Trip Reports

Yanina and I have recently provided a couple of days of guided birding for clients from Paris.  They had planned a winter break in this beautiful city and had previously contacted us to arrange a 2 day birding break in Valencia as part of their trip. We´d discussed the best options for this time of year, and had agreed upon a day in Albufera and the coastal wetlands, followed by a day exploring the steppe and lagoons of Castilla de la Mancha.  They were well travelled and experienced birders and were eager to see what this area offers. The truth…

  Here´s a brief clip of a White Stork in Albufera de Valencia. The spring and autumn migration periods are fascinating here as the site is located right on a major fly-way. Each year, some fascinating species drop in to rest and feed on their journeys to and from Africa…           Continue reading

One vital aspect of our work as guides is to know intimately our area; what´s where and when.  We´re operating constantly around the many sites that surround Valencia so we´re always “in touch”.  However, we´ll soon be welcoming a small group who have booked a multi-day trip that will take in sites close to both Valencia and Alicante. Although the Alicante region is very familiar to us (we have a small operating base there), it´s been a few weeks since we were guiding there.  So, in readiness for our next trip, last week Yanina and I spent a couple of days…

In our work as birding guides, we´re very fortunate to meet some wonderful and interesting people.  This trip was no exception.  Bob and Mona are from Iowa, USA and had planned a day with us as part of their trip to Spain.  Normally, when we go birding with clients from USA there´s almost always new species involved for them.  However, that was going to prove a little more challenging today, as Bob has over 70 years of birding experience and has travelled throughout the World watching birds! Having collected them from their hotel close to the City of Arts &…

Last week, Yanina and I provided a day of guided bird watching in Valencia for a family from Suffolk, UK.  It was one of those special days with great weather, some fabulous birds and wonderful company.  After we collected John and his family from the seaside apartment in Valencia, we decided to head for Albufera.  We were originally thinking of visiting another coastal wetland, but our recent trips to Albufera had given some great sightings, so we opted to return. Our first stop was in a restricted reserve area, where we sat in a hide and enjoyed great views of…

Last week, Dave and I enjoyed a fantastic day with a couple of returning clients from UK.  They had a trip with us in the Spring, when we enjoyed a day in the mountains of Valencia.  This time, they were keen to have a day of guided birding on the steppe of Spain. It was a pleasure to see Jan & Ossie again, and to catch up on our respective conservation projects, particularly with owls.  After a chat over morning coffee, we made the relatively short journey into the rolling plains of Castilla de la Mancha. One of our main…