bird watching in Valencia - Page 19 of 30 - Valencia Birding

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…

2-Day Birding Break in Valencia.

I recently provided a 2-day birding break in Valencia for a couple from the south coast of England who wanted to combine a cultural visit to this beautiful city with two days of bird watching. We decided to spend a day at Albufera de Valencia, as September is always an interesting month for straggling summer visitors, early winter arrivals and passage migrants. We also planned a day on the high steppe as Great Bustard was one of Geoff and Sharon´s key target species. Both experienced and well travelled birders, they were keen to see what the region held. On day one we made the short journey from the city to Albufera where we made our first stop at a protected reserve area. The first couple of hides gave good views of Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and a very obliging Zitting Cisticola which perched right in front of the viewing hatch. Yanina joined us briefly with a couple of clients from UK who we´d been lucky enough to meet at Rutland Bird Fair the previous month. An Osprey passed overhead, and a Sardinian Warbler was seen flitting around in the undergrowth. …

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…

ValenciaBirding.es

We´re delighted to announce the launch of our Spanish birding website www.ValenciaBirding.es! ¡Ya tenemos nuestra página web de birding en Castellano! Si quieres consultarla, entra en www.ValenciaBirding.es Best wishes & saludos, Dave & Yanina.

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…

Guided birding trip to Albufera de Valencia

Last week I had the pleasure to organise a birding trip to Albufera de Valencia for a family from London, UK. They are experienced birders who wanted to discover the birdlife in the Valencia region. For me was a special trip, as it´s always encouraging to be guiding teenagers. After I collected them from their hotel in Valencia city we drove straight to the main reserve area inside the Natural Park. First we visited the information centre, a good way to start understanding why it´s so important to protect this area and why birds are present at the different times of the year. Then after a short walk we arrived at the seabirds’ colony… from the observatory we enjoyed fantastic views of Common and Sandwich Terns, at the same time we were amazed for the sighting of four Elegants Tern established in the colony. Avocets and Black-winged Stilts were also with chicks, Flamingos and waterfowl sharing the same brackish lagoon, a good start to the day. Second stop was in a private reserve area in the middle of the rice paddies, where we hoped to see there Purple Heron and…