Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of providing a birding trip to l´Albufera of Valencia Natural Park for two clients from Switzerland. They are experience birders and they wanted to see and photograph the classic species of the Valencian wetlands.
They were staying in the southern region of the Valencian Community, so we opted to meet at Cullera lighthouse, a popular sea-watching spot. We then made the short road trip through an orchard region and on to the first stop which was at a protected reserve and green filter area. A little patience was rewarded with views of several Purple Swamphens and Little Bitterns.
Second stop was in some rice paddies where the rice plants hadn´t grown this year. Therefore, the flooded fields provided ideal habitat for waders. Hundreds of birds of more than 18 different species where feeding all together.
After a brief stop for a coffee and a short review of the species list we went to the next stop in the reserve area and interpretation centre of the Natural Park, where Avocets and Shelducks where close enough for us to get amazing photographs.
Driving by the rice fields to the last stop we enjoyed great views of Purple Herons, Squacco Herons and Night Herons.
Inside of the restricted reserve and green filter area we were delighted to see a great variety of species including Flamingos, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, and an array of Terns. Perhaps the most interesting spots were a Little Gull and a Black Tern.
It was a pleasure to guide Eric and Eva and I hope to see them again on another birding trip here in the Valencia region.
The species list totalled 45, including…
Shelduck, Mallard, Pochard, Audouin´s Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Black Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Whiskered Tern, Purple Swamphen, Moorhen, Coot, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Great Egret, Common Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Black-tailed Godwit, Collared Pratincole, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Redshank. Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Kentish Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, House Martin, Barn Swalow, Spotless Starling, Great Reed Warbler, Common Warbler, Zitting Cisticola,