Last week, I was especially delighted to welcome back returning clients Steve, Melanie and their son Adam. We provided a day of guided birding for them at Albufera de Valencia last winter, and had discussed the options for a Spring trip. Their timing was perfect as many summer visitors were either passing through or had already settled in readiness to breed. The coastal wetlands of Valencia are spectacular in Spring, and today was to prove amazing. Numbers aren´t everything, but by the end of the day, we´d totalled over 70 species.
Little Ringed Plover
Our day began with a walk by some coastal lagoons where we had good views of wildfowl including Red Crested Pochard, Shoveler, and Gadwall. We heard a Water Rail although it didn´t show, but we did manage to see another two elusive species – Cetti´s Warbler and Nightingale.
Mediterranean Gulls with Black Headed Gulls
We then heard the call of Penduline Tit, so began to search for it. Within a couple of minutes, three of them appeared and sat out in the open giving superb views. Three Spoonbills then flew over. Scanning the flocks of passing Swallows revealed a few Red Rumped Swallows as well as Sand Martins.
Collared Pratincoles
The next lagoon gave views of one of my favourite birds of this site, the Collared Pratincole. They have started to arrive in big numbers during the week. We also had views of Mediterranean Gull, Kentish Plover and Little Ringed Plover. As we watched a small flock of Yellow Wagtails, something caught our eye. Upon closer inspection we found it to be the Italian sub-species (cinereocapilla) which lacks the white eye-stripe of the more commonly found iberiae. We also had views of Stonechat, Whinchat, Sub-Alpine Warbler, Crested Lark and Water Pipit.
Yellow Wagtail (cinereocapilla)
As we walked through an area of reeds we saw a Northern Wheatear, presumeably stopping off on its migration to Northern Europe. We also had great views of Woodchat Shrike, a very smart looking bird that we see each year here in Valencia.
Woodchat Shrike
After a mid morning coffee stop we continued our exploration with a visit to a small scrape surrounded by low bushes and trees. A small flock of Tree Sparrows were flitting around, as were plenty of Chiffchaffs, but we were even more pleased to see a Redstart and a Hen Harrier. A familiar sound then caught our ear, and we were thrilled to see the year´s first Bee Eaters passing through.
Short Toed Eagle
The afternoon was spent walking through pastureland followed by a visit to another lake. This gave views of Iberian Grey Shrike, Booted Eagle and Short Toed Eagle. The lake brought the day to a great ending with Greater Flamingoes and Purple Heron.
It had been a pleasure to welcome back this lovely family, especially so on such a magnificent day as today.
Our species list included…
Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Water Rail (heard), Lesser Black Backed Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Cormorant, Swift, Swallow, Red Rumped Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Glossy Ibis, Common Sandpiper, Flamingo, Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Black Winged Stilt, Redshank, Collared Pratincole, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Short Toed Eagle, Kestrel, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Grey Shrike, Bee Eater, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Serin, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Hoopoe, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Spotless Starling, Redstart, Nightingale, Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear, Crested Lark, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (cinereocapilla and iberiae), White Wagtail, Penduline Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Blackcap, Cetti´s Warbler, Savi´s Warbler (heard), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sub-Alpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Reed Warbler (heard), Sedge Warbler (heard).
Written by David Warrington.
Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.