This complex is made up of three lagoons: Hondilla, Salada de la Zorrilla and Dulce de la Zorrilla, with rainfall and subterranean aquifers as the main source of water. The diverse range of elements in the area have created uneven, undulating reliefs. From hills with vast open valleys, to smaller, undulating rugged hills. The reason for such varied landscape is that this is where the sedimentary rock of the Guadalquivir basin meets with the harder and older parts of the Cordilleras Bética.


The level of the water in this wetland changes according to the seasons, leaving the lagoons practically empty in summer; even the Salada de Zorrilla, in spite of its size. Its peripheral and underwater vegetation make it an attractive habitat for numerous birds, and therefore an alternative home to the Guadalquivir and Doñana marshes. For this reason, it has been declared a Special Protection Area for Birds and a Site of Community Interest.

Each lagoon has an observatory. From them you can see endangered species such as the common coot and the white-headed duck, both of which breed in this reserve. Other birds that breed and nest here are the common pochard, mallards and gadwalls, the red-knobbled coot, the swamphen and the black-necked grebe. During the winter or during their migratory passage, you can see a great variety of ducks, as well as the white stork, and flamingo, which more and more often are choosing to stay in the area right through to the summer.


Along the signposted trail, you you will see a strip of vegetation of reeds, bulrush and coco grass around the lagoons, as well as rushes and tamarisk in some places. Further out, there is Mediterranean scrubland with mastic and wild olive trees and Mediterranean dwarf palms, as well as pastures and dry crops such as wheat and sunflowers. Other species such as foxes, hares, various snakes, Spanish pond turtles and ocellated lizards are all inhabitants of this landscape.


You can round-off your visit to this nature reserve with a trip to Espera, a town that lends its name to this complex and that has rich cultural heritage, with prehistoric and Roman remains in Carissa Aurelia, the 13th century Fatetar Castle and the beautiful Santa María de Gracia church.