During this summer, we had the pleasure of providing a 2-day birding trip for a couple of clients from Germany. Kerstin had arranged the trip for her and her mother, and together we´d worked to design something that would maximise species diversity.
Day one was spent at Albufera de Valencia, an internationally important wetland right next to the city of Valencia. As well as visiting the rice fields of this vast Natural Park, we spent most of the day inside a couple of specially protected restricted reserves.
Night Heron
Mid summer is not usually the best time for birding here in Valencia but today proved otherwise. There were still plenty of summer visitors, including the beautifully graceful Collared Pratincole, but many winter visitors and passage migrants were also to be seen, White Stork being among them.
White Stork
Perhaps the highlight of the day was the long list of waders that we enjoyed, particularly Temminck´s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Kentish Plover and Green Sandpiper.
Species list Albufera:
Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Mallard, Shoveller, Teal, Shelduck, Sandwich Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, White Stork, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Avocet, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Redshank, Greenshank, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Bee Eater, Kingfisher, Magpie, House Sparrow, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinean Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Spotless Starling, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove.
Birding on the steppe…with a few locals in the foreground!
Day two saw us on the high steppe that lies only 90 minutes drive from Valencia – a completely different eco-system that holds some fabulous bird life. After an easy journey, we stopped for a coffee before making our way up on to the high plains and steppe, aiming to be up there before it became too hot. We had a brief view of Montagu Harrier, then a much better view of a Southern Grey Shrike.
Southern Grey Shrike
Our main objective was to see Great Bustard, but despite checking out the usual spots, we only managed a very distant and poor view. We were however thrilled to see a young Golden Eagle soaring over the cereal fields. We also saw Little Owl, Lesser Kestrel, Hen Harrier and Northern Wheatear.
Little Owl amongst classic steppe scenery
After much effort, we finally found a small group of Great Bustard and thankfully were able to get close enough to get great views without disturbing them at all. Despite their size, they are very wary of humans, so we´re always very aware of the need to watch them from an adequate distance.
Great Bustard
It brought a wonderful day to a fitting end. It had been a real pleasure to design this trip and to spend two days with such lovely people.
Species list Steppe:
Great Bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Golden Eagle, Little Owl, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Red-legged Partridge, Northem Wheatear, Southern Grey Shrike, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Spotless Starling, Mallard, Shelduck, Flamingo, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Coot, Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Goldfinch.