Two Day Guided Birding Trip to the Wetlands of Valencia

We recently had the pleasure of providing a two day guided birding trip to the wetlands of Valencia for a couple of returnng clients from UK.

Day one was a trip to Albufera de Valencia Natural Park. Having collected them from the train station in the city of Valencia we made the short journey to this well-known wetland.

First stop was in the Devesa forest, where we visited a restricted spot inside the reserve where we had great views of Collared Pratincole, Turtle Dove, Little Tern, Red-crested Pochard and many more species.

After a short walk in the forest we arrived at another hide where we watched a colony of Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Slender-billed Gull.  Flamingoes were passing overhead and we also enjoyed lovely views of Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet.

After a picnic lunch in the forest, we began driving through the rice paddies. The rice fields have been seeded and flooded recently and many different species feed in the water. We had amazing views of Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis and Purple Swamphen.

A fantastic day with lovely people, and a species list that included…

Kestrel, Mallard, Shelduck, Red-crested Porchard, Common Pochard, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Wiskered Tern, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Collared Pratincole, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Grebe, Magpie, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Wood Pigeon, Spotless Starling, House Martin, Barn Swallow,Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Serin, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail.

 

Day 2 was to another coastal wetland, with some different eco-systems and habitats.  The format of today´s trip was to walk around the entire reserve, a route of some 7kms.  We began by the beach where we spent a little time watching some small saltwater lagoons.

The day got off to a great start with superb views of Purple Heron.  Unlike it´s cousin, the Grey Heron, it´s usually quite shy so to get views of it in open water was indeed a treat.  Whiskered Terns were feeding nearby and we also had some excellent views of Audouin´s Gull.

The next stopping point was at a breeding colony of Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Collared Pratincole.  We also enjoyed views of what´s becoming a local “celebrity” – an Elegant Tern!

Our walk then took us through an area of reed beds and scrapes where we had super views of Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Reed Warbler and Marsh Harrier.

We enjoyed our lunch in a hide with views over another lagoon where we were watched Purple Swamphen, another Purple Heron and a small flock of Tree Sparrows.

We then entered an area of pasture land and open scrub – a sudden change of surroundings and of bird species.  We enjoyed views of Little Owl, Hoopoe and one of the day´s highlights, a Short-toed Eagle.  We also enjoyed watching a stunning Swallowtail Butterfly.

The day´s final lagoon brought the day to a lovely close with quality views of Little Bittern and Greater Flamingo.

A successful day, great weather and a species list that included…

Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Red Crested Pochard, Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Black Winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Collared Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Purple Swamphen, Common Tern, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Whiskered Tern, Elegant Tern, Black Headed Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Audouin´s Gull, Spotless Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Stonechat, Fan-tailed Warbler, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Hoopoe, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Little Owl, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Short Toed Eagle.