In early September, I had the pleasure of finally meeting Bridget and Chris from the UK. We had previously communicated about a possible trip to the region, and had discussed options at length. So it was great to finally put faces to names and to enjoy two days together. Autumn migration was already underway, so we were keen to see what was moving through.
Wood Sandpiper
Early September is still quite hot over here, so we adapted the trips accordingly, and started our first day in the wetland site of Albufera de Valencia. After a short walk to a hide overlooking a shallow lagoon, we sat and enjoyed great views of Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Avocet.
Little Ringed Plover
Black Winged Stilts were feeding together with their young, and Kentish Plover were scurrying around on the shore. The soundtrack to the morning was constant calls of Zitting Cisticola with explosive interuptions of Cetti’s Warbler! The nearby bushes held Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, and Long Tailed Tit.
Oystercatchers with Greater Flamingos
We moved on to a coastal lagoon over which flocks of House Martins and Barn Swallows were feeding prior to continuing their voyage south. The sandy shore held more Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Little Stint and a small group of Oystercatcher. An Audouin’s Gull was resting with two of its young.
Audouin’s Gull
By now it was beginning to get quite warm, so we headed for the shade to enjoy lunch before driving across the rice fields, some of which were already being harvested. As always, wherever there are tractors, there are Cattle Egrets! Closer attention to the huge gatherings of Egrets and Glossy Ibis revealed Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Squacco Heron. We also spotted a Turtle Dove and a couple of juvenile Night Herons that passed overhead.
Squacco Heron
As we ended the day in the south of the park, we stopped to watch both Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns feeding. It had been a great day, and as we said goodbye, we were already looking forward to the next day…
On our second day, we met at the railway station in the town of Gandia and made the short drive to Pego Oliva Marsh. This is the home to the Osprey reintroduction project that I’m heavily involved with, and Bridget and Chris were really interested to hear about the workings of such. We chatted in the shade of some riverside trees whilst watching an Osprey that was obligingly perched relatively close to us!
Osprey (from Valencia Birding image library)
After lunch, we drove across the marsh, accompanied by Kingfishers that were darting along the canals, and then drove up onto a mountain crest from which we enjoyed stunning views of the surrounding peaks and coastline. Turning our eyes to the sky gave us views of Alpine Swifts, passing through on their migration south.
I left Bridget and Chris at the station from where they returned to Valencia. I’d really enjoyed these two days with such lovely people and I hope to welcome them back to the region soon.
Written by Dave Warrington.
Valencia Birding.