17th May 2023
Maria had contacted me the previous year in order to arrange a couple of days of guided birding as part of their holiday in the Valencia region. She’d managed to arrange a trip that involved a rail journey from the UK to Spain, stopping on the way to visit the Ebro Delta, before travelling onwards to Valencia. The trip was to celebrate her partner Jane´s birthday, so I was very keen to provide the best possible birding days for them.
Squacco Heron
After many email exchanges, we finally met in person, and travelled to our chosen wetland reserve, where after having a quick coffee, we began our walk. A Squacco Heron was the first bird of the day, soon to be followed by Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis and a pair of Marsh Harriers.
Whiskered Tern
The reed beds were full of the sounds of Zitting Cisticola, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and Great Reed Warbler, and from our first observation platform we had good views of Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Little Bittern and Purple Swamphen.
Purple Swamphen
A walk along the coast gave us excellent views of Collared Pratincole and Audouin’s Gull, and we were soon at our first hide from where we saw Little Ringed Plover with chicks, Little Tern, Common Tern, Redshank, and Avocet.
Little Ringed Plover chick
A stroll through the reed beds took us to another hide where we had lunch whilst enjoying the sight of yet more Whiskered Tern and a Moustached Warbler. Having eaten and rested for a while, we continued our walk, and although quite distant, we saw a Roller perched in a tree, soon to be followed by a Turtle Dove. A small lagoon gave views of a nesting pair of Black Winged Stilts.
Black Winged Stilt with eggs (photo taken from a hide at great distance to avoid disturbance)
We were soon at the end of the path, and at the end of our first day together. It had been a great pleasure to finally meet Maria and Jane, and I was already looking forward to our second day which would see us in the mountains.
Our species list for the day included…
Squacco Heron, House Martin, Grey Heron, Magpie, Cetti’s Warbler (h), Goldfinch, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Zitting Cisticola, Little Egret, Black Winged Stilt, Night Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Purple Heron, Purple Swamphen, Little Bittern, Moorhen, Great Egret, Collared Pratincole, Greenfinch, Audouin’s Gull , Great Reed Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Little Tern, Barn Swallow, Black Headed Gull, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Avocet, Whiskered Tern, Tree Sparrow, Common Pochard, Moustached Warbler, Serin, Turtle Dove, Swift, Reed Warbler, Roller, Nightingale (h), Cattle Egret, Collared Dove.
Written by Dave Warrington.
Valencia Birding.