Description
"Nacimiento del Río Tuéjar" Nature Reserve is located in the town of Tuéjar in the province of Valencia. It occupies an area of 600 ha. and is characterised by a deep valley close to the Sierra de Javalambre mountain range, carved by the famous river that gives it its name.
To access this itinerary, you must take the Ademuz motorway (CV-35), through a conveniently signposted small road located 100 m before the turnoff to the Tuéjar town centre which will take us to El Azud del Río Tuéjar (Tuéjar River Dam) car park.
Most interesting species
Residents: Griffon vulture, Eurasian eagle-owl, common raven, red-billed chough, common kestrel, tawny owl, little owl, Eurasian jay, red-legged partridge, common kingfisher, European green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, crossbill, European crested tit, long-tailed tit, short-toed treecreeper, common firecrest, Sardinian warbler, Eurasian blue tit, grey wagtail and Cetti's warbler.
Summer: Egyptian vulture, short-toed snake eagle, booted eagle, European scops owl, Eurasian golden oriole, European hoopoe, common cuckoo, Eurasian wryneck, spotted flycatcher and cirl bunting.
Winter: Song thrush, mistle thrush and Eurasian woodcock.
Birdwatching points of interest
The itinerary starts at El Azud del Río Tuéjar (Tuéjar River Dam) (1), where the river reappears on the surface generating small areas of backwater and waterfalls where it is common to observe grey wagtails, kingfishers and Cetti's warblers. The lushness of the riverside forest gives cover to the Eurasian golden oriole, European green woodpecker and European scops owl.
The route continues at all times along the river, through its meadows, groves and old cultivation terraces (2). In the more open areas, we observe the Eurasian sparrowhawk, red-legged partridge, little owl, Eurasian wryneck and cirl bunting.
The trail travels from the bottom of the ravine in slight ascent where eminently forest species (3) can be observed. The tour ends at the spectacular limestone walls of “La Lacava” (4).
It is recommended that visitors use telescopes to observe rock-dwelling birds such as the griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, common raven, red-billed chough and Alpine swift.
Accommodation and restaurant
There is a restaurant and recreational area at El Azud. As for accommodations, the Nature Reserve has its own campsite and you will find a great variety of options in the town of Tuéjar and the nearby town of Aras de los Olmos.