Hi all!
We have just returned to Edinburgh after two glorious weeks walking and birdwatching in Mallorca.
This was our 31st trip in 17 years!
Apart from the many 'regular' species, the highlights for us were:
glossy ibis, 6 marbled ducks and 3 garganey at Sa Roca, 12 avocets (with juveniles), 2 Temmincks stints, 2 little stints and at least 6 wood sandpipers at Cibollar I on 14/4;
several black vultures, wryneck and many cirl buntings at Son Marc (Cami Vell de Lluc) on 16/4;
tufted ducks (pair) at Depuradora on 17/4;
purple heron, dunlin and great reed warbler (at least 8 by 26/4) at S'Albufera on 19/4;
a very cold, windy day at Talaia d'Albercutx yielded just one pallid swift and one Eleanora's falcon on 20/4;
the same day we had our first pied flycatcher at La Gola - they were everywhere after that! We visited Marina and registered to join the Forum;
apart from booted eagles and black vultures on the Mortitx walk, we are sure we had 2 Bonelli's eagles on 21/4. Again, lots of sunshine but a cold NE wind;
a ruff, curlew sandpiper and 3 little stints were at Cibollar I on 22/4 with 2 beautiful collared pratincoles at Sa Roca;
a garden warbler and our first spotted flycatcher at Son Marc on 23/4;
a brilliant day at Son Real on 24/4! A tawny pipit singing from the wires at the Finca, a golden oriole nearby, with stone curlew in the field, and an alpine swift amongst the swift passage in the afternoon; also our first sighting of a turtle dove in the woods - we had previously often just heard them purr!
on our last day, we had a hobby catching dragonflies at S'Albufera, with good views of moustached warbler; a chiffchaff and a grasshopper warbler near the Information Centre, the resident golden eagle being mobbed by 2 peregrines from the Tower, and 10 bee-eaters overhead with a little bittern near the bridge over the main canal.
We were very happy with our 117 species, considering we didn't venture further than Mortitx and Son Real from our usual base in Puerto Pollensa!
Sorry we missed you and your rollers, Graham!
We really enjoy reading all the reports in the forum when we are at home in Scotland - and getting very envious.....
Mike & Liz
We have just returned to Edinburgh after two glorious weeks walking and birdwatching in Mallorca.
This was our 31st trip in 17 years!
Apart from the many 'regular' species, the highlights for us were:
glossy ibis, 6 marbled ducks and 3 garganey at Sa Roca, 12 avocets (with juveniles), 2 Temmincks stints, 2 little stints and at least 6 wood sandpipers at Cibollar I on 14/4;
several black vultures, wryneck and many cirl buntings at Son Marc (Cami Vell de Lluc) on 16/4;
tufted ducks (pair) at Depuradora on 17/4;
purple heron, dunlin and great reed warbler (at least 8 by 26/4) at S'Albufera on 19/4;
a very cold, windy day at Talaia d'Albercutx yielded just one pallid swift and one Eleanora's falcon on 20/4;
the same day we had our first pied flycatcher at La Gola - they were everywhere after that! We visited Marina and registered to join the Forum;
apart from booted eagles and black vultures on the Mortitx walk, we are sure we had 2 Bonelli's eagles on 21/4. Again, lots of sunshine but a cold NE wind;
a ruff, curlew sandpiper and 3 little stints were at Cibollar I on 22/4 with 2 beautiful collared pratincoles at Sa Roca;
a garden warbler and our first spotted flycatcher at Son Marc on 23/4;
a brilliant day at Son Real on 24/4! A tawny pipit singing from the wires at the Finca, a golden oriole nearby, with stone curlew in the field, and an alpine swift amongst the swift passage in the afternoon; also our first sighting of a turtle dove in the woods - we had previously often just heard them purr!
on our last day, we had a hobby catching dragonflies at S'Albufera, with good views of moustached warbler; a chiffchaff and a grasshopper warbler near the Information Centre, the resident golden eagle being mobbed by 2 peregrines from the Tower, and 10 bee-eaters overhead with a little bittern near the bridge over the main canal.
We were very happy with our 117 species, considering we didn't venture further than Mortitx and Son Real from our usual base in Puerto Pollensa!
Sorry we missed you and your rollers, Graham!
We really enjoy reading all the reports in the forum when we are at home in Scotland - and getting very envious.....
Mike & Liz
