Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
I had a little tern along the beach at Son Bou on Menorca one very windy and showery day in 2001. I didn't realise how scarce they were until I bought the book The Birds of Menorca.
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Mallorca 2013 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
I had a little tern along the beach at Son Bou on Menorca one very windy and showery day in 2001. I didn't realise how scarce they were until I bought the book The Birds of Menorca.
A couple of hours (from 0800-1000hrs) raptor watching at the Albercutx watchtower proved rewarding. Good, prolonged views of Honey Buzzards and best of all a close Short-toed Eagle. Minor cast included: Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Eleonora's, Black Vulture, Booted Eagle & Blue Rock Thrush.
Nice to meet some very pleasant, experienced local birders, who also saw (and photographed) the Collared Flycatcher yesterday.
Nice to meet some very pleasant, experienced local birders, who also saw (and photographed) the Collared Flycatcher yesterday.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
The locals are very entertaining to be with and know the Island so well. They also know how to party, I have enjoyed star watching with them and many pleasant hours trying to talk to them in Spanish. They have welcomed me into the group which has been fantastic fun. Glad you met them. Mike
Collared Flycatcher
The Collared Flycatcher is still present and was very showy late this afternoon if anyone is interested in going for it.
Leave Port Pollensa in direction Alcudia on coast road. After going round last roundabout take 1st turning right (Cami de Volantina). Go up this road until the river is directly adjacent to the road on your right, with a low concrete wall separating river and road. Easy to park by concrete wall - if you reach the entrance road leading to Ca'an Volanti on your left, you have gone just too far. The flycatcher was using the wall as a platform to launch insecting flights over the river. It was the first bird we saw when we stopped the car.
The Collared Flycatcher is still present and was very showy late this afternoon if anyone is interested in going for it.
Leave Port Pollensa in direction Alcudia on coast road. After going round last roundabout take 1st turning right (Cami de Volantina). Go up this road until the river is directly adjacent to the road on your right, with a low concrete wall separating river and road. Easy to park by concrete wall - if you reach the entrance road leading to Ca'an Volanti on your left, you have gone just too far. The flycatcher was using the wall as a platform to launch insecting flights over the river. It was the first bird we saw when we stopped the car.
mosiesinclair
Member
Highlights so far - crag martins under the bridge at sa riera, Palma, balearic shearwaters under cap gros lighthouse, port de soller, 4 bee eaters flying in over soller - deia coastal path, golden oriole in deia and olivaceous warbler in same garden. Canada goose in the bay at soller was a surprise! And 3 days at Lluc monastery and a week in Puerto Pollensa to go. Fantastic island!
A 1/2 hr watch this morning for raptors from the viewpoint near Escorca produced: 4 Black Vulture, 5 Griffons, 8 different Booted Eagle (inc 2 very light morphs), 2 Peregrine & an outclassed Kestrel who tried it on with the eagles and falcons.
2 Hobby were over the Coll de Soller.
Best birds at the salt pans were 4 Gull-billed Tern & a Red Kite trying it on with the resident Marsh Harriers.
However, best bird of the day has to go to the beautiful, full summer breeding plumaged, Black-Necked Grebe at the Depuradora this evening. I'm used to seeing winter plumaged birds on Cheddar Res, so this one was a real surprise.
2 Hobby were over the Coll de Soller.
Best birds at the salt pans were 4 Gull-billed Tern & a Red Kite trying it on with the resident Marsh Harriers.
However, best bird of the day has to go to the beautiful, full summer breeding plumaged, Black-Necked Grebe at the Depuradora this evening. I'm used to seeing winter plumaged birds on Cheddar Res, so this one was a real surprise.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I was at the depuradora this evening and the Black-necked grebe is indeed stunning. Olivaceous warbler is a rarity and needs a description I believe so if you get time mosiesinclair that would be appreciated. All other rares were nowhere to be seen but we had a good day with Oystercatcher, Squacco, Sanderling, Whitethroat, Stone curlew and Woodchat. Mike
Maties Rebassa
Well-known member
You are right, Mike. Olivaceus warbler is a rarity and needs description. Collared flycatcher too. You can find the Majorcan rarities list in the "Birding Tourist's guide..." (pages 122-123). http://www.birdingmajorca.com/
These days have been fantastic in Mallorca, with lots of birds included some very interesting rarities (pallid harriers, olivaceus warblers, siberian chiffchaff...).
These days have been fantastic in Mallorca, with lots of birds included some very interesting rarities (pallid harriers, olivaceus warblers, siberian chiffchaff...).
ESTEBANNIC
Well-known member
We've got a Balearic rare birds blog up and running with an English translation at the bottom.
Hard to keep up with all the rarities this past week. B
If anyone sees a bird in the Balearics they might consider rare please feel free to PM me :t:
The link to the blog:
http://rareresesornibalears.blogspot.com.es/
A big welcome to MATIES on this forum!! :king::king:
Hard to keep up with all the rarities this past week. B
If anyone sees a bird in the Balearics they might consider rare please feel free to PM me :t:
The link to the blog:
http://rareresesornibalears.blogspot.com.es/
A big welcome to MATIES on this forum!! :king::king:
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Thanks Steve, it's a great site and just what is needed. Good also to have an English translation and this will be appreciated by all British birders, almost everybody I met in the north yesterday was from the UK. Great to have photos too. Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
At least ten Red-footed falcons seen today near Salobrar de Campos, very big numbers this year. Many Lesser kestrels too, Maria de la Salut is a good place to look as well as fields which havve been harvested and have bales of straw in, the Lessers like to sit on top and watch for insects. Honey buzzard coming through too and still many flocks of Bee-eaters on migration.
Cock Linnet
New member
I hope that a brief diary of my holiday in Mallorca last week might be of interest, especially to those birders about to arrive:
Monday April 22 – a very early flight from UK meant that we were established in Port de Pollenca by lunchtime. A saunter around La Gola produced very little but the evening brought the first tick of the week. A pair of Scops owls are to be found at the rear of the Hotel Pollentia as described elsewhere on this blog and exactly as described in the Gosney Guide ( very useful). If you do go to see them, hopefully there will be other birders there too as creeping around at the back of a hotel and peering up at windows with binoculars after dark could lead to misunderstandings!
Tuesday April 22 – down the road to s’Albufereta for an excellent morning with good views of stonechat, serin, BW stilt, corn bunting, RC pochard, several purple herons and marsh harriers, greenfinch, LR plovers, house martin. The beach area is good for Audouin’s gull, Kentish plover. On to the C’an Guarassa track with disappointed with only nightingale and crossbill of note but the wild flowers along the paths were fabulous.
Wednesday April 23 – as a treat to ourselves, we hired the services of two local birders to drive us into the mountains for the day. A good decision given the number of cyclists, coaches and feral goats to contend with. An early start meant we had the Formentor lighthouse area to ourselves and saw Corys and Ballaeric shearwaters over the water, with blue rock thrush and willow warbler in the scrub. On the descent we called at Casas Velas for cracking views of cirl bunting, redstart, booted eagle, RL partridge, Sard warbler and blackcap. On our way into the Tramantura range, we called in at the Mortitx track and got a nice overhead display of crag martins. After lunch, on to Cuber reservoir where the strong cold wind ensured that the desired warblers stayed well hidden but we were very pleased to see several black vultures, a griffon vulture, red kite, linnet, firecrest and a distant Montys harrier. An excellent day with friendly, knowledgeable people, well worth the cost.
Thursday April 25 – with rain forecast, a visit to s’Albufera seemed a good idea as there are several hides for shelter. From the Sa Roca hides we had ruff, Kentish plover, RC pochard, shelduck, common sandpiper, ringed plover, greenshank, purple swamphen and BW stilt with cattle egret, sand martin, house martin and hoopoe over. Gadwall and RK coot from the bridge on the way to Es Cibollar hides for summer plumage spotshanks, little stint, curlew sandpiper, snipe, osprey and marsh harrier over and gripping scenes of BW stilt parents defending their chicks from the attentions of little egret. Reed warbler and great egret on the SES Puntes track but no sign of the squacco heron or moustached warbler hoped for.
Friday April 26 – A pleasant drive south to Salobrar de Campos. Eddie’s track was extremely slippy after the recent rain and we viewed only the first lagoon and surrounding scrub but still saw ruff, redshank, greenshank, whinchat and stonechat. The lagoons at Es Trenc gave good views of flamingos, avocet, Kentish plover, LR plover and marsh harrier. After lunch in Colonia Sant Jordi (don’t bother), we went to find area not covered in Gosney or the local birders guide (also recommended for greater depth) – Mondrago Natural Park. There is a good colony of Audouin’s gulls on the rocks, great for photographers of the species scarce elsewhere. A walk along the Mirador de Ses Font de n’Alis to the bay was quirt but livened up just before the beach car park with 4 hoopoe feeding on the opposite bank with more in trees overhead, siskin, serin and a good party of swallows which we failed to convert into red-rumped. The walk back produced a cracking turtle dove but not the wryneck also heard there. This is an area I would like to explore further.
Saturday April 27 – a promising day spoiled by the weather. We had planned to visit the Depuradora but we only had chance to see 4 bee eaters on the fence around the last sand hill area on the left, before the heavens opened. This looks are very interesting area but we gave up and didn’t try to look for the marsh terns and marbled duck reported by other birders. Still, must leave something for next time....
Sunday April 28 – lots to do on our last day. Rain again spoiled our drive/walk around the PP back lanes and we did not see the collared flycatcher later reported. On to the Boquer valley area and the avenue of pines produced a large number of willow warblers and flycatchers, although we did not see the melodious warbler reported by another birder a little earlier. A quick walk up to the farmhouse on the valley road produced a fabulous male Montagu’s harrier quartering the fields below, catching and eating prey only 30 years in front of us. A final visit to La Gola on the way back to start packing brought a lovely male redstart and finally an osprey being mobbed over the harbour before moving away.
A good week despite the weather with over 70 species seen including 13 lifers.
You should expect to see lots of flycatchers, BW stilts as common as mallards, cettis warblers around every corner and nightingale around every other corner. Marsh harriers overhead are not unusual and booted eagle and black vulture appeared to be increasing in numbers as we left.
Get the Gosney guide if you can, the local birders guide is a good read too. The island is great for birding so good luck and mind the cyclists!
Keith Allen
Monday April 22 – a very early flight from UK meant that we were established in Port de Pollenca by lunchtime. A saunter around La Gola produced very little but the evening brought the first tick of the week. A pair of Scops owls are to be found at the rear of the Hotel Pollentia as described elsewhere on this blog and exactly as described in the Gosney Guide ( very useful). If you do go to see them, hopefully there will be other birders there too as creeping around at the back of a hotel and peering up at windows with binoculars after dark could lead to misunderstandings!
Tuesday April 22 – down the road to s’Albufereta for an excellent morning with good views of stonechat, serin, BW stilt, corn bunting, RC pochard, several purple herons and marsh harriers, greenfinch, LR plovers, house martin. The beach area is good for Audouin’s gull, Kentish plover. On to the C’an Guarassa track with disappointed with only nightingale and crossbill of note but the wild flowers along the paths were fabulous.
Wednesday April 23 – as a treat to ourselves, we hired the services of two local birders to drive us into the mountains for the day. A good decision given the number of cyclists, coaches and feral goats to contend with. An early start meant we had the Formentor lighthouse area to ourselves and saw Corys and Ballaeric shearwaters over the water, with blue rock thrush and willow warbler in the scrub. On the descent we called at Casas Velas for cracking views of cirl bunting, redstart, booted eagle, RL partridge, Sard warbler and blackcap. On our way into the Tramantura range, we called in at the Mortitx track and got a nice overhead display of crag martins. After lunch, on to Cuber reservoir where the strong cold wind ensured that the desired warblers stayed well hidden but we were very pleased to see several black vultures, a griffon vulture, red kite, linnet, firecrest and a distant Montys harrier. An excellent day with friendly, knowledgeable people, well worth the cost.
Thursday April 25 – with rain forecast, a visit to s’Albufera seemed a good idea as there are several hides for shelter. From the Sa Roca hides we had ruff, Kentish plover, RC pochard, shelduck, common sandpiper, ringed plover, greenshank, purple swamphen and BW stilt with cattle egret, sand martin, house martin and hoopoe over. Gadwall and RK coot from the bridge on the way to Es Cibollar hides for summer plumage spotshanks, little stint, curlew sandpiper, snipe, osprey and marsh harrier over and gripping scenes of BW stilt parents defending their chicks from the attentions of little egret. Reed warbler and great egret on the SES Puntes track but no sign of the squacco heron or moustached warbler hoped for.
Friday April 26 – A pleasant drive south to Salobrar de Campos. Eddie’s track was extremely slippy after the recent rain and we viewed only the first lagoon and surrounding scrub but still saw ruff, redshank, greenshank, whinchat and stonechat. The lagoons at Es Trenc gave good views of flamingos, avocet, Kentish plover, LR plover and marsh harrier. After lunch in Colonia Sant Jordi (don’t bother), we went to find area not covered in Gosney or the local birders guide (also recommended for greater depth) – Mondrago Natural Park. There is a good colony of Audouin’s gulls on the rocks, great for photographers of the species scarce elsewhere. A walk along the Mirador de Ses Font de n’Alis to the bay was quirt but livened up just before the beach car park with 4 hoopoe feeding on the opposite bank with more in trees overhead, siskin, serin and a good party of swallows which we failed to convert into red-rumped. The walk back produced a cracking turtle dove but not the wryneck also heard there. This is an area I would like to explore further.
Saturday April 27 – a promising day spoiled by the weather. We had planned to visit the Depuradora but we only had chance to see 4 bee eaters on the fence around the last sand hill area on the left, before the heavens opened. This looks are very interesting area but we gave up and didn’t try to look for the marsh terns and marbled duck reported by other birders. Still, must leave something for next time....
Sunday April 28 – lots to do on our last day. Rain again spoiled our drive/walk around the PP back lanes and we did not see the collared flycatcher later reported. On to the Boquer valley area and the avenue of pines produced a large number of willow warblers and flycatchers, although we did not see the melodious warbler reported by another birder a little earlier. A quick walk up to the farmhouse on the valley road produced a fabulous male Montagu’s harrier quartering the fields below, catching and eating prey only 30 years in front of us. A final visit to La Gola on the way back to start packing brought a lovely male redstart and finally an osprey being mobbed over the harbour before moving away.
A good week despite the weather with over 70 species seen including 13 lifers.
You should expect to see lots of flycatchers, BW stilts as common as mallards, cettis warblers around every corner and nightingale around every other corner. Marsh harriers overhead are not unusual and booted eagle and black vulture appeared to be increasing in numbers as we left.
Get the Gosney guide if you can, the local birders guide is a good read too. The island is great for birding so good luck and mind the cyclists!
Keith Allen
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Many thanks Keith for such a comprehensive report, I am sure it will be very useful to visiting birders. Sorry about the weather! Mike.
ESTEBANNIC
Well-known member
Great report Keith. Thanks for posting.
Steve
Steve
Clive Griffin
Well-known member
Yesterday, Ortolan Bunting with a couple of Short-toed Larks on the road leading to the Depuradora, Son Bosc, also 6 Bee-eaters. Black-necked Grebe and Black Tern still at the Depuradora. I missed the Collared Flycatcher at Puerto Pollensa, but was rewarded with a Montagu's Harrier, and a Wood Warbler by the river.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Lucky you Clive, I have yet to see Ortolan here, I have missed a few. Today at the tower it was very quiet, northerly winds don't help. No Honey buzzard but a few Eleanora's falcons and a Black kite were entertaining. Not much luck at the depuradora either but there was a Golden oriole at Ses Puntes this evening. Son Real did not reveal any Dartford warblers but they are there. Still lots of Bee-eaters around, Garden warbler and Turnstone were good year ticks. It has been an amazing April so everything seems rather quiet after all the frantic activity. Mike
rdspalm
Well-known member
NIOC week in Mallorca
Just returned home after a very enjoyable week's birding based at Port de Pollenca. Our part of three birders/photographers members of the Northern Ireland Ornithologists Club totalled a list of 130 birds for our week from 27th April to 4th May. Covering S'Albufera marshes including the Depuradora, Albuferata, Ses Selinas, Cuber Dam, Gorg Blau, Formentor, Boquer Valley, Llenaire we saw and photographed some amazing birds. Highlights for me were Montague's Harrier, 2 males & 2 females, 10+ Hen Harriers, Wrynecks at Llenaire and Boquer Valley, Stone Curlew, Tawny Pippit, Vultures Black, Griffon & Egyptian.
Weather started out wet and miserable but improved by Tuesday, more akin to our Irish weather. However it produced an excellent migration. The migration had largely disappeared by the time Friday came. Variety of warbler were not as plentifull as previous years. All in all an good trip. Photos to follow later.
Richard Smith
Just returned home after a very enjoyable week's birding based at Port de Pollenca. Our part of three birders/photographers members of the Northern Ireland Ornithologists Club totalled a list of 130 birds for our week from 27th April to 4th May. Covering S'Albufera marshes including the Depuradora, Albuferata, Ses Selinas, Cuber Dam, Gorg Blau, Formentor, Boquer Valley, Llenaire we saw and photographed some amazing birds. Highlights for me were Montague's Harrier, 2 males & 2 females, 10+ Hen Harriers, Wrynecks at Llenaire and Boquer Valley, Stone Curlew, Tawny Pippit, Vultures Black, Griffon & Egyptian.
Weather started out wet and miserable but improved by Tuesday, more akin to our Irish weather. However it produced an excellent migration. The migration had largely disappeared by the time Friday came. Variety of warbler were not as plentifull as previous years. All in all an good trip. Photos to follow later.
Richard Smith
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