birding costa blanca - Valencia Birding - Guided Bird Watching in Spain

Covid-19 & Valencia Birding

I´m posting this update to keep everyone informed of the situation here in Spain and to add a few personal comments. The Situation In Spain Spain is undergoing a gradual and controlled return to “normality” with a staged approach that´s designed to safeguard as much as possible against further outbreaks. The method is a phased approach, with restrictions and practices being amended as each phase passes. Regional and national governement are in regular contact with every sector of the economy in order to establish specific safety measures and operating practices. As of today (18th May 2020) from a legal perspective, nature tourism in Spain can resume, albeit of course with such safety measures in place. At present, this relates to group size, social distancing, PPE and the disinfecting and cleaning of vehicles and optical equipment, all very wise and well thought-through measures. Should anyone wish to know more in detail about the specific measures that we are to adopt and how these will work in real terms, I´d be more than happy to explain. A such, please do not hesitate to contact me for more details if required. Future Bookings…

Birding during migration time in Valencia.

We feel very fortunate this year to have already welcomed back many returning clients, and today was such a day. Rab and Jan had spent a couple of days with us last year and had returned this year with a friend to discover the bird life of one of our wetland reserves. They drove up from the Costa Blanca and met us close to Valencia, from where we made the short drive to the reserve. After a morning coffee by the beach, looking out onto a very calm Mediterranean, we began our walk through the reserve. This was to be a day when we could see migration in progress! It´s always a very special time of year as we can see late departing winter visitors, arrivals of summer visitors and passage migrants that often stop at our wetlands to feed before moving further north. The day began with sightings of Audouin´s Gull, Blackcap, Zitting Cisticola, Yellow Wagtail (both the iberiae and cinereocapilla sub-species) and Sardinian Warbler. We then enjoyed watching wildfowl including Tufted Duck, Red Crested Pochard, Shoveler and Gadwall. As we were quietly looking over an area of reed…

Birding the Steppe

Once more, we were recently delighted to welcome back a returning client. Gavin from UK had previously booked a trip to the wetlands of Valencia, and this time had returned for a birding trip to the steppe and lagoons of Eastern Spain. Birding the steppe can reveal some amazing species, and today was to prove no exception. Our journey from Valencia took us through a few heavy rain showers but once we´d arrived on site, it was dry although quite windy. Our first stop by an area of floodwater beside an old farming village gave views of Tree Sparrow. Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail and Lapwing. Our next point was an area of pasture and scrub beside a farm. Here we enjoyed views of Corn Bunting, Iberian Grey Shrike, Skylark, Crested Lark and yet more Yellow Wagtail, one of which was thought to be of the UK sub-species. The wind was steadily increasing so for our next stop, beside a lake, we used the car as a hide and opted for comfort! This worked quite well, and we had views of Marsh Harrier, Greater Flamingo, Red Crested Pochard and Shelduck. Our…