Mallorca Birding-where to go?

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hello,

I would like to get some advice where to go birding in Mallorca in the next weeks?
I will maybe make a one week trip with family , we will probably have a car and would like to see some good birds.

I´d be especially interested in knowing if it is possible to find cinereous vulture?

And I think from all those trip reports, the Albufera is a Must?

I am also interested in seeing introduced species- i guess there are several parrot species around? any advice in what to expect and where?


Also any other tips concerning any places or bird species for end of February would be interesting!

Many Thanks! Jörn

[delia todd]

Hi Joern

Opus has quite a lot of information on Mallorca (http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mallorca), which maybe will give you some ideas till others come in with more for you

D

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hi Delia, thanks-opus is informative, however the main problem for me is that I am not sure what to expect end of February?

[honeym]

Hi Jörn

I´ve just arrived on the island for a 10 day stay, based in s´Albufera.

Today was sunny but with a cold, northerly wind. I´ve just come back from a short walk around the reserve where I saw the following (in the order as they appear on the "latest lists" see: http://mallorcaweb.net/salbufera):

Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe
Phalacrocorax carbo Cormorant
Nycticorax nycticorax Night Heron
Egretta garzetta Little Egret
Egretta alba Great White Egret
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron
Tadorna tadorna Shelduck
Anas strepera Gadwall
Anas crecca Teal
Anas platyrynchos Mallard
Anas clypeata Shoveler
Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard
Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier
Rallus aquaticus Water Rail
Gallinula chloropus Moorhen
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Gallinule
Fulica atra Coot
Fulica cristata Crested Coot
Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt
Vanellus vanellus Lapwing
Calidris minuta Little Stint
Calidris alpina Dunlin
Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank
Tringa nebularia Greenshamk
Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull
Larus michahellis Yellow-legged Gull
Columba palumbus Woodpigeon
Ptyonoprogne rupestris Crag Martin
Delichon urbica House Martin
Hirundo rustica Swallow
Anthus pratensis Meadow Pipit
Anthus spinoletta Water Pipit
Erithacus rubecula Robin
Saxicola rubicola Stonechat
Turdus merula Blackbird
Cettia cetti Cetti´s Warbler
Sylvia melanocephala Sardinian Warbler
Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff
Parus major Great Tit
Sturnus vulgaris Starling
Passer domesticus House Sparrow

If I see anything more exciting I´ll post a note.

Best wishes

Martin

[Stephen C]

Joern Hi

This exact same question was covered a few days ago. If you scan down the list in the "Spain +islands" forum thread I'm sure you will see it and find everything you need.

One answer I remember was to visit birdinginspain.com, which had a special section on Mallorca.

All the best and do post your sightings upon your return.

[Joern Lehmhus]

Joern Hi

This exact same question was covered a few days ago. If you scan down the list in the "Spain +islands" forum thread I'm sure you will see it and find everything you need.

One answer I remember was to visit birdinginspain.com, which had a special section on Mallorca.

All the best and do post your sightings upon your return.

Martin, thanks-that is very interesting!

Stephen, if i didn´t overlook something and found the right thread, there was information requested for september and June, but I wanted to know for February which I suspect is a lot different for some species (e.g. no Eleonoras Falcons?).
The birdinginspain section for Mallorca is interesting but doesn´t give too speciific information on time of year.

[honeym]

Hi Jörn

I´ve just heard that there are 40 Griffon Vulture up in the mountains (the Tramuntana) at the moment, many of which arrived with the recent storms.

Martin

[Barred Wobbler]

Hi Jörn

I´ve just heard that there are 40 Griffon Vulture up in the mountains (the Tramuntana) at the moment, many of which arrived with the recent storms.

Martin

That's an interesting report. It'll be even more interesting to see how long they hang around. I've only seen one griffon on Mallorca, a long-staying bird that was hanging about with the black vultures at the Cuber Reservoir when I was there in 2003.

If they latch onto the vulture feeding station they might feel that the sea crossing home isn't worth the candle.

[honeym]

Just returned from another walk which added the following to yesterday´s tally:

Burhinus oedicnemus Stone Curlew x29
Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish Plover x13
Philomachus pugnax Ruff x1
Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe x10
Alcedo atthis Kingfisher 1♀

Martin

[Joern Lehmhus]

Sounds good!

[steve west]

Joern Hi

This exact same question was covered a few days ago. If you scan down the list in the "Spain +islands" forum thread I'm sure you will see it and find everything you need.

One answer I remember was to visit birdinginspain.com, which had a special section on Mallorca.

All the best and do post your sightings upon your return.

Thanks for that Stephen.

While it's true that the Mallorca section in BirdingInSpain.com has no special facility for reporting what birds are about in the month of February one thing that doesn't change is the information on the best sites to see the birds, the maps and detailed itineraries, the photos of birds and places and the recommended accommodation. My recommendation is to get there and start birding!

Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com

[Joern Lehmhus]

Thanks for that Stephen.

While it's true that the Mallorca section in BirdingInSpain.com has no special facility for reporting what birds are about in the month of February one thing that doesn't change is the information on the best sites to see the birds, the maps and detailed itineraries, the photos of birds and places and the recommended accommodation. My recommendation is to get there and start birding!

Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com

That´s what I´ll be doing....but with a small child it needs some planning! Steve, you may also have information on introduced species that may have established breeding populations (Not something most birders look for, but I am also interested in biology of introduced species)?

Martin , keep em coming- I am always interested to hear what you see.

[honeym]

Only a few additions for me from yesterday:

Anas acuta Pintail
Aythya ferina Pochard
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit
Acrocephalus melanopogon Moustached Warbler

Also seen, but not by me:

Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret
Marmaronetta angustirostris Marbled Duck
Circus cyaneus Hen Harrier
Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle
Falco tinnunculus Kestrel
Tringa totanus Redshank
Upupa epops Hoopoe
Motacilla alba White/Pied Wagtail
Turdus philomelos Song Thrush
Cisticola juncidis Fan-tailed Warbler
Serinus serinus Serin

Martin

[honeym]

Just for the record.

Walked up to Ses Puntes this morning. Caught up with the two Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis, in flight over the CIM lagoon and a Upupa epops Hoopoe. Had great views of Acrocephalus melanopogon Moustached Warbler along the track and saw several Emberiza shoeniclus Reed Bunting (local race), which was pleasing as this species has suffered a dramatic population crash in recent years.

The cold wind off the mountains no doubt kept other birds out of sight.

Martin

[Joern Lehmhus]

The Plegadis are especially nice--- but what is the CUM-lagoon, I doin´t remeberto have read this anywhere???

[honeym]

Hi Jörn

The CIM lagoon is where the first hide on the left is, just past reception, in s´Albufera. There´s now a second hide overlooking this pool a bit further on, just below the ´hill´- an elevated viewpoint.

Strictly speaking it is part of the Es Ras area and is immediately below the marker on http://www.panoramio.com/photo/9361092
If you scroll in and drop down a little you can actually see the hide.

Martin

[Joern Lehmhus]

So your Ses Puntes is probably a different one from the one on my admittedly rather old map of mallorca, which only shows a vilage with that name somewhere in the middle of the island???

[honeym]

Hi

Yes.

If you go to http://www.mallorcaweb.net/salbufera/ the photo on the front page shows some pine trees at the bottom of the photo. These are at the end of the track "Camí de ses Puntes" which is the first track off to the left when you get to the dog-leg on the main entrance track (at a bridge). It is this area I was referring to.

Better still, I´ve just found the link I needed. See:

http://www.mallorcaweb.net/salbufera/imatges/triptic_2007_mapa.jpg

There´s a new platform over-looking the Es Cibollar area.

Best wishes

Martin

[honeym]

A few extras today:

Arenaria interpres Turnstone - down at the mouth of the Gran Canal
Larus audouini Audouin´s Gull - same place and patrolling the strand-line
Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstart - same place and in the area behind the dunes

Martin

[rachk116]

Hi,

I'm planning a trip with my partner from the 27th April to the 4th May. I'm frantically trying to remember where I heard/read this, but I'm sure it was something about twice weekly meetings during the spring at a hotel in Puerto Pollensa for birdwatchers to report and gather information about what's about. DOes this still happen or is there any other way of finding out what's around when I am there.

Thanks

Rach

[Barred Wobbler]

There used to be meetings in the Pollensa Park Hotel, but they'd stopped by the time I was there in about 2001/2.

I don't think they've resumed, because I've never heard of them since, but that's not to say they definitely haven't.

[Joern Lehmhus]

Is there a feeding area for black vulture in the mountains? I heard about it but don´t seem to be able to find a location? Or isd it unaccessable as the birds should not be disturbed?

and is there any book on birding on the balearics, comparable with, lets say, "where to find birds on tenerife", for example ?

[wolfbirder]

Is there a feeding area for black vulture in the mountains? I heard about it but don´t seem to be able to find a location? Or isd it unaccessable as the birds should not be disturbed?

and is there any book on birding on the balearics, comparable with, lets say, "where to find birds on tenerife", for example ?


There was a feeding area (in the loosest of terms) because I saw it on a TV documentary, but not sure if it is maintained. Off the main road to Cuber from Polenca but it was not a public area and it was quite a walk to even get anywhere near. To be honest you may as well go to Cuber Reservoir and if you are patient you should get some views, especially looking back towards the radar dome high on the hill, but they do come a lot closer too from any direction. But if you only go for an hour you may well dip. Cuber can be hard work and can seem pretty devoid of birds.

There are good books about birdwatching in Mallorca & Menorca (Where to Watch series), I think they are still pretty accurate as not a lot has changed. I would check recent reports, because sadly there is no ongoing bird reporting facility for the islands as far as I know.

[Alf King]

There used to be meetings in the Pollensa Park Hotel, but they'd stopped by the time I was there in about 2001/2.

I don't think they've resumed, because I've never heard of them since, but that's not to say they definitely haven't.



These meetings have never resumed, essentially as there has been no demand. Information gets about more easily nowadays and, unfortunately, Mallorca seems to turn up fewer rarities now for obvious reasons.

[John Muddeman]

The meetings also stopped due to the unfortunate loss, over just a couple of years, of three of the resident foreign birders on the island, who were instrumental in running them. As Alf says, the island doesn't seem to get the rarities it used to, but I suspect that this may partly be due to fewer birders visiting overall, given the surge in sites such as Lesbos instead. However, if the ringing records on Cabrera (off the S tip) are anything to go by, then Mallorca is still an excellent destination, but I fear that the overall number of migrants has actually dropped markedly over the last 20 years and so too has accessibility to interesting and undeveloped sites.

John

[Joern Lehmhus]

Would an africana Chaffinch be a good record in the Tramuntana?

[rachk116]

The meetings also stopped due to the unfortunate loss, over just a couple of years, of three of the resident foreign birders on the island, who were instrumental in running them. As Alf says, the island doesn't seem to get the rarities it used to, but I suspect that this may partly be due to fewer birders visiting overall, given the surge in sites such as Lesbos instead. However, if the ringing records on Cabrera (off the S tip) are anything to go by, then Mallorca is still an excellent destination, but I fear that the overall number of migrants has actually dropped markedly over the last 20 years and so too has accessibility to interesting and undeveloped sites.

John

Unfortunately, the draw of other places is stronger, certainly (ashamedly) on my part. I've been intending to go to Majorca for the past 5 or so years but have always ended up going somewhere else (e.g. Cyprus, Fuerteventura, Southern France). I am, however, really looking forward to going to Puerto Pollensa in April. The main appeal to me was the fact that I could stay somewhere and not have to hire a car. There are plenty of places to go to on foot or by public transport. I will post a report on my return.

Rachel

[Joern Lehmhus]

Well, I am back and enjoyed it very much , though it was only a week!

Some highlights:

2 glossy Ibis in the Albufera
lots of Porphyrio porphyrio in the Albufera , osprey feeding on his catch

Male peregrine bringing prey (Blackbird) to calling female on one of the pillars of the cathedral SaSEU in Plama, then flying strongly upward to chase off another intruding peregrine-another female (He did the chasing away only half-heartedly, was my expression)...

7 Griffon vultures and 18 Monk vultures in the Tramuntana seen in one go, turning round the scope, at the same day also an africana chaffinch and Balearic crossbills

Balearic warblers, Balearic crossbills and at least 5 blue rock thrush on a walk near Betlem on the Arta peninsula

several Audouins Gulls, (first 2 in Port d'Alcudia harbour)

ando other good birds...

maybe not the super specialities, but it gave us a list of about 90 species in the week and additionally time enough for our little son to have fun (so not the whole week dedicated to birding)

so maybe this sounds interesting enough....

[honeym]

Hi Jörn

Glad you enjoyed your visit.

I'll have to look into the africana Chaffinch.

Best wishes

Martin

[Joern Lehmhus]

Yes, many Thanks to all of you for advice and help to decide!

Oh, by the way- no closeup of stone curlew standing, but seeing about 20+ flying by quite closely in the Albufera, and a single one on a rocky shore.

[Motmot]

Hi Joern,
Not sure if africana has ever been recorded in the Balearics (guess not) but in any case this taxon is considered a rarity in Spain and it would be nice if you send your description and pics if any (I would love to see them too!) to the spanish rarities committee. Below a link with submission forms etc.

http://www.rarebirdspain.net/arbsa000.htm

Cheers,
Eduardo

[Motmot]

However, if the ringing records on Cabrera (off the S tip) are anything to go by, then Mallorca is still an excellent destination, but I fear that the overall number of migrants has actually dropped markedly over the last 20 years and so too has accessibility to interesting and undeveloped sites.

John

Hi John,
Yep, I can definitely confirm Cabrera NP still gets a good number of rare birds every year, I'm doing my best to post them in the rare bids in Spain website. Not sure if migrant numbers are down though, some ringing stations are trapping fewer birds (ex Sa Dragonera) but numbers at the rest of stations look fairly regular. Number of interesting birds reported at the "Anuari Ornitològic de les Balears" year after year also look fairly regular, and Maties and his crew at S'Albufera still manage to find lots of good stuff every year. Mallorca (or better the Balearics as a whole) I believe are still a great birding destination.
Saludos cordiales,
Eduardo

[Joern Lehmhus]

Eduardo,

No pictures I am afraid, we don´t have the photo equipment for that-but I will submit the drawing and notes I took.

Jörn