Last week I had the pleasure to guide two clients from England on a bird watching trip to Albufera de Valencia. The trip had been arranged as a surprise present.
I collected them from their apartment where they were staying in Valencia city and after a short jorney we where in a reserve and protected area in the forest close to Albufera lake.
Our first stop gave views of Collared Pratincole, Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Red-crested Pochard and many more species. On the way to our next spot we were delighted to get a view of a male Golden Oriole.
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. Flamingos 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. Also we were delighted to see a White-winged Tern.
A fantastic day with lovely people, and a species list that included…
Kestrel, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Little Grebe, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Term, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Collared Pratincole, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Marbled Duck, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Magpie, Golden Oriole, Spotless Starling, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Blackbird, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Serin, Goldfinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Zitting Cisticola, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, House Sparrow, House Martin, Barn Swallow.