We´d like to begin this short bulletin by wishing everyone a bird-packed, happy and healthy New Year.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our clients and friends, 2018 was a busy year for us at Valencia Birding. We were fortunate enough to introduce an array of new clients to the delights of birding in the Valencia region as well as having the privilege of welcoming back many returning clients and friends.
We enjoyed some great trips too, making the most of the wide range of habitats that the Valencia region offers. Mountains, forest, steppe, Mediterranean desert, saltmarsh, wetlands, sea and coast, rice fields, olive groves and farmland all provide their own speciality species.
This diversity, coupled with the eastern Spain migration flyway that we´re lucky to have on our doorstep, gave us some amazing sightings throughout the year. Looking ahead to the New Year, we´re already busily taking bookings. These days, our reservations tend to fall into one of three types:
Day trips for those who wish to combine bird watching with a cultural visit to the beautiful Mediterranean city of Valencia.
This option is increasing in popularity as the blend of birding at the wetlands, in the mountains and on the steppe coupled with the gastronomy and sites of the historical quarter of Valencia makes for a truly unique experience.
The historic quarter of the city of Valencia
Week-long twin centre birding breaks.
For those who wish to maximise habitats and species. Carefully planned to minimise travelling time and maximise birding time, we visit a different habitat each day. Usually beginning in the south of the region where we spend the first four nights in a rural location, we then move to Valencia for the remaining three nights where the historical centre of the city provides an ideal contrast. We´re always adding new sites to this trip and in 2019 we´ll be including a visit to a small Mediterranean island reserve, adding seabirds to the species list. This trip can be modified according to the arrival airport – both Valencia and Alicante work equally well.
One of Alicante´s wetland reserves
Bird Photography Trips.
For those who wish to dedicate time to capturing amazing photographic records of the bird life of Valencia, we now provide a series of trips to an ever increasing range of professional photo-hides. This provides the opportunity to photograph at close range species including Bonelli´s Eagle, Goshawk, Crested Tit, Ring Ouzel, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Hoopoe and much more.
All of our trips, no matter what type are completely bespoke according to the wishes of the client and what´s more are available for group sizes of between one and twelve people. We never mix groups, preferring to focus on providing top levels of service and flexibility whilst always keeping prices to a reasonable level across all group sizes.
Balearic Shearwaters
As the days lengthen we look forward to the start of the breeding season, when the wetlands are a hive of activity for species such as Marbled Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Purple Swamphen, Collared Pratincole, Little Bittern and an array of Tern species.
The steppe provides habitat for Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Rock Sparrow and Calandra Lark whilst the forests, farmland and scrub areas of the region hold Bee Eater, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Little Owl, Red-necked Nightjar and Roller.
Great Bustard
Time spent in the mountains and inland sierras will hopefully reward us with sightings of Golden Eagle, Short Toed Eagle, Bonelli´s Eagle, Alpine Swift and Egyptian Vulture whilst back at sea level, we hope to see shorebirds and marine species including Kentish Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Audouin´s Gull, Slender Billed Gull and Mediterranean Gull.
Slender Billed Gull
Finally, we´d like to repeat our heart-felt thanks to all who have supported us throughout 2018 and for making it a very special year. Having enjoyed the Christmas break we´re now fully re-charged and eager to get 2019 underway. We hope to welcome you back to the Valencia region soon!