birding holidays Spain - Valencia Birding - Guided Bird Watching in Spain

Two days of wetland birding in Valencia and Alicante

6th & 7th March 2024 I recently provided a 2-day birding trip for a couple from Lewes in the UK. They had spent a few days in the city of Valencia, before moving to the historical town of Xativa, from where we arranged our birding. They had previously been on birding trips in Spain, but never in this region, so we began with a day at Albufera. Rice fields of Albufera The rice fields were in the process of being drained, prior to being ploughed and levelled in readiness for sowing of seed, so it was important that we knew which areas still held some water. We visited a couple of spots in the northern area of the park where highlights included good views of Bluethroat. We headed to another area of shallow water where we enjoyed views of an array of shorebirds including Snipe, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Little Stint, which were together with good numbers of White Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. Little Ringed Plover After lunch, we visited a salt lagoon where we watched more wading birds, this time Greenshank, Redshank and Green Sandpiper. Gulls of…

Birding at the Wetlands of Alicante

I recently spent a very special day with two great clients from Scotland. Brian and Maria were staying close to Alicante on a short break, and wanted to include a day’s birding. The day was especially important as it was Brian’s birthday and he’d asked if it would be possible to see three specific species. He’s a very experienced and well travelled birder, and was eager to see White Headed Duck, Red Knobbed Coot and Greater Spotted Eagle. One of Alicante’s many coastal wetland sites. We spent the day at one of Alicante’s many wetland sites, which always provide excellent birding, and began with a walk around one of the reserves. The sightings began however before we even got out of the car, with an Iberian Green Woodpecker that flew in front of us into a stand of trees. Iberian Grey Shrike. As we strolled between reed beds and lagoons, the surrounding scrub held Black Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff and Stonechat. Crag Martins were feeding on the wing, and a couple of Barn Swallows flew by, my first of the year. A nearby bare tree provided a perch for an…

Two more January days in the wetlands of Valencia

I’ve spent the past two days out in the field with clients, both at the wetland site of Albufera de Valencia. I was honoured to spend these days with two lovely couples, from Sweden and the UK respectively. Flooded rice fields and big, blue skies provide typical Albufera winter scenes Greater Flamingos At this time of year, the majority of the rice fields are flooded, and many of them contain huge gatherings of Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets, Lapwings and mixed flocks of gulls, namely Lesser Black Backed, Black Headed and Yellow Legged. Perhaps the most striking of these spectacles however, are the Flamingos which gather in their thousands! Marsh Harrier We also enjoyed great views of some of the area’s wintering species, including Water Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Bluethroat, Crag Martin and Marsh Harrier. The latter is present in small numbers throughout the breeding season too, but the population rockets in winter, when central and northern European birds move south to spend the cooler months here. Slender Billed Gull A stroll along the beach gave us views of Crested Lark, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler and Black Redstart in the scrub…

A Day in the Mountains

19th May 2023 My second day with Maria and Jane was spent in the mountains of Valencia. We made the comfortable journey into the highland interior, stopping for a coffee and to pick up sandwiches before we enjoyed a walk along a wooded riverside path. Searching for Golden Oriole! A raptor soon flew into view before circling above us, and turned out to be a dark-form Booted Eagle. A Black Wheatear made a brief appearance before disappearing into a nest crevice on a crag above the woods. We then heard the wonderful song of Golden Oriole, my first of the year. These stunning birds, despite their bright colours, have an amazing ability of disappearing once they fly into the treetops! However, we were determined to find them, and eventually succeeded. Our walk continued, the woods full of the song of Nightingale and Wren, both of which we saw. A Spotted Flycatcher was catching insects in flight before returning to its perch, and Blackcaps were flitting through the undergrowth. Spotted Flycatcher We returned to the car and drove up into the mountains from where we enjoyed some fabulous views of Griffon…

A Spring Day at the Valencian Wetlands

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…

3 Days Birding from Rural Alicante

I recently had the pleasure of welcoming back to Alicante Caroline and Jonathan from my home city of Sheffield. They have been on many trips with me over the years so it was very special to see them again. Day 1 – Alicante Wetlands We chose rural Alicante as a base, and on our first day we spent some time exploring the vast wetlands of the region. The day began with a flurry of species including Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Spotted Redshank and a rarity – Lesser Yellowlegs! Purple Swamphen As we walked through the reserve, we had excellent views of Red Knobbed Coot, Whiskered Tern and a flock of Gull Billed Tern. A male Hen Harrier passed over and a pair of Little Bittern moved through the reeds. Purple Swamphens were feeding close by and Great Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers were singing all around us. Cetti’s Warbler From the hides we saw Marbled Teal, Collared Pratincole, Avocet and a Black Tailed Godwit in its breeding plumage (we normally only see them here in winter in their much duller winter plumage). Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet & Collared Pratincole After lunch…