A day on the steppe with Dominic Mitchel
Last week, we were privileged to provide a day of bird watching for Dominic Mitchell, founder and managing editor of Birdwatch Magazine and BirdGuides. He was in Valencia on a short break and wanted to include a day of birding. Having spoken about his target species, we decided upon a day on the steppe with a brief diversion at the end of the day to a coastal lagoon close to Albufera where we would look for Audouin´s Gull.
Typical steppe scenery
We made the journey from central Valencia into the uplands of the interior where we made a brief stop at an area of scrub where Great Spotted Cuckoo had been seen during the previous days. Despite our efforts it didn´t show, but we did have views of Rock Sparrow, Crested Lark, Red Legged Partridge and Stonechat.
Rock Sparrow
After a coffee stop in a farming village, we stopped at a good vantage point to scan. Although quite a way off, we managed to see a small group of Great Bustards as well as a sizeable flock of Calandra Larks and a Thekla Lark.
The next stop by an old farm gave views of Linnet, Corn Bunting and more Rock Sparrows. Having chatted to the farmer for a while we then headed across the fields on a track, hoping for better views of Great Bustard. They didnt show here but we enjoyed views of a pair of Black Bellied Sandgrouse in flight.
We then took to a different series of tracks that took us through an extensive area of farmland with some small areas of low tree cover which gave us much better views of Great Bustards – a magnificent group of males strolling across a field in beautiful sunlight.
The time seemed to have passed very quickly, so we decided on a plan for the rest of the afternoon, taking in one more area of steppe before heading back to Valencia. We stopped at one of our favorite viewing spots which gave us yet more Great Bustards as well as a Merlin and eventually a Golden Eagle in flight, all fabulous birds indeed!
Lesser Kestrel
Before heading back, we made a brief diversion to visit a couple of rock piles where we often see Little Owl. The first didn´t give any views but the second did, the bird remaining for long enough for us to enjoy good views through the scope. We also had views of Lesser Kestrel in the same area.
Content with our species list so far, we decided to head back to Valencia, stopping along the way for a coffee where we shared tales of happy birding experiences and a few funny stories too! The light was fading but we had time for a short walk to a coastal lagoon close to the huge wetland site of Albufera de Valencia where we saw Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and another of the day´s targets, the extremely elegant Audouin´s Gull.
Audouin´s Gull
The day had passed so quickly, but we´d seen some fantastic birds. It had been a pleasure and a privilege to be out birding with Dominic, not only to enjoy his wealth of knowledge and experience, but his kindness and great company too.
The species list for the day included…
Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Common Woodpigeon, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Bustard, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Golden Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Iberian Grey Shrike, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Calandra Lark, Thekla Lark, Crested Lark, Great Tit, Common Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, European Robin, Black Redstart, European Stonechat, Eurasian Blackbird, Spotless Starling, White Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, European Serin, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow, Rock Sparrow.
Written by Yanina Maggiotto
Bird Watching Guide at Visit Natura