Been to Mallorca Lately?

[DJA]

Hi! one and all,
Has anyone been to Mallorca lately? we're going in three weeks time,staying in Port de Pollenca, it will be our third trip out there, only I've been hearing about certain locations associated with birding which are no longer accessible due to extensive development or prohibited access. Cases Vellas we know about from our first trip three years ago and although unable to enter the pine woods,we've had good views of Crossbill and in the adjacent fields Hoopoe. We use the Graham Hearl's "A Birdwatchers Guide to Mallorca" and have always found it very helpful in the past. however it would be helpful to know which sites in the book are no longer accessible. Can anyone thats recently been to Mallorca bring us up to speed.

Many thanks
DJA

[Bubbs]

See the report by Beaker on page 2. Good report.

john

[beaker]

As John says I have just returned and have posted a trip report in the vacational trip forum.From our visit I would say 99% of the info in the said book is correct.The odd new road and associated roundabouts have recently been built.Any specific information you require I will help if I can as we covered most of the sites in the week we were there.Regards.

[IanF]

Here's beaker's report http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33169 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33169)

[DJA]

Thanks everyone and thanks Beaker, liked your report.I've heard that the start of the Bocquer Valley has change quite a lot, is this true? When we were there last there was some building work taking place on the land between the Valley and Postage Stamp Wood.
Anyway your report makes good reading and as certainly wet our appetite.

[jeff]

Thanks everyone and thanks Beaker, liked your report.I've heard that the start of the Bocquer Valley has change quite a lot, is this true? When we were there last there was some building work taking place on the land between the Valley and Postage Stamp Wood.
Anyway your report makes good reading and as certainly wet our appetite.

We've just come back from Mallorca, went about the same time as Beaker. We used the G.Hearl and the D.Gosney guides to Mallorca and didn't have any problems, but as it was my first time i've no idea what sites were like before.

Cheers

Jeff

[Alf King]

Thanks everyone and thanks Beaker, liked your report.I've heard that the start of the Bocquer Valley has change quite a lot, is this true? When we were there last there was some building work taking place on the land between the Valley and Postage Stamp Wood.
Anyway your report makes good reading and as certainly wet our appetite.

The main change is the recently constructed bypass that goes between the wood and the entrance to the valley. It doesn't appear to have affected the birding too much. Boquer valley now seems to be one of the main attractions of the area and will be quite busy with walkers at this time of year.

Beaker's report sums up all of the commonly visited sites. One regret is that no-one has really found any new sites of note for a number of years. Maybe Beaker's roadside stop could develop into a new place to visit.

[DJA]

Thanks to all of you for replying to my query, It sounds as if there is not much change in the birding sites after all. Maybe I was just thinking the worst,never listern to gossip!
I think we'll take the books (G Hearl and D Gosney) and just go for it and take whatever changes there are in our stride and Hopefully have a birding good time.
123 species Beaker...ummm see what we can do!
once again thanks
DJA

[Johnny1]

If you're planning a trip to the S'Albufera I would like to point out that the "tower hide" is closed for repairs, this is a favourite spot for watching out for Eleanoras falcon and little bittern besides giving an excellent view over the marshes. While I was there at the end of April there was no sign of any work being carried out to the structure. I would ask at the reception center as it's a long walk to the hide.

[DJA]

Thanks Johnny1 We've walked to that hide before and you've saved us a long walk. we'll ask at the reception as you said when we get there, still there is plenty more other hides and trails to explore. What birds were about when you were there and at what sites on the island, we haven't got any target birds, having said that I would like to pin down a Scops Owl, as we've heard them both times we've been before but not yet seen one.

[MarkHows]

Check put my report from March


http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/mallorca/mallorca.htm

[Rob Smallwood]

Hopefully they might stop the tower hide swaying in the breeze!!

[Johnny1]

I restricted my birding to the S'Albufera apart from one visit to the Bocquer Valley which was very dissapointing with only a couple of blackcaps, pied flycatcher and a single eleanoras, although in past visits it was more like a birders paradise.
The Bishop hide was probably the most productive with several spotted redshanks, greenshanks, black winged stilts , kentish plovers, egrets, marsh sandpiper, sanderling, little ringed plover, snipe, ruff, common tern etc. If you look over to the wire fence in front of the hotels there is usually an osprey perched there.
The Ses Puntes track produced squacco heron on a couple of occasions pluss purple heron,purple swamphen and crested pochards seem to be everywhere.
The Cim hide produced whiskered tern, garganey and spanish wheatear. There are usually plenty of yellow wagtails on the rough ground outside, I also had tawney pipit here. If you enter through the main entrance look out for the huge cattle egret roost in the large trees I counted over 100 one day also the night herons in the bushes about half way along the path on the opposite side of the canal. The Old Salinas was good for common sandpipers we also saw a whimbrel there which according to the book is an Autumn visitor. I visited the Depuradora a few times but there was very little there the best bird being a black necked grebe in breeding plumage.

[ESTEBANNIC]

Hi!
If you're going anywhere near to the south of the island here are a few ideas:

The island of Dragonera (Natural Park). From the small port of San Telmo a ferry does the trip there and back a few times a day (first one at 0900am). Once on the island there is a road that crosses the whole island.You will find one of the most important colonies of Elenora's falcon at the southern end near the lighthouse. Also good for Balearic shearwater, Audouin's gull, various Sylvia warblers, perigrine falcon, Booted eagle,Thelka Larks, Short-toed larks, Alpine swift, and if you're lucky Osprey. The best time to visit is of course during the migratory periods when the number of different species passing through is outstanding (4 Orphean warblers where ringed there last week).

Another good birding trek is to La Trapa on the Andratx coast. Take the Andratx-Banyalbufar coastal road and a few kms out of Andratx on the left you come to a small parking area with a big signpost. Take the unpaved road from the parking area to the right. This takes you through various habitats from pinewood through to gorsebush. Takes about 1hr to reach the cliff which overlooks Dragonera (outstanding views). This trek is one of my favorites and this time of year good for Firecrest, Balearic Crossbill, Balearic subspecies of Spotted flycatcher, Woodchat shrike, Raven, Blue rock thrush, a few species of lark, warblers (especially Balearic), rock sparrow, tawny pipit, Peregrine falcon and Eleonora's.

Hope this info helps

Regards to all
Steve

[ESTEBANNIC]

Ah!, talking about the Depuradora in the Albufera for the last couple of days we have had a small group of Red footed falcon there and a lone Roller.

Steve

[DJA]

Thanks everyone for all your replies one more question We're staying at the Hotel Romantic in Porta Pollenca as anyone stayed there before and what was it like?
Once again thanks to everyone.

[Rob Smallwood]

Never stayed there but it is well placed and youy should have Audouin's on the beach in front and Skops Owl calling nearby.

20 odd minute walk to the entrance to the Bocquer and 15 minute cycle along the coast to the Albufereta!

Rob

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks Johnny1 We've walked to that hide before and you've saved us a long walk. we'll ask at the reception as you said when we get there, still there is plenty more other hides and trails to explore. What birds were about when you were there and at what sites on the island, we haven't got any target birds, having said that I would like to pin down a Scops Owl, as we've heard them both times we've been before but not yet seen one.
We've had Scops owl behind the Hotel Uyal, just a few doors along from the Hotel Romantic. We've also seen one in trees near the field behing the Pollensa Park hotel. (wait for it to whistle, whistle back and it might come to you, otherwise home in on the calls and you can get them skylined within a few feet in sparse pine). The other well known place is the Guardia Civil headquarters , between the hotel Romantic and the centre of town. Get there before dusk and go to the part of the pine wood at the back of the play area, nearest the headquarters and wait. Scops will come from behind the headquarters and settle in the trees overhead (It was still doing it in 2003, anyway).

[Johnny1]

I too have only ever heard Scops Owl, maybe it's because I usually drink beer of anight time and do my birding in the daytime!

[DJA]

Thanks Rob, stayed in the Romantic's sister hotel the Pollensa Park a few years back,so I'd expect it to be to the same standard, but it was worth a try to see if anyone out there in forum-land had stayed there. Many an evening we've spent looking for the Scops Owl in several locations on the front with no luck. we'll take your advice this time Alan and wait at the back of the play area near the pine trees ,we stood near to the road last time we were there.I like your idea of birding Johnny1 "Heaven is Birding on a Spring day"....and a cool beer on a summers evening!