Albufereta

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Balearic Islands, Mallorca

Overview

Although it is not nearly as good as it was a few decades ago and over-shadowed by the larger Albufera to the south, Albufereta is still worth visiting for a range of wetland birds and various migrants.

The habitats consist of marshes, parts of which are still rather inaccessible, reedbeds and open water surrounded by dry scrubland.

Birds

Notable Species

Osprey and Eleonora's Falcon are commonly seen in this area as are Marsh Harrier and, on passage, Montagu's Harrier and Hen Harrier.

Little Egret and various herons occur here and there are Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler, and Moustached Warbler.

In the more open areas Red-legged Partridge, Hoopoe and Corn Bunting are common.

Rarities

In spring 2002 a male Pallid Harrier was present.

Checklist

Birds you can see here include:

Great Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Osprey, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora's Falcon, Common Quail, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin's Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Black Tern, European Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl, Common Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Northern House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Western Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Common Starling, European Serin, Corn Bunting

Other Wildlife

Like Albufera Marsh this area is botanically rich with a range of orchids including Bumble-bee Ophrys bombyliflora and Mirror Ophrys speculum.

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

To do

Access and Facilities

Albufereta lies beside the Puerto Pollensa to Alcudia road on the north-east coast of Mallorca. The minor roads to the north and west of the marsh towards Pollensa are good for a range of passerine migrants as well as various herons.

Puerto Pollensa is undoubtedly the best base for an ornithological exploration of Mallorca lying, as it does, within easy reach of most of the best birding sites on the island.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

Search for photos of Albufereta in the gallery

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Content and images originally posted by Steve

Reviews

ikw101's review An excellent site although access can be awkward. Fortunately being based at the adjacent Club Pollentia complex we had a slight advantage. Several wooden bridges over the ditches suggest access on foot is available around the back of the hotel however by September the route is overgrown and obscured (lack of use). Unfortunately everybody takes Gosneys guide at face value and no longer seem to bother. We found the Albufereta to be best in early morning, late afternoon/evening.

In September 2006 highlights were the Booted Eagle, Marsh Harriers and Osprey overhead. Wryneck in the tamarisk, Olivaceous warblers in the taller reeds, Squacco, Night and Purple Herons in and around the ditches/pools and the spectacular movements across the marsh at dusk. Literally hundreds of Night Herons, Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets etc. flying to their roosts.

In May 2007 we carried out a repeat visit, again staying at the Club Pollentia complex adjacent to the marsh. The old bird hide home to gecko's etc. has now gone and been replaced by a tower hide. Unfortunately the sheer act of climbing up into the tower scares off every bird in the immediate vicinity however it does provide a superb view of the southern end of the marsh. At this time of year the Ospreys and Marsh Harriers were extremely active with plenty of Serin, Fan-tailed Warbler, Little Egrets and Night Herons. Again we saw a single Wryneck and a single Great White Egret.

Perhaps the best point of access to the Albufereta is now from behind the C'an Cuarassa restaurant on the Alcudia-Puerto Pollensa road however if approaching from Alcudia park up on the left just before the Club Pollentia complex. Wrap a large beach towel around your scope and tripod and walk on down the road until you come to the Club Pollentia complex. Turn left, hold your nerve and walk on through until you come to a small wooden gate on the fenceline between the hotel and the marsh. As you walk out along the timber boardwalk and up to the tower hide remind yourself this is a nature park and not a private extension to the hotel and you have every right to be here.

For those with less nerve walk on past the Club Pollentia checking out the marsh to your left and the beach to your right (excellent for Auduoin's gull, the desmeratii ssp of Shag and Osprey fishing in Pollensa bay) until you come to C'an Cuarassa restaurant. Take a left and carefully check out the network of paths. Bee-eaters, Hoopoe, Stonechat, Whinchat, Bonnelli's, Sardinian and Marmora's warblers can all be found complete with Woodchat Shrike, Egrets, Goldfinches, Kestrels and supposedly Red Footed Falcons but I can't say we've had any luck. Eleonoras falcon is reliable around the entire area however exceptional views of these can be seen from the Mirador high (very high) above Pollensa bay.

Sept 2006

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