Mallorca 2018 (3 Viewers)

[stuartg]

That looks like a Lesser Kestrel to me

 

[Joshh17]

Hi everyone,
Attached is what I think is the elm-leaf beetle, a species that I can’t find records for from Albufera. I’m interested to know if this species has been recorded in Albufera, and just in case it hasn’t, is there anyone I can send the record to to let them know?
Thanks,
Josh

 

[pp53]

Thanks Mike and Stuart. I tweeted the Kestrel pic on my Twitter account and copied in Miguel McMinn, overwhelming response for Lesser Kestrel including Miguel who has sent the sighting on to the local rarity group. I must admit I didn't realise the sighting was this unusual. I have started tweeting pictures from my trip on my Twitter account and will also post some on here, but for anybody interested who use Twitter my handle is @ianballam


Thanks again, Ian

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Josh. Certainly looks like Elm Leaf Beetle to me but I can find no record of it from Mallorca. I will ask a couple of people and come back to you. Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi everyone,
Attached is what I think is the elm-leaf beetle, a species that I can’t find records for from Albufera. I’m interested to know if this species has been recorded in Albufera, and just in case it hasn’t, is there anyone I can send the record to to let them know?
Thanks,
Josh

Hi Josh
There are records of this species from s'Albufera (e.g. https://arthropodafotos.de/dbsp.php...oleo_pol_chr&sci=Xanthogaleruca&scisp=luteola). I can probably find out when we (TAIB) first recorded it. There are also some papers dealing with Mallorcan specimens (https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.e...=Satellite_DNA_in_the_elm_leaf_beetle_i_X.pdf). It's also listed from the Balearics on the Fauna Europaea website.
I think there are three species of Ulmus on various islands, all of which are non-native introductions. Almost certainly the beetle came with them. If it's of interest, I've also recorded a moth that feeds solely on Ulmus and although it has been recently recorded (2015 ) from Portugal, it has yet to be recorded in mainland Spain (another one to write up).
Best wishes
Martin

 

[lancsbirder]

Thanks Mike and Stuart. I tweeted the Kestrel pic on my Twitter account and copied in Miguel McMinn, overwhelming response for Lesser Kestrel including Miguel who has sent the sighting on to the local rarity group. I must admit I didn't realise the sighting was this unusual. I have started tweeting pictures from my trip on my Twitter account and will also post some on here, but for anybody interested who use Twitter my handle is @ianballam


Thanks again, Ian

Hi Ian,

Punta has been my patch both last year and this on hols. I've always just passed the Kestrels off as commons. I've had them in the pine trees to the left of the first main open area on pretty much every occasion. Should have studied them more closely. I'm back there in October and shall certainly take a greater interest in them then.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Ian. Me too! I was at Punta de n’Amer last week and saw an unusual looking Kestrel but I thought it was the strong sunlight affecting the plumage. That will teach me. I did write a few years ago how important it is to look closely at every Kestrel but I must have forgotten my own advice.
I will go back soon, my bird was on the left soon after the main entrance. I will post the results.
Mike

 

[pp53]

Hi Ian,

Punta has been my patch both last year and this on hols. I've always just passed the Kestrels off as commons. I've had them in the pine trees to the left of the first main open area on pretty much every occasion. Should have studied them more closely. I'm back there in October and shall certainly take a greater interest in them then.

Hi Ian. Me too! I was at Punta de n’Amer last week and saw an unusual looking Kestrel but I thought it was the strong sunlight affecting the plumage. That will teach me. I did write a few years ago how important it is to look closely at every Kestrel but I must have forgotten my own advice.
I will go back soon, my bird was on the left soon after the main entrance. I will post the results.
Mike

Hi Mike/LincsBirder.

There are definitely Common Kestrel around the main entrance and the first main open area, I saw them pretty much daily. I think they may have bred around the farm/villa(with the tall chimney) and they were very often in the trees in the Stone Curlew field. I checked all the Kestrels that gave me decent views and there was only that one sighting that I thought was a possible Lesser. It was in the 3rd open area(on left of path,c200mtres before castell) , the one that's got a bit of fencing than fences off an area that have been farmed in the past. It was about 8am in the morning and would maybe assume an early migrating bird?

Hope you both find one

Not sure whether we'll have a foreign holiday next year, but if we do I'll certainly push for Mallorca again!

Ian

 

[Mike Montier]

A friend just photographed this snake in his garden here in Mallorca and I’m not quite sure of the identity.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, Mike

 

[honeym]

A friend just photographed this snake in his garden here in Mallorca and I’m not quite sure of the identity.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, Mike

I can't see enough detail before it starts to pixelate.
Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Further details and photographs of the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater found by Harald at Colonia Sant Jordi have come through.
It just reinforces my view that many rarities are occurring here but are sadly they are not being seen. I have been birding a lot in the south in the last few weeks and I have only met two locals birders in all those visits. The Island is therefore still seriously underwatched, especially in the south.
On the positive side, I have met up with three new birders who have come to live here so things are on the up.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A couple of hours at the Cap de Ses Salines produced one Black Kite and one Black Vulture. There were around 65 Common Swift and a few Pallid Swift.
Later on a walk around Colonia Sant Jordi, I spotted five Turnstones from the boardwalk.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Six people at the Cap this morning which is five more than normal.
Lots of Common Swift, a few Barn swallows flying direct to Africa, three Black kites, two of which left the island only to return a few minutes later in tow with another.
Two Bonelli’s eagles together which seemed adult or near adult and then a bit later an immature bird appeared. Lovely. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A Montagu’s Harrier has been seen on the central plain by Juanjo.
Honey buzzards are coming through the straits but we have yet to see our first one. Any day now though and let’s hope we get good numbers this season.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

The Spotted Crake is still being seen in the reserve opposite the karting track in Magaluf, nicely photographed today by Juanjo.
Mike

 

[pp53]

I've received the life history of one of the Ringed Audouins Gull that I saw on the Punta De n'Amer

ATJ4 is 13yrs old ringed as a chick in PUNTA DE LA BANYA, TARRAGONA on 25/06/2005

It has also been seen in Almeria on 28/04/2006 , in Murcia on 21/02/2010 and 1 other sighting on 10/01/2012 which only has co-ordinates 28º40' N / 11º7' W

Hope this of interest

Ian

 

[Mike Montier]

Very much of interest Ian.
I never knew they got about so much.
Thanks, Mike

 

[grahmec]

A dozen Audouins gulls on rocks north of Sa Coma beach this am including 1 ringed bird BLPS

 

[grahmec]

I’ve been birding Punta de N’Amer early morning a few days this week and with there being so many Sardinian Warblers present, I was suprised to not see any Balearic Warblers, as I would imagine all the low scrub would be ideal for them. Has anyone else had them here? Or do they just not occur in this area?

 

[Patrick_m]

First visit in a while to s’Albufera this morning. Not surprisingly, very little around. The most notable waders, were a dozen of Spotted Redshanks in Sa Roca, and a Kingfisher showing quite well for a while. 4 Marsh Harrier moved in briefly and so did a Purple Heron.
A flock of 50 Bee-eaters passed over the Gran Canal.
It was good to see several juvenile Red-knobbed Coots too.
Cibollar 1 is still completely dry in front of the hide and only BW stilt occupied the very back of the pool where some water remains.
The Egret roost was relatively quiet, the Squacco Herons were absent and so were the Glossy Ibises which I found at the Depuradora, 12 of them.

I have heard but not seen Balearic Warblers at Punta de n’Amer and I remember someone in this forum discussing their exact locations with Mike Montier, somewhere right at the beginning of the path of the north entrance, if I recall correctly. I am sure Mike will confirm they have been seen there.