Embalse de El Vellón
Just a short drive east of Colmenar Viejo, the Embalse de El Vellón reservoir is one of the most surprising birdwatching spots in the entire Community of Madrid — a wide, shallow lake that regularly hosts flamingos, great white egrets, black-winged stilts and, in winter, vast flocks of migratory wildfowl. The flat light at dawn turns the water into a mirror that photographers adore.
Wildlife and birdwatching
Greater flamingos have become a reliable sighting here from late summer through autumn, feeding in the shallower western bays — a genuinely surreal sight against the backdrop of the Guadarrama foothills.
The reservoir also attracts ospreys, marsh harriers and occasional red kites, making it worth a dedicated morning with binoculars at any time of year.
Walking and recreation
A flat, unpaved track circles much of the reservoir's perimeter, offering an easy 10-kilometre loop that is suitable for cyclists and families with pushchairs.
The northern shore has shaded picnic areas with views across the water to the sierra — pack a lunch and make a half-day of it.
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