Bird watching holidays Valencia - Page 2 of 7 - Valencia Birding

Birding and Cultural Break in Valencia.

In late March we enjoyed spending three days with Caroline and Lorna from England. We´d met at Rutland Bird Fair the previous year and discussed how we could design a birding and cultural break in Valencia. Having exchanged a few emails, we decided upon a week´s package with 3 full days of birding and 4 free days to explore this beautiful city. In order to maximise diversity, we opted for a day on the steppe, a day at the wetlands and a trip to the mountains. Their first day of birding was with Yanina who took them up onto the steppe. We were all able to meet for a coffee in a farming village as I was with another client and happened to be in the same area that day. The weather was ideal, not too much wind and clear skies. Their first foray onto the high steppe gave views of Black Bellied Sandgrouse and Stone Curlew. Before long, they succeeded in finding the first Great Bustards of the day and a stop by some farm buildings also gave views of Rock Sparrow, Linnet and Black Redstart. The surrounding fields…

Birding and Photography in the Mountains of Valencia.

I was delighted when we received an email from Stephen and Pennie to say that they were returning to Valencia and wanted another day out with us. We´d previously enjoyed two trips to Albufera de Valencia, during which we´d discussed the bird life of the mountains, especially during Spring. Stephen is a well travelled bird photographer whilst Pennie enjoys bird watching very much, so we arranged a day of birding and photography in the mountains of Valencia. After a pleasant journey from the city into the highland interior of the region, we stopped briefly for a coffee in a village bar. As we were walking back to the car, Pennie spotted a raptor soaring above us. We grabbed the binoculars and camera and were soon enjoying views of a Booted Eagle…a good start to the day! Our first stop was to look around some ruined farm buildings. This is a good place to see Black Wheatear, Serin, and Blue Rock Thrush. Today we saw all three species, and Stephen was able to get some shots too. A short stroll by the river was very pleasant, with Griffon Vultures gliding overhead…

2 day guided birding break from Valencia

I recently had the pleasure to provide a 2 day guided birding break from Valencia for a couple of returning clients from England. It was fantastic to welcome Saff and Andy back to Valencia and spend these days together with them. They first came last autumn when they were guided by Dave to the wetlands of Albufera de Valencia. They became good friends and decided to meet for a coffee the day before the trips. They were keen to see different species and habitats this time, so we decided to visit the steppe and the mountains to provide them with their target species in these diverse environments. They were staying in the city centre combining a cultural city break with a couple of days of birding. On day one, we made the trip to the steppe, the goal of the day was Great Bustard. So after a journey to the area of interest we started birding as soon as we arrived, scanning the fields. At first we had good sightings of Crested Larks, Thekla Lark, Rock Sparrow and Iberian Grey Shrike. On the way to the next site, we had…

2 Day Birding Break in Valencia

I recently provided a 2 day birding break in Valencia for a couple of returning clients from my home town of Sheffield. It was fantastic to welcome Jonathan and Caroline back to Valencia and to spend these days together with them. They first came last autumn when they visited the wetlands of Albufera de Valencia and the mountains with us. They were keen to see Albufera again, but in winter and also wanted to visit the steppe, in particular to see Great Bustards. This time they were visiting with friends and were combining a cultural city break with a couple of days of birding. On day one, we made the short trip to Albufera, and started birding as soon as we began the journey by watching a Booted Eagle who has made Valencia port his winter home this year. We then visited a reserve area where we sat in a couple of hides for a while and enjoyed views of Shelduck, Teal, Marsh Harrier and more Booted Eagles. We then spent a little time watching a rice field that held plenty of Snipe and in the surrounding reeds we saw Tree…

2019 New Year Bulletin.

We´d like to begin this short bulletin by wishing everyone a bird-packed, happy and healthy New Year. Thanks to the ongoing support of our clients and friends, 2018 was a busy year for us at Valencia Birding. We were fortunate enough to introduce an array of new clients to the delights of birding in the Valencia region as well as having the privilege of welcoming back many returning clients and friends. We enjoyed some great trips too, making the most of the wide range of habitats that the Valencia region offers. Mountains, forest, steppe, Mediterranean desert, saltmarsh, wetlands, sea and coast, rice fields, olive groves and farmland all provide their own speciality species. This diversity, coupled with the eastern Spain migration flyway that we´re lucky to have on our doorstep, gave us some amazing sightings throughout the year. Looking ahead to the New Year, we´re already busily taking bookings. These days, our reservations tend to fall into one of three types: Day trips for those who wish to combine bird watching with a cultural visit to the beautiful Mediterranean city of Valencia. This option is increasing in popularity as the blend…

2-Day Birding Break in Valencia.

I recently provided a 2-day birding break in Valencia for a couple from the south coast of England who wanted to combine a cultural visit to this beautiful city with two days of bird watching. We decided to spend a day at Albufera de Valencia, as September is always an interesting month for straggling summer visitors, early winter arrivals and passage migrants. We also planned a day on the high steppe as Great Bustard was one of Geoff and Sharon´s key target species. Both experienced and well travelled birders, they were keen to see what the region held. On day one we made the short journey from the city to Albufera where we made our first stop at a protected reserve area. The first couple of hides gave good views of Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and a very obliging Zitting Cisticola which perched right in front of the viewing hatch. Yanina joined us briefly with a couple of clients from UK who we´d been lucky enough to meet at Rutland Bird Fair the previous month. An Osprey passed overhead, and a Sardinian Warbler was seen flitting around in the undergrowth. …