Bird watching Albufera de Valencia - Page 9 of 24 - Valencia Birding

Birding in Valencia with returning clients.

Last week I was especially pleased to provide a day of birding in Valencia for returning clients Valerie and Roger, from UK. Last year we enjoyed a day trip to the mountains in the Spring, and this time they were keen to see the wetland site of Albufera de Valencia during the autumn migration period. Both relative newcomers to birding, their knowledge was growing very fast and they´d obvioulsy spent a lot of time birding back home in previous months. It was fantastic to see this knowledge growth and to enjoy their enthusiasm for this fabulous hobby. Our first visit to a restricted reserve area provided good views of Avocet, Black Winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Black Tailed Godwits and Grey Plover. We also enjoyed fabulous views of a female Marsh Harrier perched in the top of a nearby tree. A special moment for Valerie in particular was the sight of a flock of Greater Flamingoes in flight, always a spectacle to remember. Our next stop was at a small lagoon where we focussed on the smaller waders including Ringed, Little Ringed and Kentish Plover as well as Little Stint. We…

Guided birding trip to Albufera de Valencia

I was recently delighted to provide a bird watching trip for a couple from England. They are good friends of a friend and regular client of Valencia Birding, so I was keen to meet them. Experienced birders, they were interested in a guided birding trip to Albufera de Valencia. The weather forecast was not too promising but we managed to escape the rain and enjoyed the birdlife of this fabulous wetland. After I collected them from their hotel in Valencia City, we drove straight to the Northern area of the park where there were some ploughed rice paddies, ideal for Flamingo, Whiskered Tern, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and many more waders. Next stop was to the main reserve area of the Natural Park, first we visited the information centre, a good way to start understanding why this area is so important for migrants. Then after a short walk we arrived at the observatory where we enjoyed great views of Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Stint and waterfowl. On our way to the picnic lunch area we stopped in a bar of El Palmar to buy a sandwich to…

2 Day Birding Trip from Valencia.

Last week, Yanina and I were delighted to provide a 2 day birding trip from Valencia for a great couple of experienced birders from Sheffield. Jonathan and Caroline wanted to combine a few days exploring the cultural and historical sites of the city of Valencia with two days of bird watching – an increasingly popular option for visitors. After some discussion about the best sites for the time of year, we opted for the wetland site of Albufera de Valencia and a day in the inland mountains of Alicante. Yanina was the guide for the first day and after collecting Jonathan and Carolina from the city, they made the short journey to Albufera. The northern rice paddies gave views of Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis and Whiskered Tern. They then moved to a restricted reserve area where they enjoyed views of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo and Kentish Plover. Whilst moving to a suitable spot to enjoy a picnic lunch, they were treated to views of Booted Eagle, a raptor that moves down from its mountainous breeding grounds to the wetlands in the autumn and winter. A tour…

Birding at Albufera de Valencia during migration time.

Earlier this month, I was delighted to provide a day of guided birding in Valencia for a family group who have been such regular clients that they´ve become firm friends. Such days are always special, so I´d been looking forward to seeing John, Amanda and Spencer since they booked the trip earlier in the year. Birding at Albufera de Valencia during migration time is always fascinating as there´s usually a surprise sighting, and the species diversity is fabulous. We arrived at our first stopping point within a protected reserve area and spent a short time in a hide watching Glossy Ibis, Black Tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier and some recently arrived Teals. The next hide gave views of Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin and a juvenile Shelduck. As we left the reserve, we had views of Long Tailed Tits and Zitting Cisticola. Before moving to the next spot, we stopped briefly for a morning coffee and to buy a few things for the picnic lunch. Fully stocked and refreshed, we then stopped by a coastal lagoon where we sat in the shade and scanned the surroundings. We were delighted to see…

Bespoke guided bird watching trip in Valencia

A few months ago we were contacted by two experienced birders from England who were interested in birding in Valencia, not far from the city where they were going to spend their holidays. After we designed a suitable trip and they made the reservation, they discovered that we were going to Rutland Bird Fair. So Brian and some friends stopped by to say hi at the stand where were promoting Valencia Region. Finally, last week arrived the day of the bird watching trip to Albufera Natural Park, thankfully it was a nice sunny day after a week of rain and storms! I collected them from their hotel in Valencia city and we drove straight to the first stop in a protected area beside the sea. Despite the harsh sunlight we had great views of Black Tern, Little Tern, Audouin’s Gull, Kentish Plover and Black-necked Grebe. Brian particularly liked the views of Black Terns, which were already in winter plumage. Next stop was the main reserve area inside the Natural Park, where we joined Dave and two clients also from England. As they arrived first we had part of the work…

Birding & Reserve Management at Albufera de Valencia.

We were recently contacted by a client who wanted to arrange a day trip for her family. Two people were keen bird watchers whilst the other two were interested in nature in general, but not specifically birds. So, our task was to design a day that would suit all. Our day began with a stop at one of the park´s visitor centres, where we enjoyed views of Shelduck with young, Avocet and Mediterranean Gull. A short stroll through a wooded area gave sightings of Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler and Long Tailed Tit. Our next stop was at one of the park´s green filter reserves where we were to enjoy a short walk followed by a presentation of the history, functionality and habitats of the site. Our walk beside the lagoons gave us views of Greater Flamingo, Cetti´s Warbler, Glossy Ibis and a Turtle Dove. We heard a Savi´s Warbler calling from a nearby reed bed and also had great views of Purple Heron, Night Heron, Black Winged Stilt and Little Bittern. Once at the visitor centre, with the help of the staff there we learned of the green filter technology and how…