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Salinas de Levante and Salinettes de Colonia de Sant Jordi

Click in the rectangle marked on the map for an enlarged view of the Salt Pans.

To reach the Salinas de Levante, head south out of Porto de Pollenca along the main C-712 coast road to Arta. From Arta take the C-715 to Manacor and the C-714 to Felanitx. At Felanitx follow the route to Campos. On reaching Campos follow the C-717 to Santanyi and just outside the town turn right for Colonia de Sant Jordi. You will eventually reach a crossroads. At the crossroads continue straight ahead for approximately one kilometre. Turn right onto the access road to the Banys (salt baths) and park at the end of the road. At the end of this access road a rough track leads off to the right down to the salt pans and Eddie's track. The track passes between two fields which are worth checking for larks, Quail and Plovers dependant on the timing of your visit. The track then bends sharply to the left and then to the right prior to continuing in virtually a straight line to the far side of the salt pans.

There is a gate and a small building at points to the left of Eddie's track which offer good vantage points over the salt pans. Viewing to the right is fairly easy. It is advidable to wear a good pair of boots or even Wellingtons as the track is extremely muddy even in the middle of September.

On returning to your car, continue along the main road alongside the salt pans and take a right turn to Es Trenc Beach. From this road it is possible to scan the pans to your right and the best viewing is probably from a small access track to a sand quarry which is on a raised mound to the left of the road. This area should be checked for Terns, Larks, Stone Curlew, Pipits and Wagtails as well as the waders on the pans. Pratincoles and Bee-Eaters may also frequent the area at the right time of the year. A scope is also a must for most of the salinas area.

From the Salinas de Levante it is worth continuing along the main road to Colonia de Sant Jordi where there are some smaller salt pans. The easiest way to reach these was to fork right at the petrol station as you enter the town, then take the first right hand turn just before the start of the town buildings. Carry on along this road until you reach a small traffic island. Turn left and continue until you see the salt pans to your right.

We paid two visits to the area around the Salinas de Levante. On the first trip I was lucky enough to see a large Falcon cross the road just before reaching the salt pans. It alighted in a field beside the road and on closer inspection was identified as a female Lanner.
From Eddie's track we saw a good selection of waders including Dunlin, Curlew, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Kentish Plover (mainly in the fields heading towards the pans) and good numbers of Black Winged Stilt.

During the second week, we again visited the area. The first of the wintering Greater Flamingo's had arrived and a flock of 22 migrant Black Terns were feeding over the pans. Several Hoopoes were also seen around the parking area at the top of Eddie's track. We paid a quick visit to the Salinettes de Colonia de Sant Jordi, where a large flock of Western Yellow Legged Gulls were resting and a single Slender Billed Gull was viewed distantly sheltering from the wind against a small concrete wall along the side of one of the salt pans.