Birding at the wetlands with clients from the USA.

In early April I spent a great day birding at the wetlands with clients from the USA.  Laura and Brad, from Arizona were on a tour of Spain and had built in a stay in Valencia that included a day of birding with us.

As it was their first time in the region, I was eager to show them some of the classic species of Valencia.  After a short drive and a morning coffee, we began our walk along the beach.  Early Spring was quite cool by our standards, and the day had begun with a breeze blowing off the sea, making for a drastic contrast to Arizona!

Migration was happening before our eyes with big numbers of Swifts, Barn Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins passing through, the flocks often including a few Red Rumped Swallows.  A Night Heron was sitting in the reeds and from deeper within we could hear Common Reed Warbler and Cetti´s Warbler.

Before long, one of the day´s target birds appeared – a fly-past of Audouin´s Gull.  This very elegant gull is doing very well along the Valencian coastline.  The first lagoon held Black Winged Stilt and Glossy Ibis.  We also saw a few lingering Teals plus Greater Flamingo.

We then visited a hide to look out onto a scrape from where we enjoyed views of Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Kentish Plover, Black Necked Grebe and another “late” bird, Garganey.  Then we spotted another of the day´s key species – White Headed Duck.

We walked once again by the coast, watching Great Reed Warbler in the edges of the huge reed beds, as well as having fabulous views of Collared Pratincole.

After a drive through farmland where we watched Catlle Egrets and Glossy Ibis right next to the car, the day ended with a stroll through the inland part of the reserve where we headed out through pastureland.  Later in the week, Laura emailed to me a beautiful painting of the Ibis and Egrets that she had done during her stay in Valencia.  We enjoyed watching Hoopoe, Corn Bunting, Savi´s Warbler and Stonechat before being treated to great views of Booted Eagle in flight.

It had begun to rain slightly, but we´d had a full day and had enjoyed seeing some great birds, so we headed back to the car and drove back to their apartment in the historic quarter of Valencia.  It had been a pleasure for me to spend the day with such nice people and to share stories of birding, travel and culture.

The species list for the day included…

Barn Swallow, House Martin, House Sparrow, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Reed Warbler (h), Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Pochard, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Audouin’s Gull, Red Rumped Swallow, Cormorant, Sardinian Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Sand Martin, Yellow Legged Gull, Black Winged Stilt, Swift, Glossy Ibis, Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Greater Flamingo, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Black Necked Grebe, Kentish Plover, Collared Pratincole, Zitting Cisticola, Garganey, Great Reed Warbler, White Headed Duck, Common Sandpiper, Purple Swamphen, Gadwall, Hoopoe, Booted Eagle, Corn Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler (h), Savi’s Warbler, Stonechat, Marsh Harrier.

 

Written by David Warrington.

Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.