Our Birding Tours

We offer full day and half day tours and can cater for a maximum group size of 8 people. There is no minimum group size – we can cater for families, couples or even individuals who maybe in Spain for a family holiday and wish to escape the beach for a day out birding!

The diverse habitat of our area provides fantastic opportunities for a wide range of bird watching trips. These include coastal wetlands, high steppe, lakes and lagoons, Mediterranean scrub, and mountains and crags. Therefore, the variety of species is truly incredible.

 

 

Our style is very informal and relaxed. We have a wide range of half day and full day itineraries but we place your wishes above sticking rigorously to a fixed schedule! Our priority is quality time and enjoyment rather than rushing around simply trying to maximise the tick-list!  We cater for experienced birders and beginners alike.  See this blog post, kindly provided by a beginner who took up birding following a guided trip with us.

We try to ensure that our clients get the very most from our trips by listening to their needs. Should you, as an experienced birder have specific ´target birds´that you wish to see, we will do our very best to achieve such. On the other hand, if you are new to Bird Watching and would like to see the birdlife that Spain has to offer whilst learning more in a very relaxed environment, we are equally willing and able to provide a service for you.

Binoculars

Where required, binoculars are available for hire (must be requested when booking).  Depending on the trip, a telescope is usually provided by the Guide for use by all at no extra cost.

Children

Children are made very welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and child-seats or booster seats must be provided by the parent or guardian. Fact sheets can be provided upon prior request, at no extra cost for children who would like to learn more about the key species that can be found here in our region.

Transport

Complimentary transport is provided in the form of our ”Valencia Birding Bus”. This is fully equipped with seatbelts and air conditioning (and usually a coolbox full of cold drinks!).

In order to maintain effective and manageable groups our tours are limited to a maximum of 8 participants. This enables everyone a good opportunity to see the birds. We rotate seating arrangements in the bus so that everyone has a front seat at some stage. We never forget that it is your holiday and we try our best to give you a wonderful experience and some long lasting memories.

Packed Lunches
Packed lunches are available upon request.

Specific Tours

Our style is to design bespoke trips based on our clients´wishes and therefore we have too many specific options to list here.  However, here are a few examples of our most popular trips.  For reports of previous trips, please see our blog.

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Valencian Coastal Wetlands – Full Day.

Perhaps the premium trip for those wishing to discover the huge range of Mediterranean bird species that the Valencian coastline has to offer. To make the absolute best of this trip, some walking is necessary and although the distance is approaching 7km, all of it is on good paths and the entire route is flat.

Depending on the season, other highlights include Bittern, Spoonbill, Snipe, Marsh Harrier, Bluethroat and Woodchat Shrike.

During migration periods, almost anything can show up! Join us for a trip that will provide lasting happy memories for years to come.

 

 

 

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Mountains & Marshes – Full Day.

This trip takes advantage of the diverse range of habitats that the Valencian region has to offer, and takes in stunning mountain valleys, reservoirs and coastal wetlands.

The morning is spent exploring the beautiful mountains and valleys around Vall de Albaida. The scenery alone makes this a worthwhile trip, but the bird life on display is simply superb. Individual species are too numerous to list, although highlights could include Sardinian Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Iberian Grey Shrike and Hoopoe. During the “summer” months we can also expect to see Golden Oriole, Nightingale, Blue Rock Thrush and Alpine Swift. Raptors are always possible, including Griffon Vulture and Golden Eagle.

 

The afternoon is spent exploring coastal marsh, a local hotspot that can turn up surprises at all times of year. Highlights often include Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Little Bittern and Purple Gallinule.

This trip can easily be adapted to the capability of the group, but can easily be enjoyed without the need for strenuous activity. The walking is short and mainly on level wide tracks. Be sure to bring a camera!

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Steppe & Lagoons – Full Day.

This trip provides a complete change in terms of habitat, and takes us up into the high plains of Albacete. One of the lesser known parts of Eastern Spain, this fascinating area comprises seemingly endless open spaces where Great Bustards proudly roam (Europe´s heaviest flying bird weighing up to 16kg!).

This area is worth a visit at any time of year and depending on the season, Black Bellied Sand Grouse, Cranes, Calandra Larks, Crested Larks, Rock Sparrows and Bee Eaters can often be seen, as can many raptors including Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Merlin. 

The area also includes a number of lagoons where Flamingo can often be seen in good numbers. Other regular species include Little Ringed Plovers, Black Winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Avocet and Black Necked Grebe. Wildfowl can include White Headed Duck, Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard, Shoveler and Gadwall.

 

 

 

 

 

Like most of our trips, this can be adapted to suit the physical capability of the group. However, it can be enjoyed with minimal physical effort. A superb day out to an area that offers a unique habitat range.

 

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Albufera de Valencia – Full Day

Albufera de Valencia is a well known coastal wetland of significant European importance.  It not only serves as a major breeding ground for a huge variety of birds, but is a crucial wintering ground and stopping off point during migration for a vast array of species.  Sadly, despite a lot of valuable conservation work it´s still not hugely user friendly to visiting birders.

 

 

Our Albufera trip takes in many different “hot spots” of this huge site, often including some restricted and highly protected sites, and is adapted according to the season.  By joining us, you can be sure to make the very most of what this site has to offer instead of wasting your valuable holiday time.  If required, the trip can also be adapted to include a traditional Paella lunch at the home of this emblemic dish, the village  of El Palmar.

The species list for this superb site is far too extensive to include here.  However, regular breeders include Collared Pratincole, Squacco Heron, Great White Egret plus many waders.  “Regular” raptors include Booted Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Hobby.  Bluethroat, Snipe, Garganey and Curlew Sandpiper are regular visitors.  The list goes on…..

 

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Mountain Bird Life – Half Day.

This half day trip visits spectacular mountain scenery, where the star species is undoubtedly the magnificent Griffon Vulture. With a wingspan of over 2 metres, they make for an unforgetable sight.

This trip can also provide the opportunity to enjoy other mountain species such as Black Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Crag Martin and Raven.

Some walking is required including a very short section of steep footpath. However, the distance is short and most of the time will be spent watching rather than walking!

This half day trip can be combined with other sites to form a full day trip if required.