Early this week we had a great day of guided birding with a lovely couple from UK. They were taking a break in Valencia and wanted to see the diverse bird life of this superb area. As the spring migration is now well and truly underway, we visited one of our favourite coastal wetlands, a site that offers crucial resting and feeding grounds for thousands of migratory birds.
Red Crested Pochard
This time of year is always very exciting as new species are arriving daily. Today was no exception. Some of the most interesting resident species included Penduline Tit, Booted Eagle, Purple Swamphen and Audouin´s Gull.
Birding at one of Valencia´s many wetland sites
We were lucky to enjoy good views of a favourite winter visitor that´s still here…the Bluethroat. However, maybe the surprises of the day were the new arrivals and the birds on passage. These included Red Rumped Swallow, Whinchat, Reed Warbler, Sub Alpine Warbler and Pied Flycatcher. Barn Swallows and House Martins were also constantly passing through in huge numbers
It´s such a pleasure to share days like these with our clients and to show them some of the amazing bird life of Valencia.
The species list for the day totalled 63 and included…
Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Coot, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Black-winged Stilt, Green Sandpiper, Sanderling, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Crag Martin, Pied Flycatcher, Water Pipit, Bluethroat, Common Reed Warbler, Citting Cisticola, Cetti’s Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Penduline Tit, Chiffchaff, Black Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Serin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Spotless Starling, Magpie, Hoopoe, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon.