May 2022
Thanks to the kind support and recommendations of some previous clients from Singapore, I was contacted early this year by Sudip, who was interested in a 10-day bird photography trip in the Valencia Region. After some considerable email exchanges, his priorities and target species became clear, and work began on designing the perfect plan.
As he wanted a combination of field and hide photography, ten days gave us the time and opportunity to deliver a twin-centre holiday. Accordingly, the first half of the trip was spent in the province of Alicante, using the beautiful and historical village of Biar as his base. (I stayed in my home in the mountains very close-by). Sudip really appreciates good food too, so I chose an authentic guest house where there is also a high quality restaurant serving local dishes at reasonable prices. For the second half of the trip, we moved to Valencia, where Sudip stayed in a small hotel in the heart of the historical quarter.
Biar, in the highland interior of Alicante
As the trip was focussed firmly on high quality photography, this report deals with the key species that were photographed, rather than simply on the birds seen. Photographs included within this report are mine (unless otherwise stated). Sudip’s are of much higher quality than my attempts!!
Day 1 – Alicante Wetlands Field Photography
On our first day we travelled from Valencia, where Sudip had spent his first night here, to the wetlands of Alicante. Target species for the day included Marbled Teal and White Headed Duck. We succeeded in both, as well as capturing images of Red Crested and Common Pochard. We also spent a good deal of time photographing Whiskered Terns, Purple Swamphen, Great Reed Warbler and Glossy Ibis.
White Headed Duck
Day 2 – Golden Eagle Hide Photography
After re-arranging the order of our hide sessions owing to expected bad weather, we opted to spend our second day in a Golden Eagle photography hide in the mountains of the interior of Alicante. The day dawned with clear skies with the surrounding valley bottoms cloaked in white cloud. After a short drive, we were soon sitting in the hide, keenly anticipating and hoping for the eagle to show. As we waited, the surrounding scrub was visited by Serin and Crested Tit, and a female Mouflon could be seen bounding down a slope in the distance.
Golden Eagle
Eventually, a male Golden Eagle suddenly came into view, stooping quickly down to perch before us. He spent quite some time feeding, allowing for some fabulous photographic opportunities. We were already more than satisfied, but were thrilled as the female bird came to join him. Obviously larger than the male, she first came to rest on a rock before moving in to feed. She then perched on a branch, spending time cleaning her talons and bill before finally taking to the air. What a breathtaking experience to witness such magnificent creatures so closely.
Female Golden Eagle
Day 3 – Mouflon Hide Photography & Passerine Hide Photography
The day began with better weather than forecast, so we spend most of the morning in a Mouflon photography hide. Although we had views of Linnet, Chaffinch and Red-legged Partridge, strangely, the Mouflons didn’t appear. However, we were taken on a brief 4×4 safari style trip during which we had numerous sightings of these wonderful animals in the forest. Sudip was also able to capture some quality photographs, so the morning was by no means a failure.
By now, the anticipated rain had started to fall, so we ended the morning with a brief session in a passerine hide where we were able to photograph Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Short-toed Treecreeper.
Crested Tit
We stopped for lunch in a local restaurant that I know well, and enjoyed some wonderfully hearty home-cooked food which not only warmed us, but gave us the energy to continue making the best of the day. After the coffees, we decided to make the short trip to a spectacular canyon where Sudip busied himself capturing some stunning landscape photography, as well as watching Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart.
Day 4 – Alicante Wetlands
Our original plan was to spend day-4 on the steppe, but the recent heavy rains had resulted in the tracks across the fields up there being completely impossible to use. Looking at the weather patterns, and at the target species list, we decided to head back to the Alicante wetlands as there were still a few key birds that we hoped to photograph there. We began the day in a couple of hides where we managed to get some fabulous shots of Spoonbill, Avocet and Red Knobbed Coot, despite the rain!
Spoonbill
After lunch, the weather improved, so we headed across some farmland in search of Roller, which we eventually found, and photographed. We then spent the rest of the afternoon in a couple more hides from where we got more shots of White Headed Duck, plus Black Necked Grebe, Little Grebe and Greater Flamingo.
Red Knobbed Coot with chick
Time was marching on but I was keen to visit some local salt marshes where we ended the day by photographing Mediterranean Gull, Slender Billed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Collared Pratincole and Little Tern amongst others.
Day 5 – Albufera de Valencia
On the morning of Day 5, we left the village of Biar, having first taken some photos of its quaint narrow streets and imposing castle, and headed north east down to the coast near Valencia. We spent the day exploring the huge wetland site of Albufera de Valencia, concentrating on field photography and enjoying the excellent weather.
Marbled Teal
Our first stop gave us superb opportinities to photograph Marbled Teal in perfect light conditions, as well as a rare chance to get “record shots” of Elegant Tern which were amongst a colony of Sandwich Terns. We couldn’t possibly spend the day at Albufera without enjoying a paella, so that´s exactly what we did before heading to a coastal lagoon. Here, we were able to get superb shots of Audouin´s Gull, Little Tern and above all, Kentish Plover. We even managed to capture video footage of a pair of Kentish Plovers mating close to their nest site.
Kentish Plovers
By now the sun was dipping closer towards the horizon so we headed for the final point of the day – Tancat de la Pipa. This fabulous little reserve lies right on the shore of the Albufera lake, and gave us wonderful evening views of Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier, Greater Flamingo and Yellow Legged Gulls all heading to their roost sites. We did the same, and headed to the historical quarter of Valencia where Sudip was to spend the next few nights.
Psammodromus algirus
Day 6 – Valencian Coastal Wetlands
At this stage of the trip, we were looking for specific species and / or behaviours. We therefore spent the day at a local wetland site close to Valencia. Here, we spent a good deal of time photographing Collared Pratincole, both on the ground and in flight. Sudip was also keen to add to his collection of flight shots of Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Whiskered Tern. Passerines included Zitting Cisticola, Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Tree Sparrow and Serin. We also got shots of Purple Heron, Night Heron, Little Egret, Black Necked Grebe and Shelduck.
Collared Pratincole
Day 7 – Mountains of Valencia
We needed quite an early start as we had a 90 minute drive up into the Valencian mountains where we had organised a session in a photo hide. Our timing was perfect as it allowed for a coffee stop before we began the hide visit!
Rock Sparrow
The weather was excellent, with blue skies, light cloud and little wind. The hide gave us excellent photo opportunities of Rock Sparrow Thekla´s Lark and Blue Rock Thrush.
Blue Rock Thrush
We had a light lunch in the hide, after which we returned to the car and took a leisurely drive across the hills in search of raptors. We saw Common Buzzard, Goshawk and Short Toed Eagle, Sudip managing to get some excellent flight shots of the latter as one circled close by.
Audouin’s Gull
As we headed back to Valencia, it was becoming obvious that this evening was probably going to be the best chance to get some sunset shots, so we diverted back to Albufera and spent a little time waiting for the sun to go down. Instead of simply waiting, we walked to a spot where we were able to get more photos of Audouin’s Gull in beautiful evening light. We were also delighted to watch a small group of Dunlin and Little Stint that had come to feed and rest whilst on their migration north.
Little Stint
Eventually, the sun dipped low enough for us to prepare to get some photos of the sunset over water. It had been a very long day, but more than worth the effort for the wonderful sights that we’d seen and for the photographs that we’d taken.
Sunset over the Albufera Lake
Day 8 – Crag Dwelling Passerine Hide
As the beginning of the trip had been hindered by unusual poor weather, incredibly the last two days seemed to be heading in the same direction. Having changed plans a few times to make the most of our time, we opted to spend day-8 in a photography hide.
Common Kestrel
Iberian Green Woodpecker
Although the sky was heavy with cloud, the anticipated rain didn’t actually occur and so bird activity was relatively intense. This hide gave further opportunity to photograph Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Sparrow but also allowed us to add Bee Eater, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Black Wheatear, Kestrel, Spotless Starling and Sardinian Warbler. Although our expectations weren’t high, the day actually turned out to be productive, with many birds being added to the list of photogrpahed species.
Bee Eater
Day 9 – Mountain Passerines.
By now, the forecasted bad weather had hit hard, with storms having begun the previous night. Our original plan to photograph Bonelli’s Eagle had to be scrapped as with such intense rain, we couldn’t even reach the hide, never mind consider if the eagles would show up!
So, we began the day a little later than usual as the rain was expected to subside by lunch time. Clearly, field photography wasn’t going to be possible, so we headed pretty much for the only hide that was available. One passerine that we hadn’t managed to get was Rock Bunting, so our efforts to drive through the rain and then to get ourselves up the mountain were eventually rewarded when one made an appearance! A few other birds indeed came to feed in front of the hide, but we used the time to revise the list of target species which actually had developed extremely well despite a few days of poor luck with the weather.
Rock Bunting
On the last evening of the trip, Sudip very kindly invited my wife Lurdes and I to have dinner with him in the historical heart of Valencia. The timing of our evening out together coincided with the wettest night that Valencia has seen for over 70 years!! Despite this beautful city trying to convert itself into another version of Venice, we had a wonderful evening, a lovely meal and plenty of interesting conversation.
Day 10 – Farewell
On the final day, Sudip left Valencia and took the train to Barcelona from where he caught his flight back to Singapore. This had been a very special trip for me in many ways – one that has demanded a lot of planning, albeit with a list of target species in mind. The unusually bad weather that we’d suffered on a few of the days demanded some re-scheduling, but as I always believe, effort is rewarded with results. In terms of photography, Sudip had amassed over 8,000 photos of almost all the species that he’d originally wanted, with a few extremely special specific images along the way. I’m sure he’ll be busy for the coming weeks just beginning to process his collection.
On a personal and human level, the trip had been a privilege. Sudip and I had already established a rapport through the many email exchanges that had gone into designing and delivering the trip, so when we finally met, it felt as if we already knew each other. Of course, we’d gone on to spend many hours in the field, in hides and in the car together but had also enjoyed dinners together in the evening, thanks to Sudip’s generosity. Although the relationship had begun on a professional level, it was clear that a lasting friendship had been formed, based on mutual respect, shared values, and of course, and a sense of humour!
I´m sure that Sudip had enjoyed a memorable trip to Spain, and I hope that his amazing collection of photographs will serve as a reminder for many years to come.
The two hotels that Sudip stayed at during his time in the Valencia region were :
Hotel La Façana – Biar, Alicante
Written by Dave Warrington.