14th February 2023
Earlier this week I was able to fit in a morning´s birding at Albufera de Valencia for Ted who was visiting his family in Valencia. As we drove from the city centre past the port, a Booted Eagle glided over the car, surely a good omen for the day ahead!
Our first stop was at a nature reserve with a couple of hides that looked over lagoons and reed beds. Chiffchaffs were flitting around in the scrub in huge numbers, as is usual here in winter. Black Redstarts seemed to be everywhere we chose to look! A pair of Stonechats were feeding on insects in flight, and a Cetti’s Warbler made a brief appearance too.
Black Redstart
The first lagoons held Shoveler, Shelduck, Teal, Avocet, Black Winged Stilt and good numbers of Black Tailed Godwits. A Marsh Harrier caused a panic amongst them as she passed low over the islands where they were resting.
Black Tailed Godwits in flight
We then headed out across the lanes between the now-flooded rice fields. Large groups of Glossy Ibis were feeding together with Black Headed Gulls, with a few Lesser Black Backed Gulls amongst them. A Bluethroat briefly came into view and mixed flocks of Chaffinch and Goldfinch were moving around in the vegetation by the canals.
Glossy Ibis
As we drove on, we saw two huge flocks of Greater Flamingo – one in flight and the other resting in a rice field. When these spectacular birds are flying, the adults reveal the black wing panels which contrast beautifully with their pink plumage.
The final stop at a coastal lagoon brought the morning to a close with a “lifer” for Ted, the very elegant Audouin’s Gull.
Audouin’s Gull
It had been a pleasure to meet Ted, to enjoy his company and to share some wonderful birding moments.I look forward to welcoming him back soon.
The species list for the day included….
Booted Eagle, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Blackbird, Great Tit, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Avocet, Black Tailed Godwit, Greater Flamingo, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Cetti’s Warbler, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Stonechat, Bluethroat, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Black Redstart, Audouin’s Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe.
Written by Dave Warrington.