Bird Watching in Valencia - Valencia Birding - Guided Bird Watching in Spain

3-Day Birding Break from Xativa

Following the Christmas, New Year and Three Kings celebrations, it felt great to begin the first trip of 2025, especially so as it was for Tony, a client from the UK who I had met two years ago when we did a day trip from Alicante. We had spoken on the phone to design something bespoke for him, taking in 3 days in different habitats, whilst allowing him to enjoy a little time in the historic town of Xativa. Day 1 – Mountains Tony flew into Alicante airport the day before our 3 days together began, so that’s where I met him before taking the short journey up into the mountains. Having stopped for a coffee and to pick up a sandwich for him, we began our short walk up a peak, where the key target species included Alpine Accentor and Griffon Vulture. As we began to walk up through the pine forests, we enjoyed watching Red Squirrels chasing each other through the trees, as well as Coal Tit and Long Tailed Tit. We usually have to walk to the peak to see Alpine Accentor, but today, they were extremely…

A Return to Albufera After the Devastating Floods

21st December 2024 The huge wetland of Albufera lies directly between the towns that were devastated by the recent flooding and the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, its northern and western sectors have suffered a serious environmental impact. Although there has been a huge clear-up operation, much remains to be done. Many rice fields still contain debris, wrecked cars and mud that was washed down the rivers and canals, and some nature reserve areas have suffered serious damage to their facilities and infrastructure. However, the southern and eastern areas have escaped the worst of the effects, and hold plenty of birds. The southern rice fields of Albufera As previously commented, Albufera has being the subject of environmental impact in the past, and has recovered. It will do so again, but only thanks to a relatively small group of dedicated souls. Walking throiugh the elegant city of Valencia, one could be forgiven for being under the impression that nothing has happened, but as for the towns that were hardest hit, the destruction is hard to describe in written word. The conditions that people continue to live under are something akin to a disaster…

The Flooding in the Valencia Region. What Does This Mean for Birding & Nature Tourism in the Short Term?

Before I go any further, I would like to begin this article with a message of thanks to the many people who have contacted us over the past week or two, asking if we’re safe and well following the devastating flooding that has recently hit the Valencia Region. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to report that we’re absolutely fine and that our home has not been affected. Sincere thanks to you all for your kind thoughts. Secondly, although the purpose of this article is to provide practical information with regard to bird watching in the area following the flooding, that is not to take away from the incredibly severe and horrific impact that so many people and families have suffered, and continue to face. Apart from practical help that we can offer, our thoughts and respect are with them constantly. The response from regional and national government has been the focus of much criticism, some of it deserved, but the mobilisation of volunteers, especially amongst young people, has been something that restores one’s faith in human nature. Huge numbers of volunteers from all over Spain have sprung into…

Autumn in Alicante

During October, we’ve enjoyed a number of trips to the wetlands of Alicante, for a group of birders on an annual reunion as well as for returning clients from Yorkshire. Bluethroat Alicante has many wetland sites, including freshwater marshes, saltpans, coastal lagoons and extensive reed beds, so in autumn it’s a crucial region for resident species, passage migrants and winter visitors. During our trips, Barn Swallows, Red Rumped Swallows and House Martins were constantly passing through. Marsh Harriers were arriving to spend the winter here, as were Bluethroat. Red Knobbed Coot Wildfowl and aquatic birds are always a big attraction in this area, and key species seen included White Headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Red Knobbed Coot, Eurasian Teal and Shoveler. White Headed Duck We enjoyed good views of all three Egret species – Little, Cattle and Great, as well as other long-legged creatures such as Glossy Ibis, Greenshank, Black Winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo and Spoonbill. Spoonbill The population of Kingfishers in the region increases in autumn and winter, as birds from northern Spain as well as central Europe move south, and we were entertained by a number of individuals as…

As summer draws to a close, we look forward to a new season of birding trips.

The summer is drawing to a gradual close, and the Ospreys of the reintroduction project in this region (of which Valencia Birding is a collaborator) are beginning to migrate south. As the intense heat of summer is reducing and the autumn migration begins to get underway, our guided birding trips recommence. Mid September has been a busy time, with a number of trips to the wetlands of both Alicante and Valencia. Red Knobbed Coot Recent trips to Alicante gave us the opportunity to enjoy views of aquatic species such as White Headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Red Knobbed Coot and recently arrived Northern Shoveler. Some summer visitors were still present, notably Roller and Little Bittern, whilst birds that were seen passing through, heading south, included Bee Eater and mixed flocks of Red Rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow and House Martins. Clients from the UK enjoying a day in the wetlands of Alicante A recent trip to Albufera de Valencia, for one of our most loyal clients, John from the UK, coincided with the beginning of the rice harvest. Recently harvested fields held huge numbers of Glossy Ibis, Great, Little and…

Watching Albufera Grow During the Spring

Throughout the months of April and May of this year, I’ve spent a lot of time in the wetlands and rice fields of Albufera de Valencia, principally trips with clients from the UK, USA and Ireland. It’s been fascinating to see the changes that take place during the spring, especially in terms of habitat and environment. In April, the rice fields were dry, so held very few birds, so we focussed more on the wetland reserve areas. During May, the rice farmers began to flood their fields and sow the rice, instantly attracting large gatherings of Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Little , Great and Cattle Egrets. Glossy Ibis In terms of bird movement, our trips in April still gave us sightings of a few later passage migrants, including Oystercatcher, Little Stint, Grey Plover and Curlew Sandpiper. However, as the month progressed, colonies of breeding birds began to form, the largest of which included Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Gull Billed Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Black Headed Gull and Audouin’s Gull, the latter choosing as usual to nest away from other gull and tern species. Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and Slender Billed Gulls…