Valencia

Fantastic work by the Valencia regional government and local groups has created a network of Natural Parks that host some of the most threatened species in the world. We shall be visiting these coastal wetland Reserves, along with stunning Karst limestone valleys and extensive agricultural lands to show you the diversity of this corner of Iberia.

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Trip Report

Tour DetailsItineraryKey SpeciesFeedbackAccommodationGallery

Leaders	Julian Sykes and Pau Lucio
Flights	EasyJet, scheduled, Speedy Boarding and extra legroom included. Outbound: Morning, Gatwick-Valencia Inbound: Afternoon, Valencia-Gatwick

Day 1	Arrive at Valencia Airport, transfer to our hotel in Villalonga, afternoon visit to local Reserve - 7 nights Hotel Casa Babel.
Days 2-7	Varied daily itineraries visiting wetland sites along the Mediterranean coast both north and south; inland to Castilla La Mancha and an expansive steppe area; exploration of dramatic karst limestone valleys full of cherry and almond groves; plus seawatching.
Day 8	After breakfast we travel back to Valencia airport for our flight home.

Weather	Probably a temperature range of around 10°- 25°C and there is always a possibility of rain showers plus mornings and evenings will be cooler.
Walking	There will be some short easy walks on level paths, slightly rockier and steeper in the mountains.
Meals	All included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 8.
Insects	Could be a problem in the wetter marsh areas and occasionally in the mountains, so bring repellent.
Accom	Twin and single rooms all ensuite. Casa Babel is a fabulous hotel in the small town of Villalonga, nestled under the La Safor mountains.
Group	12

A wonderful diverse and exciting tour to a region of Spain not normally associated with wildlife tourism. It has so much to offer, with coastal wetlands, inland plains, saltpans and more.

	* Be surprised by the quality and diversity of this fabulous region
	* Coastal wetlands for Red-knobbed Coot and Marbled and White-headed Duck
	* A chance to join a local ringing group as they monitor migrant species
	* Inland plains for bustards, sandgrouse, larks and raptors
	* Karst limestone valleys for orchids, butterflies and Bee-eaters
	* Expansive reedbeds with Moustached, Great Reed and Savi’s Warblers
	* A fabulous local hotel, which serves delicious Spanish cuisine!

Day 1	After landing at Valencia Airport, we drive south to Villalonga and check into our traditional 19th century hotel, where your comfortable room for the week will be waiting. If time allows, we may visit a nearby marsh for an easy walk to see any breeding or migrant species that may be around. We shall be looking for Little and Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibis, Squacco, Grey and Purple Herons and possibly Marsh Harrier.
Days 2-7	Our week may begin with a pre-breakfast visit to a local reedbed looking for the resident Moustached Warblers, along with Savi’s, Eurasian Reed and Great Reed Warblers plus plenty more. After breakfast we head to the coast, looking for Balearic Shearwater’s, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls, Gannets and Sandwich Terns. We continue south towards Denia and wind our way up to the very scenic Cabo de San Antoni, where we spend the remainder of the afternoon. This headland can be quite productive, with the likelihood of Pallid Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Raven and possibly Peregrine Falcon. We shall also spend some time looking out to sea as there’s always the chance of a passing Scopoli’s Shearwater or Bottlenose Dolphin. One day we head south towards the Alicante area, looking for its resident and breeding speciality species. We start at the ‘Clot de Galvany’ - a seasonal wetland with breeding White-headed Ducks, Purple Swamphens, Iberian Green Woodpeckers, Little Owl, Southern Grey Shrike and Dartford and Sardinian Warblers. Then it’s on to the ‘Santa Pola Salinas’. This large area of commercial saltpans holds several thousand Greater Flamingos, various species of gulls and terns, waders and wildfowl all year round. We’ll then drive into the nearby Creviente hills, looking for Bonelli’s Eagles with young, along with Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Thekla Larks and Red-billed Chough. After lunch we’ll visit arguably the ‘Valenciana Communitat’s’ premier bird Reserve - ‘El Hondo’. As well as some of the above species it also has breeding Red-knobbed Coot, Roller, Montagu’s Harrier, Collared Pratincole and the gorgeous Marbled Duck. One day we have a relaxed start, with a drive up into the mountains through the gorgeous Vall de Gallinera, hopefully seeing its resident pair of Golden Eagles, plus Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Golden Oriole, Wryneck, Cirl Bunting and Woodchat Shrike. We continue to the hills behind Alcoy, where we hope to see Griffon Vultures at close quarters and possibly Woodlark and Thekla Lark, Crested, Coal and Great Tit, Raven, Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and crossbills. This area is superb for orchids and butterflies, with potentials for Woodcock, Pyramidal and Yellow Bee Orchids plus Spanish Festoon, Adonis Blue, Southern Scarce Swallowtail and Spanish Marbled White. We shall head north towards Valencia, to visit the wetland sites of the Albufera de Valencia. We drive to the extensive rice fields that surround Spain’s second largest coastal freshwater lake - Albufera d’Valencia, where we hope to find many species of heron and egret, plus Little, Common and Whiskered Terns, Little Ringed Plovers, Audouin’s and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Black-winged Stilts. We travel through Palomar (the home of Paella) and visit the small but excellent Reserve of Raco d’Olla. Here we shall enjoy near point blank views of nesting gulls and terns, including gorgeous pink Slender-billed Gulls doing their bizarre display. At this small Reserve there is always a chance of something rarer such as Elegant Tern, which has bred here for the past 12 years! The rest of the afternoon will be spent around the ricefields and coastline of this area before returning to Villalonga. One day will be in total contrast to the others, with an early breakfast and drive into Castilla La Mancha. We head straight for the Albacete region, where our target species are Great and Little Bustard, Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Calandra, Crested and Short toed Larks and Rock and Tree Sparrows. Apart from our target species there is always a chance of other classic species during the breeding season such as Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black-eared and Northern Wheatear, Red and Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Marsh and Montagu’s Harrier and the scarce Lesser Kestrel. This area is fantastic all year round, in Spring there are various flooded fields, which hold good numbers of birds making for a great day out.
Day 8	This morning, after another leisurely breakfast we shall drive back to Valencia airport for our flight home.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Marbled Duck	Purple Swamphen	Bee-eater
White-headed Duck	Stone Curlew	Roller
Scopoli’s Shearwater	Great Bustard	Black Wheatear
Little Bittern	Black-bellied Sandgrouse	Moustached Warbler
Greater Flamingo	Pin-tailed Sandgrouse	Savi’s Warbler
Short-toed Eagle	Collared Pratincole	Melodious Warbler
Bonelli’s Eagle	Slender-billed Gull	Golden Oriole
Montagu’s Harrier	Audouin’s Gull	Spanish Festoon
Lesser Kestrel	Whiskered Tern	Southern Scarce Swallowtail
Red-knobbed Coot	Great Spotted Cuckoo	Yellow Bee Orchid

NEW HOLIDAY - Testimonials to Follow.

A fabulous 19th century hotel nestled under the La Safor mountains, with modern décor but rustic features such as exposed stone walls and beamed ceilings. This hotel has a spa, library, a lovely courtyard area and a restaurant which serves traditional Spanish meals. All rooms are ensuite.

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