Common snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Endangered

Coming from northern Europe, most Common snipes arrive in autumn and they concentrated in muddy areas and flooded meadows throughout the winter. Their plumage camouflages them perfectly from the environment where they live and they only flee when you are about to step on them, flaunting a zigzag flight that makes it difficult for hunters to hit the shot. For this reason, in Catalan they are also known as "escuracananes", since you often have to spend a lot of ammunition to be able to kill them. As they live on the ground and forage in the mud they have developed a wide field of vision, which allows them to even see what is coming from behind.

Photo by: Antonio Saez

Grey heron

Grey heron

Ardea cinerea

Least Concern

The grey heron is one of the most popular large wetland birds. Its long legs and pointed beak are a perfect tool for catching fish, frogs and crabs. It is a very scary bird, which flees just by detecting human presence at a distance of hundreds of meters. It is also a somewhat bohemian bird, which moves throughout the year as it pleases through extensive territories. Therefore, although they are seen everywhere, it only breeds in a few localities.

Photo by: Antonio Saez

Eurasian coot

Eurasian coot

Fulica atra

Least Concern

Black and with a white beak, the Eurasian coot is an unmistakable animal, quite common in winter and in times of passage, and rarer in the spring when, occasionally, some couples stay to breed in Sils. Coots make the nest floating among aquatic vegetation.

Photo by: Antonio Saez