Mallorca 2017 (1 Viewer)

Mike Montier · Apr 16, 2017

Hi Sprosser13. Turnstone are fairly common in winter along the coast of Mallorca. Still nice birds to see, Son Real is a reliable site. I usually see them along the coast east of Palma and at Colonia Sant Jordi.
Martin, thanks for the Ibis information, I have seen various records over the years but I believe they have always been treated as escapes.
Bluechaffinch. Thanks for the information, quite a few botanists come to the Island so many readers of this thread are interested in plants, moths and insects. We are all still learning about the wildlife of Mallorca so all contributions are very welcome.
Our trip in the USA is going well with lots of new and exciting birds but I am still missing Mallorca. Reading this thread has made me feel very lucky to live there.
Many thanks to all for your contributions, much appreciated. Mike

JonathanF · Apr 16, 2017

Mike Montier said:
Hi Sprosser13. Turnstone are fairly common in winter along the coast of Mallorca. Still nice birds to see, Son Real is a reliable site. I usually see them along the coast east of Palma and at Colonia Sant Jordi.
Martin, thanks for the Ibis information, I have seen various records over the years but I believe they have always been treated as escapes.
Bluechaffinch. Thanks for the information, quite a few botanists come to the Island so many readers of this thread are interested in plants, moths and insects. We are all still learning about the wildlife of Mallorca so all contributions are very welcome.
Our trip in the USA is going well with lots of new and exciting birds but I am still missing Mallorca. Reading this thread has made me feel very lucky to live there.
Many thanks to all for your contributions, much appreciated. Mike

Cheers Mike, thought that might be the case, just thought it looked a bit out of place sat among Kentish Plovers!

Clive Griffin · Apr 16, 2017

honeym said:
These may be birds that have been around for some years. The 2011 report gives the following records: s’Albufera, 2 examples on 7 February and 3 examples on 20 October. If I remember rightly, there were 2 different subspecies, suggesting a captive origin for the birds. There don't appear to be any records for 2012, 2013 or 2015.

Martin

Hi Martin, I have records for a single bird in 2007 & 2008 at the end of April and the end of May respectively. Here is a digiscoped photo from 2007.

Simon Wates · Apr 16, 2017

There have been small numbers of Sacred Ibis apparently wandering around Spain and Portugal the last years - locally where I live we've seen as many as 6 birds together. Maybe the Mallorca birds are part of these? Originally though I think its likely that they came from the large feral colony on the west coast of France that has caused serious damage to heronies there, like egg and chick eating - I think they were to be culled...?

Anyway many worry about them and although they are a bizzare sight, they're not completely welcomed due to worries of establishing in other heronries. I remember one in Coto Doñana a while back that worried some reserve staff there.....

Clive Griffin · Apr 16, 2017

I always look forward to the Great Reed Warbler returning to the pool by the Observation Mound at Albufera. I assume it's the same bird that returns year after year.
I noticed that the Marsh Sandpiper that was recently at Albufera had a slightly upturned bill, similar to the Greenshank, and it's interesting to see the difference in size shown in this photo.

bluechaffinch · Apr 17, 2017

A dozen or so bee-eaters north over PP at ten this morning.

honeym · Apr 17, 2017

Clive Griffin said:
Hi Martin, I have records for a single bird in 2007 & 2008 at the end of April and the end of May respectively. Here is a digiscoped photo from 2007.

Hi Clive
Thanks for that. I've been doing a bit more reading and the first record for Mallorca was in 1999 - a bird of unknown origin (Aredeola 2001. 48: 117-136). One was also found in Menorca in 2006 (Birds of the Iberian Peninsula p. 172).
The first sighting in Spain was in 1994 and annually since 1997. Barcelona zoo has free-flying breeding birds and there have been other introductions of free-flying birds.

bluechaffinch · Apr 18, 2017

Braved the hordes today at Formentor (just what is the appeal of cycling up mountains in black lycra???). A moustachioed falcon on the cliffs at km 16 gave me a brief heart flutter before revealing itself as a smart peregrine. Also two BRT song flighting there.

A short stop at Cala Figuero had more BRT plus a heard only Balearic warbler in song.

Essexbird · Apr 18, 2017

bluechaffinch said:
Braved the hordes today at Formentor (just what is the appeal of cycling up mountains in black lycra???). A moustachioed falcon on the cliffs at km 16 gave me a brief heart flutter before revealing itself as a smart peregrine. Also two BRT song flighting there.

A short stop at Cala Figuero had more BRT plus a heard only Balearic warbler in song.

I'm hoping to be able to get Eleonora's falcon when I'm there in May!

bluechaffinch · Apr 18, 2017

I wish you good luck! I fear I'm too early and with only two full days left here my chances are next to zero. A bogey bird for me, but it means I'll have to search another time.

Heading to Salobrar de Campos and Es Trenc tomorrow so hopefully can bag another bogey bird with ST lark...

bluechaffinch · Apr 18, 2017

Forgot to add that there was a cuckoo singing at Cala Figuero this afternoon.

Branwen · Apr 18, 2017

bluechaffinch said:
Braved the hordes today at Formentor (just what is the appeal of cycling up mountains in black lycra???). A moustachioed falcon on the cliffs at km 16 gave me a brief heart flutter before revealing itself as a smart peregrine. Also two BRT song flighting there.

A short stop at Cala Figuero had more BRT plus a heard only Balearic warbler in song.

We saw a peregrine on the cliffs near there too at the end of last week - had the same experience!!

Branwen · Apr 18, 2017

Spotted Crake

Have had two sightings of a Spotted Crake at C'an Cuarassa in the last week, the second one this evening. In the pool on the left halfway along the path which runs parallel to the main coast road (ie, the pool that doesn't have screening and the observation hide). Both times it was to the left of the pool. The water is gradually drying up there, but there's a frothy patch near the reedbeds to the left and it was lurking around there for quite a while both times. Also heard it calling two mornings ago in the same area. Had a Snipe there too, as well as at least ten Yellow Wagtails and the usual LRP's, Common Sandpiper and Stilts.

Albufera tomorrow again

bluechaffinch · Apr 18, 2017

Anyone been to Salobrar this week? Are the flamingos still there?

chris chapleo · Apr 18, 2017

hello all

sadly now back from Mallorca although weather in Bournemouth today wasnt too dissimilar ( if 10C colder!) -last Mallorcan bird as I left apartment at 4am was Stone Curlew calling, so nice end. Attached shot of Sacred Ibis and a really nice Little Bittern from Albufera.

back before too long I hope . Best wishes to all on this thread - Chris

Mike Montier · Apr 18, 2017

Hi Bluechaffinch, the Flamingoes will still be there, some birds stay all summer every year and I was told by Steve that they attempted breeding at least once.
The birds peak in the autumn with several hundred in most years but there will still be quite a few to welcome you there.
They can be seen from the road to Es Trenc beach but are better viewed from Eddie's Track on the other side, park at hotel fontsanta. Good luck, Mike

eagle33 · Apr 19, 2017

Mike Montier said:
Hi Bluechaffinch, the Flamingoes will still be there, some birds stay all summer every year and I was told by Steve that they attempted breeding at least once.
The birds peak in the autumn with several hundred in most years but there will still be quite a few to welcome you there.
They can be seen from the road to Es Trenc beach but are better viewed from Eddie's Track on the other side, park at hotel fontsanta. Good luck, Mike

Hi mike, regarding the path from the hotel i noticed wildlife information boards but there fenced off from the path from the hotel, how do you gain access to these information boards and if you jump the rope will someone come and turf you off the site? im guessing it has something to do with the salt shop?

Mike Montier · Apr 19, 2017

Hi Craig, yes, exactly that, if you jump the rope a geezer runs over and is none too polite either.
The roped off area is private and there are guided tours run by the salt shop. I met one of the guides some time ago, a really lovely German lass who said she agreed with me that the groups disturbed the Flamingoes which I complained about.
The tour was nine euros but I have not seen any groups recently so I don't know if they still offer them.
My advice is to stay the right side of the ropes, good luck, Mike

bluechaffinch · Apr 19, 2017

Lots of 'mingos today which thrilled my kids and father in law. Also RR swallow, two GB terns, four marsh harriers, plenty of greenshanks and three curlew. Two purple herons at Es Trenc lagoon.

Mike Montier · Apr 19, 2017

Hi bluechaffinch, so glad you saw the Flamingos, they are super birds to see. Nice record of Red-rumped swallow and Gull-billed terns, there are never very many.
Salobrar is a great place for terns, it's just a question of being there on the right day. I have been there when terns filled the sky and yet other days when there are none.
It's a great place also for Collared Pratincole, I once saw seven together which is a very high number for Mallorca. Mike

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