Birding trip to Albufera de Valencia for returning clients

Last week I was delighted to organise a birding trip to Albufera de Valencia Natural Park for returning clients Worth and Janet.  Both keen birders, they wanted to see this well-known wetland and its birdlife. Throughout the day, we visited several restricteded reserve areas, where we enjoyed amazing views of a Booted Eagle, huge numbers of waders, plus Flamingos, Glossy Ibis, Whiskered Terns and Kingfisher. After a short picnic lunch, we drove to the next stop by a field which usually provides a surprise sighting.  Today we had views of Hoopoe, Crested Lark and Serin. In the last stop we were delighted by a Grey Plover, Red Knot, Kentish Plover and a Subalpine Warbler. It had been a fantastic day with some very special birds, and great company. Hopefully we can welcome Worth and Janet back again soon! Species list: Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Gadwall, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Great Cormorant, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Collared Pratincole, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Ringed Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Kentish Plover,…

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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…

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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,…

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2-day birding trip from Valencia

During this summer, we had the pleasure of providing a 2-day birding trip for a couple of clients from Germany.  Kerstin had arranged the trip for her and her mother, and together we´d worked to design something that would maximise species diversity. Day one was spent at Albufera de Valencia, an internationally important wetland right next to the city of Valencia.  As well as visiting the rice fields of this vast Natural Park, we spent most of the day inside a couple of specially protected restricted reserves. Mid summer is not usually the best time for birding here in Valencia but today proved otherwise.  There were still plenty of summer visitors, including the beautifully graceful Collared Pratincole, but many winter visitors and passage migrants were also to be seen, White Stork being among them. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the long list of waders that we enjoyed, particularly Temminck´s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Kentish Plover and Green Sandpiper. Species list Albufera: Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Mallard, Shoveller, Teal, Shelduck, Sandwich Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, White Stork, Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Night Heron,…

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Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence!

After a fabulous summer, we´d like to begin the “new season” with some great news.  Thanks to the support of our clients, Valencia Birding has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.  Sincere thanks to all those who made this happen.  We genuinely appreciate your support and time taken to post such kind reviews. Dave & Yanina.

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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…

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