Boquer Valley (Vall de Bocquer)

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Balearic Islands

Overview

Situated between Puerto Pollensa and the Formentor Peninsula this Mallorcan valley has scrub-covered slopes of Cistus and Mastic Tree with Mediterranean Buckthorn nearer the sea, providing perfect habitat for various passerines.

Birds

Notable Species

Nightingale is common, as are Balearic Warbler and Sardinian Warbler. The surrounding open fields have Black-eared Wheatear, Stonechat, Goldfinch and Wryneck and Eurasian Scops Owl is heard after dark. Black Redstart, occur in the rockier parts. In the higher parts of the valley are Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Crag Martin and Blue Rock Thrush. Also seen in the upper reaches are Peregrine Falcon, Northern Raven and Common Kestrel with the occasional Eurasian Black Vulture and rarely also Egyptian Vulture. The Eleonora's Falcons that nest at Formentor often hunt in the valley.

During passage periods Common Buzzard and European Honey Buzzard, harriers and kites overfly the area and sometimes Osprey and Booted Eagle. European Bee-eater is a common spring migrant in the area as are flycatchers, warblers and chats. European Roller and Golden Oriole are scarce but regular.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Eurasian Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Eleonora's Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Red-legged Partridge, Common Quail, Stone-curlew, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Common Woodpigeon, European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Scops Owl, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tree Pipit, Common Nightingale, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, European Stonechat, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Zitting Cisticola, Balearic Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Northern Raven, Rock Sparrow, European Serin, European Goldfinch, Cirl Bunting

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

To do

Access and Facilities

The valley is within easy walking distance of Puerto Pollensa from the Formentor road just outside the town.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

Birding in the Pollensa area

Content and images originally posted by Steve

Reviews

ikw101's review Avoid visits between 10.30am and 4pm Too busy. Best visted in Spring.

Boquer Valley – Puerto Pollensa After a few minor difficulties finding the start of the valley (adjacent to the Oro Playa apartments) again we found this site to be relatively quiet however the spectacular scenery made up for the relative lack of birds. The highlight was undoubtedly watching an Egyptian Vulture being mobbed by a large group of Eleonora’s falcon. A close second was the incredible number of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts and Stonechats at the base of the valley. Undoubtedly this site would be better in Spring however its definitely worth visiting in late Summer as well. Numerous raptors were seen moving through probably on migration including a Black Kite and an unknown large Eagle.

Kestrel Goldfinch Eleonora’s falcon Pied Flycatcher Greenfinch Raven Egyptian Vulture Black Kite Redstart Spotted Flycatcher Crag Martin Sardinian Warbler Stonechat Red Kite

Pros

• Easy access

Cons

• Can get very busy