Birding and Cultural Break in Valencia.

In late March we enjoyed spending three days with Caroline and Lorna from England.  We´d met at Rutland Bird Fair the previous year and discussed how we could design a birding and cultural break in Valencia.  Having exchanged a few emails, we decided upon a week´s package with 3 full days of birding and 4 free days to explore this beautiful city.

In order to maximise diversity, we opted for a day on the steppe, a day at the wetlands and a trip to the mountains.  Their first day of birding was with Yanina who took them up onto the steppe.  We were all able to meet for a coffee in a farming village as I was with another client and happened to be in the same area that day.

The weather was ideal, not too much wind and clear skies.  Their first foray onto the high steppe gave views of Black Bellied Sandgrouse and Stone Curlew.  Before long, they succeeded in finding the first Great Bustards of the day and a stop by some farm buildings also gave views of Rock Sparrow, Linnet and Black Redstart.

The surrounding fields held plenty of larks, and they enjoyed views of Crested, Thekla and another of the day´s target species, Calandra Lark.  Lunch stop was by a lagoon which held Garganey, Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard and Greater Flamingo.  A Gull Billed Tern also flew by.

The afternoon was spent exploring further the higher steppe area which gave further sightings of Great Bustard and Corn Bunting.  The day was brought to a great finale with views of Golden Eagle.  After that they made the comfortable journey back to their hotel in the historic quarter of Valencia.

The species list for the day included…

Shelduck, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Little Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Common Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Bustard, Eurasian Coot, Stone-curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Northern Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Golden Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kestrel, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Calandra Lark, Thekla Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Black Redstart, Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Two days later we headed for the wetlands.  By coincidence, we all managed to see each other for a short while again as Yanina was there with another client.  After the short drive from Valencia, we began with a walk along the beach where we watched Swift, Pallid Swift, House Martins, Sand Martins and Barn Swallows all passing overhead.

The first lagoon gave views of Glossy Ibis, Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard and Reed Bunting.  A short walk took us to the next viewing point from where we enjoyed watching White Headed Duck, Little Ringed Plover and Marsh Harrier.

We then headed to one of the main spots of the day, a hide that overlooks a coastal scrape which provides habitats for breeding terns and gulls.  We had great views of Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Wood Sandpiper, Avocet and Kentish Plover.

Then we were delighted to see the first of the arriving Collared Pratincoles.  We enjoyed good views without getting too close as the bird was obviously exhausted from it´s long migration and we didn´t want to disturb it.

We then moved around to the inland side of the reserve, first driving through an area of farmland where we saw Hoopoe and Cattle Egret.  Booted Eagle was one of the key targets for this area, and after a short walk through pastureland, we were delighted to see three different birds, all pale form.  They soared overhead giving fabulous views.

Our return through the reserve gave good views of Water Pipit and Purple Swamphen.  We´d had a great day and returned to Valencia very happy, having enjoyed a day that included…

Mallard, Common Pochard, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, House Martin, Gadwall, Sardinian Warbler, Reed Warbler (h), Cetti’s Warbler, Magpie, Sandwich Tern, Reed Bunting, Red Crested Pochard, Little Egret, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, White Headed Duck, Yellow Legged Gull, Black Headed Gull, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Shoveler, Swallow, Swift, Pallid Swift, Great Tit, Stonechat, Black Winged Stilt, Avocet, Mediterranean Gull, Cormorant, Snipe, Tree Sparrow, Wood Sandpiper, Teal, Kentish Plover, Black Necked Grebe, Crested Lark, Goldfinch, White Wagtail, Collared Pratincole, Robin, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Tern, Spotless Starling, Hoopoe, Cattle Egret, Kestrel, Sand Martin, Booted Eagle, Purple Swamphen, Water Pipit, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Serin.

Our final day together was to be spent in the mountains, and after a comfortable journey and a coffee stop we made our first stop at an old barn.  Here we had views of Black Wheatear, Stonechat and Serin.  Today was about specialist birds rather than gaining a long species list, and one of them was Short Toed Eagle.  We knew that they had recently arrived back from Africa and had been seen in the area so we were hopeful of seeing them.  A short walk by a beautiful riverside gave views of Sardinian Warbler in the scrub.  We saw by the water and watched the skies, first watching Griffon Vulture.  Before long, a magnificent Short Toed Eagle came into view – result!

We made our way further up into the hills where we watched Raven, Chough and Crag Martins all flying around a rock face.  We then established ourselves at a huge rock wall where we watched more Griffon Vultures, many of which were on nests.  Then, after a little time spent waiting, we were rewarded with views of another of the day´s key target species, the Egyptian Vulture.

A Peregrine Falcon swooped across the face on numerous occassions, and a delightful pair of Crossbills came to rest in a tree right on front of us for a while.  The day closed with views of another Booted Eagle.

The species list for the day included…

Black Wheatear, Magpie, Goldfinch, House Martin, Stonechat, Serin, Griffon Vulture, Short Toed Eagle, Sardinian Warbler, Raven, Chough, Crag Martin, Blackbird, Egyptian Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Crossbill, Long Tailed Tit, Booted Eagle.

It had been a pleasure and a delight to spend these days with Caroline and Lorna, who were such easy company and lovely people.  We´d also seen some fabulous birds in great surroundings and they had also enjoyed combining this with a cultural break in Valencia.

Written by David Warrington.

Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.