Bespoke Guided Bird Watching Trips & Holidays from Valencia & Alicante (Eastern Spain) for Individuals, Couples and Small Groups.
Established in 2011, we´re based in the autonomous region of La Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, one of Europe´s top birding destinations. We design and provide tailor-made guided bird watching day-trips, breaks and holidays for individuals, couples and small groups. Based in both the historical town of Xativa and the coastal town of Dénia, this allows us to cover both the Valencia and Alicante regions. This flexibility offers the possibility to visit an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown!
We cater for all levels of bird enthusiasts from complete beginner to expert, and provide trips for individuals, couples, families and small groups. Our local knowledge ensures that our clients can maximise their time in Spain by depending on us to take them to the best sites whilst providing top levels of care and attention.
Thanks to the support of our clients, and the kind reviews that have been posted on Trip Advisor, we are proud holders of the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. You can read our clients´reviews here.
Our objective is simple…to provide a value-for-money service that is exactly tailored to the wishes, requirements and priorities of our clients, focussing firmly on delivering the best levels of service. Our approach is what makes us different…
Our business model is unlike that of most professional bird watching companies. We provide our services on an extremely flexible basis, working closely with our clients to design their ideal trip or holiday. We have a range of single-day trips, but frequently work with our clients to design bespoke breaks and holidays, ranging from 2-day to 8-day packages. We never mix groups – all our trips and holidays are exclusively for the individual, couple or group that make the reservation, and we never add others to the trip.
Blue Rock Thrush
Our pricing structure is competitive, great value and fair…Here at Valencia Birding, we wish to make our guided bird watching trips available to all. Therefore, our pricing structure is thoughtfully and carefully designed to assure maximum value across all group sizes. We clearly understand that some clients will be traveling alone, whilst others will be part of a group. Therefore we have endeavoured to structure our pricing to provide superb value for smaller groups, couples or even individuals whilst still offering fair and competitive rates for larger groups. Contact us to discuss options and we´d be very happy to quote specific rates (without obligation).
A professional bird watching guide, David Warrington was born in Sheffield, England and began his fascination with birds as a child in the Peak District National Park. He moved to Spain in 2006 and was amazed by the natural diversity of the Valencia region, a huge influence in his decision to establish Valencia Birding in 2011.
David is also a founding member of the Association of Birding Guides of the Valencian Community, and regularly works as a consultant to promote sustainable nature tourism.
Our final trip before Christmas 2024 took us to Alicante, where I had the pleasure of meeting Agustin and his family from Galicia in northern Spain. They were enjoying a Christmas break in the region, and wanted to include a day’s birding in their plans. Once I’d navigated the labyrinth of narrow streets in the historical quarter of Alicante, we met and made the short onward journey to the wetlands! Immediately upon getting out of the car we were watching Purple Swamphen and Snipe feeding at the base of tall reeds. Amazingly, the day after, we received news of sightings of a Purple Swamphen with chicks! Marsh Harriers, a common winter visitor to the región were out in good numbers, flying low over the marsh in search of prey. Another common winter visitor, the Eurasian Teal, often provides them with such! One of the reserve´s specialities soon came into view, again in good numbers – Red Knobbed Coot. Much has been done here to protect this bird, so it’s always gratifying to see them doing so well. Red Knobbed Coot There were obviously plenty of insects on the wing, as…
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…
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…
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…
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…
