The Delta de L'Ebre is like a moving tapestry of colour, spectacle and fantasy. There's so much variety and abundance of species that when I first visited I could barely sit still for fear - absolute fear - of missing something.

Birds were everywhere. Cetti's, Savi's, Fan-tailed and Great Reed Warblers were competing for space on the tops of reedstems with Little Bittern of all things.

Meanwhile, on the lagoons behind them, Black necked Grebe, Red crested Pochard and a host of other ducks were apparently doing exactly the opposite and lazily rafting away the day, wisely allowing the magnificent Greater Flamingoes to lavish all the attention.

Although the diversity of herons for me will always symbolise the delta - all nine european species occur here - its the sea and shorebirds of which I have become most fond.

Many of the delta's Waders are found at La Tancada, the next stop, a site also favoured by Greater Flamingo, roosting Caspian and Gull-billed Tern, and migrating Black-necked Grebe and Osprey.

A hide at Riet Vell will provide a quiet picnic spot whilst, at various times of year, serving up Glossy Ibis, White-winged Tern, Moustached Warbler and Little Bittern.

A foray along the Trubucador and sea front for Larks and Audouin's and Slender-billed Gulls will set up the grand finish next to the river at Gola de Migjorn, a good spot for catching up on anything we missed, as well as giving us the best possible chance of seeing Lesser Crested Tern.

Some, such as Whiskered, Caspian, Gull-billed and even a few Lesser Crested Terns seem to dart and swerve their way directly into your notebook.

But others, such as Glossy Ibis, Spotted Crake and Purple Gallinule resist, skulking deep within the reeds themselves and a careful scan of the many clearings is needed to see them sneaking out, ever watchful of hunting Marsh Harriers.