Category: Holidays

Bird Watching Holidays in Spain – Bird Watching Holidays in Alicante

Bird Watching Holidays in Spain. We provide guided Bird Watching Tours in Valencia and Alicante. Our local Spanish knowledge ensures that our clients can make the most of their Bird Watching holiday in Spain.Bird Watching Holidays

2 Day Birding Break in Valencia

Last week we were delighted to provide a 2-day birding break in Valencia for a group of 3 clients with whom we´ve been in touch with for a while.  All living apart (France, England and Wales) they had arranged to meet up in Valencia and to include in their holiday a 2-day guided birding trip with us.  We´d been fortunate enough to meet one of the group at Birdfair in the UK in August, so were really looking forward to welcoming them to Valencia. To provide two very different trips, we´d decided to spend one day at the extensive wetland site of Albufera de Valencia and the second up on the high steppe.  Very different habitats indeed. On day one, I collected the group from their apartment in the city and we made the short journey to Albufera, discussing their wishes and priorities for the trip.  We drove into the Natural Park and made our first brief stop by some rice fields where we discussed the rice growing cycle whilst watching Cattle Egrets and Marsh Harriers.  A Lesser Black Backed Gull passed over us and a large flock of Spotless…

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Guided bird watching in Albufera de Valencia.

This week I provided a day trip for a brother and sister from the Netherlands.  They were in Valencia for a short break and had contacted us previously to arrange a day of guided bird watching in Albufera de Valencia. Our first albeit brief stop was in a reserve area where had views of Red Crested Pochard, Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Harrier and Booted Eagle.  We then moved to a lagoon that is always worth a visit as at this time of year it can provide great views of waders.  We saw Little Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Kentish Plover and Greenshank to name a few.  We also enjoyed watching Black Necked Grebe on the water. Our next stop was at a restricted reserve area where we relaxed and spent the a good while exploring the lagoons and reed beds.  This was a great visit and among the many sightings that we had there were Temminck´s Stint, Caspian Tern, Purple Swamphen, Night Heron and Audouin´s Gull. We´d enjoyed some fabulous views of some great species, but wanted to end the day with a drive across the rice fields.  This gave views of Glossy…

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Wetlands of Valencia in Autumn

Last week I provided a day of guided birding for a great couple from UK.  James and Claire are very keen birders, and wanted to combine a cultural visit to Valencia with some bird watching with us at the local wetland reserves.  The wetlands of Valencia in Autumn are fascinating as resident birds, winter visitors, summer visitors and passage migrants all “overlap” making for some very interesting species lists! After a short drive from the heart of the historical quarter of Valencia, we arrived at one of our favourite wetland sites.  Claire and James had expressed an interest in walking, so we modified the trip to suit, and had planned to complete a circuit of the entire reserve area, taking in beach, dunes, reed beds, lagoons and farmland.  Our walk began by a brackish lagoon that gave views of White Headed Duck, Little Grebe and Water Rails. We continued along the dune system and spent some time at an observation platform where we had views of Purple Swamphen, Great Egret, Greater Flamingo and Wood Sandpiper.  As we continued our walk along the coast, we enjoyed great views of Audouin´s Gull and…

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Birding in Albufera de Valencia.

Last week I was delighted to welcome back returning clients Bill and Maureen, this time with Bill´s brother and sister-in-law, John and Maggie.  It was great to see them again, and this time our detination was the Natural Park of Albufera de Valencia.  Their previous trip with us was to a different wetland site, so they were very interested to see what birding in Albufera de Valencia held in store… Having met close to Valencia we made the short journey into the park where we began our trip at one of the area´s restricted nature reserves.  We made several stops here, very quietly setting up the scopes to scan across the lagoons. Our first stop gave us views of Great Egret, Spoonbill and Lapwing.  Then suddenly a Booted Eagle passed overhead.  Male, female and juvenile Marsh Harriers were quartering the surrounding reed beds, giving excellent views. We then moved to a shallower lagoon that provides great habitat for an array of waders at this time of year.  We enjoyed great views of Wood Sandpiper, Snipe, Ruff, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis and Greenshank.  Migration was taking place right before us, with…

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2-Day Bird Photography Trip.

Last weekend I was delighted to provide a 2-day bird photography trip for a client from Argentina.  Despite his humble and friendly nature, he was one of his countries leading bird photographers and has supplied material to numerous books, publications and apps.  This was his first photography trip to Spain, so he wanted to capture some quality shots of birds from different habitats.  Most species were new for him as they obviously differ from those of South America, so even common species were of interest.   Day 1 – Albufera de Valencia. We arrived at Albufera de Valencia as the sun was beginning to rise, as to get the most from the morning light.  We began by a small lagoon, photographing waders including Dunlin, Sanderling, Little Stint, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover.   We also photographed Greater Flamingo and Black Winged Stilt. Pleased with the shots that we´d captured of the waders, we turned our attention to the Black Necked Grebes and White Headed Ducks that were also present on the lagoon.  With some patience we managed to get good views and some nice photos of both…

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Birding and a Cultural Break in Valencia

Last week I provided a day trip for a couple from England who were combining birding and a cultural break in Valencia before moving on to central Spain.  Although they had travelled extensively in Spain, this was their first trip to Valencia, and they were especially keen to see the birdlife of our local wetlands.

The historic quarter of the city of Valencia

Having collected them from there hotel in Valencia city centre, we made the short journey to one of my favourite local reserves.  The weather was perfect – not too hot, but with clear skies and a slight breeze.  We began our walk by the beach, watching the coastal scrub carefully.  The Valencian coastline is part of a major migration fly-way between Europe and Africa, so this time of the year is always fascinating.  We had good views of numerous Chiffchaffs, Common Reed Warblers and Wheatear.  There was a steady and constant stream of passing Barn Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins too.

Birding holidays Spain

Wheatear

One of the first lagoons that we watched gave good views of White Headed Duck, Greater Flamingo and Little Grebe.  Marsh Harriers were quartering the surrounding reed beds.

After a short walk along the coast we spent some time in a hide overlooking a small lagoon.  This is often a hotspot for passing migrants and over the years has provided many memorable birding moments.  We firstly took a look at the waders which included Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Greenshank, Snipe, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover.  Wildfowl included Shoveler, Teal and yet more White Headed Duck.

Valencia Birding

Snipe

A pair of Stonechats were showing very well, feeding on insects and returning to their perches in classic Stonechat fashion.  We then turned our attention to the beach in search of one of the region´s most popular gulls – Audouin´s Gull.  With just a little patience we were rewarded with great views.

Valencia Birding

Little Ringed Plover

In need of refreshment we enjoyed a light lunch at a small restaurant on the beach whilst watching Little Egrets, Common Sandpipers and Yellow Legged Gulls. Afterwards we took a short walk to another observation point from where we had great views of Purple Swamphen and more Greater Flamingoes. We were also delighted to see a Kingfisher.  In the winter months the small resident population is boosted by visiting birds from the north of Spain.

Valencia Birding

Greater Flamingo

It had been a super day – very relaxed but with great views of some fabulous birds, and all in great company too.

Valencia Birding

The species list for the day included….

Greater Flamingo, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, White Headed Duck, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeon, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mallard, Shoveler, Greenshank, Stonechat, Teal, Grey Heron, Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Purple Swamphen, Kingfisher, Audouin’s Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Common Tern, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, House Martin, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier.

 

Valencia Birding

 

Written by Dave Warrington.

Bird Watching Guide at Valencia Birding.