As I tend to spend the hottest months of the year in the rural interior to the south of our region, we often provide trips towards the end of the summer to the extensive wetland systems of Alicante. In early September I was delighted to provide such a trip for Mark from UK. We met at the British Bird Fair in August and quickly arranged a date during Mark´s stay in our area. Recently retired from the RSPB, Mark is an experienced and knlowedgeable birder and a pleasure to be with.
We met close to Alicante airport and made the short onward journey to the local salt marshes. Our first stop gave views of Greater Flamingo, Purple Swamphen and Squacco Heron. The reeds held Common Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher.
We moved a little further into the marshes where we saw a couple of Turnstones, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin´s Gull and amongst the Common Swifts feeding overhead we were able to pick out a few Pallid Swifts.
Slender Billed Gull
We then took a short drive across farmland towards the main reserve area of the day. This proved to be a good move as we spotted a Collared Pratincole hunting insects in flights, and then a female Montagu´s Harrier. A little further down the lanes, a bird on a cable caught our eye and proved to be a Roller, always a pleasure to see.
Purple Swamphen
Two key species that Mark wanted to see were Red-knobber Coot and Marbled Teal. The former is a resident species which the latter often moves a little further south for the winter months. We had almost immediate success with the Red-knobbed Coot and were even more pleased to see many examples with chicks. We also saw a small flock of Yellow Wagtail, Avocet, more Purple Swamphens and a Hoopoe.
Red Knobbed Coot
We walked into the reserve and spent a little time in a hide overlooking a small lagoon. Here we enjoyed views of Squacco Heron, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier and eventually a Marbled Teal. As we continued our walk through the reserve, we saw Sardinian Warbler, Meadow Pipit and Sand Martins passing overhead as well as hearing Cetti´s Warbler.
Squacco Heron
After a picnic lunch we drove to the other side of the lake where we were visit two more hides. These are not so well known but I like them very much as they are built on stilts and as they sit in the lake, offer views from three out of four sides. Upon arrival at the first one, we saw Little Bittern, Night Heron, plenty of Whiskered Terns and yet more Flamingoes. A different tern caught our eye, and with some patience and care we identified it as a juvenile White Winged Black Tern.
A short walk through the reed beds took us to the next hide, where we enjoyed great views of a Spoonbill, and as we used the scopes to look through a few quite distant waders, we picked out Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Redshank. The water levels weren´t sufficiently high to give depth for White Headed Duck, but we were more than happy with our species list for the day, so agreed to leave that one for next time!
Spoonbill
It had been a beautiful day, we´d seen some fantastic birds and it had been a pleasure to provide this trip for Mark. I hope to welcome him back to more birding sites of the Valencia region in the future.
The species list for the day included…
Greater Flamingo, Coot, Shelduck, Swift, Yellow Legged Gull, Purple Swamphen, Squacco Heron, Little Grebe, Reed Warbler, Little Egret, House Martin, Kingfisher, Common Pochard, Grey Heron, Tunstone, Little Tern, Pallid Swift, Great Crested Grebe, Gull Billed Tern, Slender Billed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Mallard, Greenshank, Montagu’s Harrier, Collared Pratincole, Kestrel, Iberian Grey Shrike, Crested Lark, House Sparrow, Roller, Red Knobbed Coot, Moorhen, Avocet, Yellow Wagtail, Spotless Starling, Blackbird, Hoopoe, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Whiskered Tern, Marbled Teal, Black Winged Stilt, Sand Martin, Little Bittern, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Night Heron, White winged Black Tern, Spoonbill, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Sardinian Warbler, Cetti´s Warbler (h), Water Rail (h).
Written by David Warrington.
Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.