It was one of the hottest days for 150 years in Valencia. I was booked to provide a guided birding trip to the huge wetland site of Albufera de Valencia but a few days before the trip, the clients contacted us to ask if we should move the date. As the forecast for the duration of their stay was more or less constant, I suggested that we stick with the original day but take sensible precautions.
It was over 30 degrees C when I collected the clients from the city centre in Valencia – that was at 7:30am! After a short journey we arrived at Albufera Natural Park, one of Spain´s most important wetlands. Located on one of the major migration flyways of the Western Paleartic, Albufera de Valencia is an extensive wetland which is immediately south of the city of Valencia, right on the Mediterranean coast and in 1990 was designated as a Ramsar site. It was declared a Natural Park in 1986 and holds an huge variety of ecosystems. It was originally formed by sediment that was deposited by the region´s two principal rivers, the Jucar and the Turia, both of which flow into the Mediterranean close to Valencia. This eventually created a land bar, trapping behind it a sizeable lagoon right at the heart of the Gulf of Valencia. Today, the lake is surrounded extensively by rice paddies.
Albufera de Valencia is one of Valencia Birding´s most popular trips. In August it’s an strategic hot-spot for migration. Once we arrived at our first stop in the main reserve area, together with the clients Charlie and Martha we discussed the priorities for the day, in terms of target species that they´d like to see. As they were from the USA, they simply wanted to enjoy the bird life of the area, as most of the species would be new to them. Therefore, we decided on a relaxed approach, as the site is generally very species-rich.
After we spent all morning in a protected reserve area, enjoying great views of Collared Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Greater Flamingo and Glossy Ibis as well as many waders and passerines, we opted to stop for lunch in the traditional rice farming village of El Palmar where we enjoyed a fabulous Paella.
The temperature steadily increased and by the time I suggested making a final stop it was over 40 degrees C. I have lived in Albufera de Valencia for over a decade and one of my local patches is a small lake beside the sea. I check it daily, and can even see it from my apartment block in the Devesa Forest.
It was extremely hot and the clients were understandably tired, but I motivated them to make this one last stop! We parked in the shade and did the short walk up to the lake. There are not many trees around the lake but we managed to find some shade under a large bush. As soon as I lifted my binoculars, I couldn´t believe what I was seeing! A Terek Sandpiper in amongst a flock of Little Terns on a small island in the center of the lake! I quickly told the clients to watch this very special bird but frustratingly something disturbed it before I was able to get a photo. However, our luck was in and after just a few seconds, it landed even closer to us, allowing us not only to get superb views but to photograph it too!
Terek Sandpiper is not a common sighting in Valencia, indeed not in Spain. This species was last seen in Albufera in 2011 but has never been seen on this particular lake. Just a few years ago the local government installed barriers around the lake to protect it from human disturbance and to provide suitable
habitat for waders and other nesting and migratory species. It is critical for us all to understand the importance of effective habitat protection, and today was just one example of this! The species breeds mainly in central and northern Russia, but also patchily in adjacent countries, with Europe accounting for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is relatively small, where it’sunlikely to exceed 25 pairs. The major threats are the loss and degradation of habitat, human disturbance and pollution. (Ref. EU Commission)
It had been a fantastic day´s birding with amazing sightings and even nicer people.