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.
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…
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…
The past couple of months have been so busy that I’ve hardly had time to post any trip reports! This is by no means a complaint and I’m extremely grateful to everyone for making this spring such an intense time. We’ve had some fabulous trips, seen some great birds, and I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with such lovely people. Here are a few shots taken during three recent visits to the wetlands of Alicante. This area has to rate amongst the best birding sites in Spain, not only for the birds that thrive here, but for the conservation projects that continue to protect key species such as Marbled Teal, White Headed Duck and Red Knobbed Coot. White Headed Duck Marbled Teal Red Knobbed Coot I’ve had some fabulous trips to Alicante this spring, all with returning clients who I count as friends. Firstly with John, an English birder who lives here in Spain, with Cheryl and Diane from the USA, and with Sally and Pete, a couple from the UK who have a second home in the region. Whiskered Tern On each trip, we were blessed with great…
