Mallorca 2022 (1 Viewer)

Again a lot to report on my last mornings birding. So as suggested by the forum I popped over to Mortitx early morning to get into position to try get the Bonelli's Eagles, a lifer for me. Weirdly the parking for the walk to the refuge was locked all morning so I parked up at the vineyard and walked in from there. Just past the dam I pulled over and sat under a tree with views down the valley there and not 20min later I had a dark monster of a bird fly right over my head all the way down the valley and around the corner and out of view. I presumed this was the juvi, this year's fledgling. Then a further 20min later I heard a lot of squawking behind me so looked around to see one of the adults and the juvi flew up out of the valley and eventually lost to view. What a mornings birding!! What a bird!! I very much appreciate everyone's help in this forum allowing me to put such an epic bird on my world list.

Oh and of cos Cirl Bunt also at Mortitx loads of pairs there in the vineyard itself.

Then back at the villa half a sleep on the pool lounger I look up and see a pair of Honey Buzzard and a Booted Eagle having a tussle. Basically point blank views.

What a day!
Yes, you have a juvenile and an adult Bonelli’s eagle there, congratulations.
The locals are very interested in your Honey buzzard sighting.
Would it be possible to give a precise location please?
It’s a very important record. No sign of breeding I suppose?
Well done and thanks for all your posts, I’ve enjoyed birding with you from my armchair.
All the best,
Mike

Mike Montier said:

What a day!
Yes, you have a juvenile and an adult Bonelli’s eagle there, congratulations.
The locals are very interested in your Honey buzzard sighting.
Would it be possible to give a precise location please?
It’s a very important record. No sign of breeding I suppose?
Well done and thanks for all your posts, I’ve enjoyed birding with you from my armchair.
All the best,
Mike

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Location sent via DM. Nope afraid not, we've been in the villa for 2 weeks and it's the first time I've seen them. We've spent so much time around the pool if they are in the area I would've defo have seen them already. But you never know. Thanks for the kind comments once I finish up my Mallorcan Birding video I'll share it here.

A truly biblical drop in Swift numbers tonight from around say, between 50 to 100 to literally 5 this evening over the villa. I'm hoping they are just hunting else where this evening.

I had a large number of Common Swifts,including a single Pallid at Albufereta yesterday.Last week,there were only a handful.

I had a lot to do today but in view of the Honey buzzard sightings, I decided to go to the Cap just after daybreak. Probably near zero chance of the Honey buzzard departing but I just had to give it a go.
I disturbed two turtle doves on the way down. The approach road is a good place for this species. They often line the road, sometimes in good numbers, presumably before departing for Africa.
The sea was deadly quiet, just two Scopoli’s shearwaters were seen and the usual gulls, both Yellow-legged and Audouin’s, all going west.
It got too hot so as usual, I made for the shade of the trees by the now famous wall. I named it the “Wall of Fame” which seems to have stuck.
There was nothing, but then I spotted 3 falcons. All Eleonora’s I soon discovered, but in with them were two Bonelli’s eagles, one adult and one immature, soon joined by a single Booted eagle. Over the other side, there were 2 Red kite and 2 common kestrel.
Then they were gone and I saw nothing more up to when I had to depart.
It’s very strange, but at this site, raptors often appear all at the same time, followed by nothing more.
It’s given me a taste of what’s to come though, lots of early mornings and days of not seeing much, but it’s being there that counts.
You just never know with birding.
Mike

About 80 Common swift too.

Flying home tonight just wanted to thank everyone on the forum for your advice, locations details and sighting information. 3 lifers (Balearic Warb, Tawny Pip and Bonelli's Eagle) and then a bunch of Spanish/Mallorca ticks on top of that made for a fantastic trip. I'm sure I'll be back to in the hopefully not to distant future I love birding in Mallorca a top destination even though I'm a little late in the season. Now home to go get that Turkestan Shrike that's been waiting for me for 2 weeks.

Good luck with the shrike, it’s a beauty.
Safe trip home.
See you next time.
Mike

One more report lazing around the pool again a single Honey Buzzard circling high then drifted off North. (Hills north of Palma)Also Booted Eagle and Ele Falc

Like Shaun,l fly home this evening.Another great holiday on a great Island.Birding was local to PP and nothing mega seen but l still love doing my hobby over here.Shall write a wee trip report,when l get back to Scotland.

Safe trips home you two.
The Honey buzzard is interesting.
I guess they are either summering in Mallorca as non-breeders, or are breeding somewhere.
As far as I know, they have never bred here which is why everyone is wondering if they could be.
Mike

Just looked in Birds of the Iberian Peninsula. As a breeding species in mainland Spain it's mainly confined to the NW. No records for the Balearics, other than on passage which usually starts in the autumn in late July (so that could fit). The peak count for Mallorca was in Spring (4 May 2004) when 1400 wee seen over Pollenca.

Mike Montier said:

Good luck with the shrike, it’s a beauty.
Safe trip home.
See you next time.
Mike

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Got the Shrike this morning. Showed fantastically well like all Shrike do. Plane landed I then had 2hrs sleep then a 10 hrs round trip AND I'm still wide awake now at 23:50!!

2 pics of the HB taken on Sat above our villa north of Palma.

Thanks Shaun. A very interesting photo as your Saturday bird is the female.

Your twitching exploits are mighty impressive but I’m so glad the shrike was still there for you.
When a rare bird appears here, it can never be more than one and a half hours away but I’ve still had plenty of sleepless nights and I’m sure I will have lots more for many years to come.
All part of the fun.
Birders eh?
Well done.
Mike

At last a proper day out birding in the delightful company of Kevin and Phil A.
We met at the depuradora where there was a nice cool breeze but it very soon warmed up.
There were many expected species including Green sandpiper, Marbled duck, Marsh harrier, Swallows, House Martin and both Pallid and common swift, Purple swamp hen and Little grebes.
Then a species of egret flew in. It was small and my first thoughts were how similar it looked to a Reef egret. It was all white but with some grey streaks to the breast. Most impressive was the bill which seemed enormous for the size of the bird. It was all yellow too, straight and dagger shaped.
More research is needed so I will be reading up as much as possible.
It settled for less than a minute and I got my camera out. It jammed and by the time I rebooted it, the bird was up and away.
I managed one shot from behind. The tip of the bill can just be seen.
I thought about an hybrid but maybe I’m missing something obvious.
We called at the horse paddock hoping for Bee-eaters but we only heard them.
We also stopped at the coach station for Tree sparrows and we saw a couple.
We then walked along the approach road to the main reserve which seemed a lot longer than usual. It was sweltering. By the time we got to Sa Roca, we were glad to sit down.
The water levels are dismal, hardly a drop and hence very few waders except the usual Kentish plovers and Little ringed plovers. Lots of Glossy ibis and a Greenshank calling.
We managed the far hides but again there was very little.
Some Stone Curlew were hiding under a dead tree, trying in vain to avoid the punishing heat of the midday sun but to no avail. It really was too hot so we made our way back.
We heard Great reed warblers by the bridge and Phil managed to locate one, really giving it the beans with it harsh and loud song.
I remember reading a book by Chis Stewart saying that when it’s hot, your speech becomes slurred and when it’s even hotter, your thoughts become slurred. That’s just what it felt like.
I’m sure committed note-taker Phil will tell me what I have forgotten…speaking of which Phil, we forgot the tomatoes! Your wife does make exceedingly good cakes though.
Mike

Just a few photos