A winter weekend birding break in Valencia.

Last weekend I was pleased to welcome back returning client Norman to Valencia.  He had previously spent two days with us last Spring when we visited the coastal wetlands and the mountains.  We´d kept in touch and he subsequently arranged a winter weekend birding break in Valencia.  This time we opted to visit the steppe on day one and the huge wetland site of Albufera on day two.

Day 1

I collected him from his hotel close to the stunning City of Arts & Science complex in Valencia, and we made the comfortable journey south west to the high plains.  Before starting our birding, we enjoyed a coffee break in a farming village where we discussed the target species of the day. We were blessed with blue skies, very mild temperatures and more importantly, no wind, and our first brief stop by a flooded field gave views of a Snipe, Lapwings and a Reed Bunting.

We then moved to a vantage point where we set up the scope and began to look closely at the surrounding fields.  Crested Larks were moving around on the ground very close to us, a Hoopoe flew by and an Iberian Grey Shrike perched on a cable.  Scanning the fields further away gave views of a flock of Calandra Lark.  The next stop, next to an old farm gave us good views of Rock Sparrow, Stonechat and a flock of Linnet.

We then headed off-road, crossing the fields in search of Bustards.  Our first sighting, however was a pair of Black Bellied Sandgrouse, always a great bird to see.  We then headed into an area that usually proves reliable for Thekla Lark, as it did today, a few birds showing very well quite close to the car.

We then visited one of the region´s larger lagoons where we turned our attention to wildfowl – Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard, Shoveler and Common Pochard.  After lunch we drove onto the higher steppe where we were delighted to see our first group of Great Bustards.  A small falcon caught our eye, which turned out to be a female Merlin and close attention to a pile of rocks gave us views of a Little Owl.

As we drove to a high point, we looked down onto a lagoon which held hundreds of Flamingo, but were delighted to see a herd of around 150 Cranes.  We spent a long while enjoying this sight through the scope.  Truly magnificent birds and always a delight to see.

A beautiful day ended with a stop next to another lagoon where we admired another flock of Flamingo, this time with the warm evening sunlight illuminating their pink plumage and casting relfections across the blue water.  Indeed a special moment.

The species list for the day included…

Snipe, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Black Redstart, Collared Dove, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Iberian Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Crow, Calandria Lark, Rock Sparrow, Stonechat, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Linnet, Black Bellied Sandgrouse, Magpie, Raven, Robin, Thekla Lark, Red Legged Partridge, Greater Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, Common Coot, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Shoveler, Mallard, Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Shelduck, Great Bustard, Buzzard, Merlin, Little Owl, Crane, Yellow Legged Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull.

 

Day 2

Our second day took us to Albufera de Valencia, a huge wetland and rice growing area to the south of the city.  Beginning our day at one of the park´s key reserves, we saw Ruff, Redshank, Greenshank, Bar Tailed Godwit and Marsh Harrier.  Scoping across the main lake gave views of huge numbers of Red Crested Pochard as well as Teal, Gadwall and Pintail.

We then decided to take a short walk on the beach, looking out to sea and watching what was moving along the shore.  We had a distant view of a Great Skua and watched a large flock of Sanderling flying up the coast, as well as seeing a lone Sandwich Tern feeding.  The sky over the beach was full of Crag Martins.

Then we headed across the rice fields, stopping to watch a small flock of Audouin´s Gull.  The fields also held large numbers of Lapwings, Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Great Egrets.  Wherever there was a tractor ploughing the fields, there were clouds of Black Headed Gulls and Glossy Ibis behind it!  The number of birds here at Albufera is amazing and provides a true spectacle!  Although a brief and distant view, I saw a Black Stork that had been frequenting the rice paddies during the previous week.

After spending time next to an extensive reed bed, where we stood watching huge numbers of Glossy Ibis as well as many Marsh Harriers, we also heard Penduline Tit and Purple Swamphen.  The wind was increasing in strength by now, and satisfied with the birds that we´d seen, we headed back to Valencia, opting to take a lane across the northern rice fields which gave us views of Green Sandpiper, Lesser Black Backed Gull and yet more Egrets and Herons!

It had been a pleasure to see Norman again, and to share some fabulous birding moments with him.

The species list for day two included…

Cetti’s Warbler, Mallard, Shelduck, Black Winged Stilt, Redshank, Greenshank, Ruff, Bar Tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, Teal, Grey Heron, Red Crested Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Pintail, Cormorant, Yellow Legged Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Gadwall, Kestrel, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Great Skua, Black Redstart, Moorhen, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Audouin’s Gull, Crag Martin, Black Stork, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, Goldfinch, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper.

 

Written by Dave Warrington.

Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.