A few days ago, I had the pleasure to guide two keen birders from Norway. They were visiting Alicante City and they wanted a day off to go and discover the bird life of Valencia Region.
At this time of the year, the coastal wetlands near Valencia provide fantastic habitats for passage migrants, including many waders, as well as summer visitors and resident species.
After a short drive, we arrived at one of the best wetlands sites of Valencia. As soon we started walking, we stopped to enjoy views of Night Heron and Whiskered Terns.
Night Heron
We walked close to some salt water lagoons where we had views of Red-crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Little Bittern and Great Reed Warbler.
Great Reed Warbler
We kept walking up to the next hide, where there is a significant breeding colony of Collared Pratincole, Little Tern, Common Tern and Sandwich Tern. Also many waders such as Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover and Little Plover.
Collared Pratincole
On the way back, after a picnic lunch at the beach, we enjoyed views of Woodchat Shrike and Zitting Cisticola.
Woodchat Shrike
At the end of the day we a headed inland, where we were delighted to see Booted Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Purple Swamphen. Also a large flock of Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swift and a few Alpine Swift were feeding in flight over us.
Purple Swamphen
It was a great day with very enthusiastic people.
The species list for the day included…
Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Little Owl, Shelduck, Mallard, Garganey, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Common Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Purple Swamphen, Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Kentish Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Collared Pratincole, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Audoin’s Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Hoopoe, Magpie, Monk Parakeet, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Swift, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bonelli’s Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinean Warbler, Stonechat, Wheatear, Spotless Starling, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Serin, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow.