Valencia Birding

09/08/2024

This year's Osprey reintroduction project continues at Pego Oliva Marsh. All the birds have now been released and are beginning to explore their surroundings. Following and monitoring them presents its challenges, but that's a key part of the work at this stage. Last week we were delighted to welcome Ian Perks from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. Ian personally collected many of these chicks from their original nests in Scotland, often together with Tim Mackrill, Fraser and Justin. Other chicks were collected by Davie Anderson. The last time Ian saw these birds they were in transport crates leaving the Scottish Highlands, so for him to see them flying over the marsh was very special.

With Itzy Colodro Sainz, Marc Estornell, David Izquierdo Acebes, Guillermo, Ian Perks, Emmanuelle Csabaï, Fany Jrd

Photo of Osprey kindly provided by Juan Mariano Quiles Garcia

Fundación Migres · CIMA Centro Internacional de Migración de Aves Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation Generalitat Valenciana Red Natura 2000 Ajuntament de Pego Ajuntament d'Oliva Ajuntament de Dénia Ajuntament de Xàbia

22/07/2024

It's been a very intense month so far! The first couple of weeks were spent collecting Osprey chicks in Scotland with Itzy Colodro Sainz and the amazingly professional team from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Fundación Migres · CIMA Centro Internacional de Migración de Aves.

We succeeded, together with Animal Couriers, in translocating 12 chicks from Scotland to the Pego Oliva Natural Park in Spain, where they will eventually be released.

After a couple of days back in Spain, I then made a brief return to the UK where I attended the Global Birdfair, working on the Birding CV stand. It was great to catch up with so many friends and clients and to spend the weekend promoting the Valencian Community as a top European birding destination.

Then back to Spain to continue supporting the Osprey project! More on progress with that soon.

Fundación Migres · CIMA Centro Internacional de Migración de Aves Iberdrola Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation Generalitat Valenciana Red Natura 2000 Ajuntament de Pego Ajuntament d'Oliva Ajuntament de Dénia Ajuntament de Xàbia Birding CV

12/07/2024

update!

The lovely folks at the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation report the Arkaig chicks are feeding well & seem settled in their lovely dry aviary. It's still too early to say they are out of the woods entirely but their final vet screening happens next week, so we will get more concrete info after that.

Louis & Dorcha are still frequenting the nest. You can watch their antics live ▶️ https://buff.ly/3vjBTVR

Thanks to everyone for their support.

The Woodland Trust Arkaig Community Forest

11/06/2024

Another Valencia Birding trip with Pierre from France - this time on the steppe, where we saw plenty of Great Bustards, Rock Sparrow, Calandra Lark, Short Toed Lark, Iberian Grey Shrike, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Lesser Kestrel, Roller, Bee Eater and more.

11/06/2024

On the same day as our visit to the Mediterranean desert, we spent the afternoon at a local wetland. Such a contrast in habitat! There we saw White Headed Duck, Marbled Teal, Red Knobbed Coot, Little Grebe and more. Alicante really does have an amazing diversity of landscape, habitat and eco-systems!
Valencia Birding

11/06/2024

A few photos of one of Alicante's unique landscapes - Mediterranean Desert. Here, together with Pierre from France, we saw Black Eared Wheatear, Red Rumped Swallow, Melodious Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Little Owl, Woodchat Shrike and more.
Valencia Birding

06/06/2024

A Slender Billed Gull together with an Audouin's Gull, seen on a recent Valencia Birding trip.

06/06/2024

Sadly, as Kentish Plover chicks are so vulnerable and tiny, not all survive, but the ones that have are growing quickly and are now feeding for themselves! Valencia Birding

03/06/2024

A summary of the recent Valencia Birding trips to Albufera and how the landscape and bird life changes and evolves throughout the spring...
Click on the image below to open.

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

25/05/2024

Another of my wobbly videos, but when I saw this beautiful Kentish Plover gathering its tiny, vulnerable chicks, I just had to capture the moment to share with everyone! Valencia Birding

25/05/2024

The past couple of months have been exceptionally busy, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported Valencia Birding by booking trips with us. Here´s a brief blog and a few photos from 3 recent trips to Alicante.

Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

12/05/2024

Cloudy days and grey skies are out of the ordinary here in Alicante, but this Roller added a little colour to a recent Valencia Birding trip!

08/05/2024

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to watch this courtship display of Great Crested Grebes whilst on a Valencia Birding trip to the wetlands of Alicante.

08/05/2024

Once more, we have a pair of Elegant Terns attempting to breed here in Valencia, as always within a colony of Sandwich Terns. Fingers crossed for them!

08/05/2024

Earlier this week I was privileged to spend a morning out in the field with the local birding legend Malcolm Palmar. He´s one of the pioneers of birding on the Costa Blanca, has written books on the subject and has guided throughout Spain, so his knowledge is immense...and he's a Yorkshireman! We explored a unique area of Mediterranean desert that is home to some fabulous birds, including Trumpeter Finch. We had good views of birds including Black-eared Wheatear, Melodious Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Grey Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Rock Sparrow and Griffon Vulture. It was great to see him again and I look forward to our next outing.

04/05/2024

A report on a superb day at the Valencian coastal wetlands. A Valencia Birding trip for Roy from the UK. Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

02/05/2024

Here's a brief report on a recent Valencia Birding trip to Albufera with two clients from the UK. Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

28/04/2024

A brief report on a recent 3-day birding trip from Valencia for clients from the USA. Click on the image below to open...
Valencia Birding

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

21/04/2024

It's a little shaky but here's a short clip of a male Great Bustard strutting across the fields, catching the attention of females. This moment, and many others like it was enjoyed during recent Valencia Birding trips to the steppe.

21/04/2024

A summary of 3 days recently spent on the steppe, each one very different, but special in its own way. Click on the image below to open...
Valencia Birding

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

14/04/2024

I'm never one to seek publicity nor attention, but I was recently contacted by Fernando Miñana, a well known local journalist who asked for an interview. We met, together with the photographer K**e Taberner, in Albufera de Valencia and chatted for around an hour. Here's the result....

Nunca soy de buscar publicidad ni atención, pero recientemente me contactó Fernando Miñana, un conocido periodista que me pidió una entrevista. Quedamos juntos con el fotógrafo K**e Taberner en la Albufera de Valencia y charlamos durante aproximadamente una hora. Aquí está el resultado....

"Dave Warrington es una persona tranquila que hace las cosas con calma. Sin prisas. Llega al Estany del Pujol, en la Devesa de la Albufera, con dos sillas plegables que abre con parsimonia, luego apoya su mochila en un tronco, saca un pequeño tetrabrik con zumo de piña y se lo va bebiendo a peque....

29/03/2024

A brief report on a recent 2-day Valencia Birding trip with loyal clients and friends from the UK. Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

10/03/2024

A brief report on a recent 2-day Valencia Birding trip to the wetlands of Valencia and Alicante. Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...

09/03/2024

Yesterday, we brought the week to a close with a great day at Albufera de Valencia with a lovely couple from Cheshire. We enjoyed a number of spectacles throughout the day. Perhaps the highlights were the sight of returning House Martins and Swallows feeding together with Crag Martins, huge numbers of Glossy Ibis and Flamingos and a Marsh Harrier with prey. A very special day indeed. Report to follow.
Valencia Birding

09/03/2024

Earlier this week I spent two days with a great couple from the south coast of England. As well as spending a few days in Valencia, they spent two nights in the historical town of Xativa, from where we visited the huge wetland site of Albufera and a coastal marsh near Alicante. Here are a few shots from these two very happy days...
Valencia Birding

09/03/2024

Here's a brief "habitat" video, taken this week at Albufera de Valencia. It shows a coastal lagoon with plenty of bird life. The gulls on the water are Black-headed and Audouin´s. Little Stint are feeding on the shore, together with Greenshank and Little Egret. Crag Martins, House Martins and Barn Swallows are taking insects on the wing over the water. I just wanted to share this with everyone, together with the message that Spring is on its way!
Valencia Birding

03/03/2024

Last week I had the pleasure of spending a day in the mountains and highland forests of Alicante with Mick from the UK, photographing Golden Eagle, and woodland passerines including Crested Tit, Crossbill, Jay, Mistle Thrush and more. We also saw Mouflon, a heavily horned wild mountain sheep. A special day indeed, with some memorable moments.
Valencia Birding

16/02/2024

A brief report on a recent Valencia Birding trip to the wetlands of Alicante with a couple of clients from Scotland. Click on the image below to open...

We provide guided Bird Watching Tours throughout Eastern Spain, encompassing Valencia, Alicante and Castilla de la Mancha. This area of Spain is blessed with an incredibly diverse range of habitats and excellent birding sites, many of which are virtually unknown! We cater for all levels of bird enth...