Albufera de Valencia - Page 9 of 10 - Valencia Birding

2 Day Birding Trip in the Wetlands of Valencia

Last week Dave and I had the pleasure of providing a 2-day trip for a couple of clients who have returned to Valencia each year to go birding with us. We´ve since become firm friends and have enjoyed some great trips together. This time they had planned an autumn trip and wanted to see the wetlands of this fabulous region. Day 1 – Albufera de Valencia Natural Park Having collected Jan and Ossie from central Valencia, we drove to Albufera to one of the park´s restricted reserve areas. Whilst driving through the harvested rice paddies, we had great views of Glossy Ibis, Great Egret and Southern Grey Shrike, indeed a good start to the day. Once in the reserve, we stopped to scan over a small lagoon and enjoyed views of Snipe, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Purple Swamphen. The next lagoon and its surroundings gave views of Bluethroat, Spoonbill, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting and Redshank. After lunch, we visited another reserve where we enjoyed watching wildfowl, including Red-Crested Pochard, Pintail, Gadwall, Shelduck and Shoveler. The species list for the day included : Mallard, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Teal, Great-crested Grebe,…

Guided Birdwatching Trip to Albufera de Valencia

Last Thursday I was delighted to provide a guided bird watching trip to Albufera de Valencia for two experienced birders from England. They wanted to discover the birdlife of what is one of the most important wetlands in Spain. After I collected them from their hotel, we drove to the first stop in one of the main reserves of the natural park, where we had lovely views of hundreds Flamingos, a beautiful Booted Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Gadwall and lots more waders and waterfowl. The next stop was in a restricted reserve and green filter area, where the habitat and water quality are being greatly improved, in turn enhancing the biodiversity of the area. More than 2000 Glossy Ibis where in one of the fields, sharing it with lots of Ruff, Avocets, Curlew Sandpiper, and many more waders that benefits from the food supplied from this ecosystem. During the afternoon we made two more stops in some special places, a sports field and a lake, where we had amazing views of Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Black-eared Wheatear, Kentish Plover and Red Knot. It had been a great day with a superb list…

The wetland reserves of Albufera de Valencia

This week, I was delighted to design and provide a trip for a couple of clients from UK. Kelvin and Kate had previously travelled to Spain on bird watching trips but had never visited Valencia, so were very keen to see what the area has to offer. As Kelvin is an employee of the RSPB, and is involved in work on reserves in the south of England, we designed the trip such that he could gain a detailed understanding of how some of our reserves operate. Having made the short journey from Valencia, we visited one of Albufera´s green-filter reserves. Once inside this protected area, together with one of the reserve´s biologists we gave a presentation on the history, objectives and functionality of the reserve. We focussed on the scientific aspects of the eco-systems and how they actually serve to improve the water quality of the area, providing excellent wetland habitat. We then went to one of the viewing stations, from which we had great views of an Osprey that had chosen to rest and feed on the reserve whilst on its migration route to Africa. We also enjoyed watching Spoonbill,…

Guided Birding Trip During Autumn Migration

Last week I had the pleasure to provide a guided birding trip to Albufera de Valencia for a couple of experienced bird watchers, Marco and Petra. They live in Italy and where keen to discover the bird life of our region, particularly during the autumn migration season. After I collected them from their hotel in Valencia, we drove to a natural reserve to access to a restricted area from where we enjoyed great views of a Grey Plover, Kingfisher, Flamingos and Sub-alpine Warbler. Next stop was in another special restricted area which has a system of “green filters” which work to improve the water quality of the reserve. Hundereds of waders and migrants were feeding in the fields. We had fantastic views of Temminck’s Stint, Caspian Tern, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and many more. We had a lovely lunch in a hide looking over one of the lagoons where we had great views of Whiskered Tern and Kingfisher. The last stop was in some rice paddies where the rice hadn´t successfully grown. This happens each year at a few spots, and the result is always an oasis for waders! Whilst…

Bird Watching Trip from Valencia City

Last week, I had the pleasure of providing a bird watching trip from Valencia City for two clients from Switzerland. They were both enthusiastic biologist, keen on discovering the bird life of Albufera Natural Park. Having collected them from their hotel in Valencia, we made a short journey to one of the most important wetland of Spain. Our day began in a reserve area with superb views of Collared Pratincole, Kentish PLover and huge flock of Flamingo. After a short walk in the forest we arrieved to a different observatory in front of a sea-bird colony, which holds five different species such as Elegant Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Mediterranean Gull and Slender-billed Gull. Also Avocet and Black-winged Stilt were with chicks. After a picnic in the forest we continued driving through reedbeds and out into open country where we were treated to views of Squacco Heron, Purple Heron and Purple Swamphen. This time of the year, rice fields are essential for food supplies and the best place to get great views of the bird life diversity. We´d made an early start that morning so we were back at the van…

Bird watching trip to Albufera de Valencia

Last week I had the pleasure to guide two clients from England on a bird watching trip to Albufera de Valencia. The trip had been arranged as a surprise present. I collected them from their apartment where they were staying in Valencia city and after a short jorney we where in a reserve and protected area in the forest close to Albufera lake. Our first stop gave views of Collared Pratincole, Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Red-crested Pochard and many more species. On the way to our next spot we were delighted to get a view of a male Golden Oriole. After a short walk in the forest we arrived at another hide where we watched a colony of Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Slender-billed Gull. Flamingos were passing overhead and we also enjoyed lovely views of Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet. After a picnic lunch in the forest, we began driving through the rice paddies. The rice fields have been seeded and flooded recently and many different species feed in the water. We had amazing views of Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis and Purple Swamphen. Also we were delighted…