Mallorca 2019 (2 Viewers)

Mcnswiss2 · Nov 13, 2019

Rain again but always good to shelter in the hides at S’Albufera.
Birds seen included Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis(5), Marsh Harriers, Greylag Geese(2), Kingfishers, Shellducks, Marble Ducks, Black Winged Stilts, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe(3), Little Grebe, Lapwings, Cetti Warblers and Water Rails.

So many Purple Gallinules.

Flamingoes still at S’Albufereta.

Richard Prior · Nov 13, 2019

Birdguides reports a Hume's Warbler on Mallorca yesterday, I'm not a paid up subscriber so can't access location details, but the locals should be able to help you folk on holiday there at the moment!

StewB · Nov 13, 2019

Richard Prior said:
Birdguides reports a Hume's Warbler on Mallorca yesterday, I'm not a paid up subscriber so can't access location details, but the locals should be able to help you folk on holiday there at the moment!

I’ve attached screenshots of the relevant Birdguides website page.

Stew

Mike Montier · Nov 13, 2019

Thank you Richard and Stew, I have no news on this bird so I don’t know the finder or if they heard it call or got good quality photos.
I will look into it and post.
Mike

honeym · Nov 13, 2019

The aucells rars vists a les Illes Balears website (http://rareresesornibalears.blogspot.com) gives the following:

A Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei was seen on the Formentor peninsula, Pollença, on the 12-11-2019. Second record of this species in the Balearics. Daniel López-Velasco.

With a map showing it to be just before the Cases Velles area.

Martin

Mike Montier · Nov 14, 2019

Thanks Martin.
Pep has also confirmed the sighting.
I saw what I believe was a Hume’s warbler at Porto Colom last year but without hearing the call or having photographs, I chose not submit it.
I was told that Yellow-browed warblers can vary quite a lot so a dull individual could not be ruled out.
The finder of this recent sighting is a top class birder so it seems likely to be accepted.
I feel sure other species from the east arrive in Mallorca every year but have until recently gone unnoticed.
The recent records of two Red-flanked Bluetail would seem to confirm this.
Lots more out there to go and find!
Mike

Mcnswiss2 · Nov 14, 2019

I wish...
A visit to the hide in Son Real and the Depuradora on a cloudy day.
Very quiet at the hide pool, probably as plenty of puddles around for drinking.
Birds seen included: Crossbills, Song Thrushes, Robins, Blackcaps, Great tit, Serins, Cetti warblers.
Best bird seen was a Merlin on the enterence to the Site.
No Bluethroats seen at the Depuradora. Birds seen included Common and Green Sandpipers, Black Winged Stilts, Water and Meadow pipits, White wagtails, Lapwings, Kestrels and Marsh Harriers. Common Pochard amongst the usual ducks.

Maties Rebassa · Nov 14, 2019

Mike Montier said:
Thanks Martin.
Pep has also confirmed the sighting.
I saw what I believe was a Hume’s warbler at Porto Colom last year but without hearing the call or having photographs, I chose not submit it.
I was told that Yellow-browed warblers can vary quite a lot so a dull individual could not be ruled out.
The finder of this recent sighting is a top class birder so it seems likely to be accepted.
I feel sure other species from the east arrive in Mallorca every year but have until recently gone unnoticed.
The recent records of two Red-flanked Bluetail would seem to confirm this.
Lots more out there to go and find!
Mike

Sorry for the delay to answer, I've not much time free lately. Yes, the birder who found the bird is a top birder, one of the best ones in Spain, if not the best one! We had to meet in Formentor that day but I could not arrive there in time, so when I arrived the bird had gone. The Hume's appeared with a YBW, so there were 2 rarities in the same place! I've seen a photo of the bird, and the call was recorded too.

When I arrived there I could see other interesting birds, 3 Dunnocks, 3 Goldcrests and a Wrambling, so seems that there is a lot of movement now!

Mike Montier · Nov 14, 2019

Thanks Maties.
There does appear to be a lot of movement at the moment, no doubt helped by high winds, rain and snow.
A Snow Finch has been recorded on the highest peak in Mallorca and one also in Menorca which seems to be doing very well for rare and scarce birds recently.
Two Richard’s pipits have been seen.
A great website for viewing rare birds in the Balearics is:
rareresesornibalears.blogspot.com
Mike

Mcnswiss2 · Nov 15, 2019

Mike Montier said:
Thanks, a great day.
I know there was some discussion about crab species but I can’t seem to find it.
I was intrigued by this large species I saw today at s’Albufera.
Mike

More Crabs at S’ Albuferata as well

Invasive species callinectes sapidus?

Mike Montier · Nov 15, 2019

Yes, I believe they are Mike.
Very big ones too!
Mike

Mcnswiss2 · Nov 16, 2019

Interesting weather up North. The day started sunny, followed by rain, hail, more rain and ended up sunny!
S’Albufera is a good place to take shelter.
Birds seen included: Osprey(2), Marsh Harriers (5), Kestrel, Kingfisher(2), Glossy Ibis (2), Greylag geese(2), Common Snipe, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, Kentish plovers, Blackwinged Stilts, Great White Egret, Little Egrets(3), Night Herons(15), Cattle Egrets, Marbled Ducks (20), Shovelers, Teals, Water pipits, Purple Gallinule (15), Water Rails (2), Stonechats, Little Grebe.

2 Dutch birders reported 2 Little Bitterns and more surprising an Eurasian Bittern flypast. No photos were available. I waited at the spot were they were seen for over I hour with no sighting.

Mike Montier · Nov 16, 2019

Ah those wretched Great Bitterns Mike! I have never seen one but there are very occasional sightings and I believe the last winter census revealed one just individual in flight.
They were very lucky indeed to have connected.
I would settle for hail and cold just to be a Albufera once more, I miss Mallorca very much.
Mike
Ps. Nice photos.

Mcnswiss2 · Nov 20, 2019

Talking of which:
https://www.gobmallorca.com/ornito-publicacions/balearic-bird-report-2018
5 euros ..worth it

Mike Montier · Nov 23, 2019

A couple more Snow finch have been seen, no doubt they came in with the recent cold weather front.
They are always on the highest peaks unless you get a lucky sighting lower down when they first arrive.
Juanjo took some super photos, shame he doesn’t post on here.
Also three Common crane at Maristany.
I’m back next Tuesday and can’t wait, there are lots of winter birds I need for the BigYear and I’m trying to reach 200 by the end of the year.
Mike

Mike Montier · Nov 26, 2019

Just back after three weeks in the UK. No birding there sadly but lots going on here to keep me busy.
Woodcock again being seen, quite a few Goldcrest around which are normally scarce, hopefully still some Hawfinch at Son Real and I’m hoping to tick off those elusive Ring Ouzel on Thursday at Randa as seen by Juanjo, Mika and Pep.
A few Brambling have also been seen including one at Albufera.
I will also do a seawatch as soon as I can just to see what’s around in these waters.
It is really good to be back.
Mike

StewB · Nov 26, 2019

Just been binge-watching “The Mallorca Files” on the BBC iPlayer. An entertaining watch, and fun to see familiar locations as part of the plot. However, as ever the backing tracks are a bit misleading - you get the impression that there are bee eaters absolutely everywhere in Mallorca, and I’m pretty sure there was a tawny owl call in one of the after dark scenes..

Stew

Mike Montier · Nov 26, 2019

Haha Stew, I love those bird bloopers, Collared doves calling in a Victorian period dramas, Swift’s screaming past in mid-winter and many more.
I haven’t seen the programme and we can’t get iplayer here so I will have to hope someone here has recorded it.
Mike

Mike Montier · Nov 28, 2019

I spent three hours at Randa this morning. There are at least two, maybe three, Ring ouzels flying around the cisterna but they didn’t appear on the football pitch sadly, I would have liked some close views and to have taken some photos but that’s birding I guess.
As this was my big bogey bird I was hoping for a happier day but the flight views were brief and frustrating.
Predictably, my wife had a close-up of a fine male, I was over the other side.
Mike

Mike Montier · Nov 29, 2019

With all the recent sightings of Boobies in the UK and Spain, I was half expecting one to turn up in the waters around Mallorca.
Sure enough, Juanjo saw and photographed a boobie species off the north-east coast.
All very exciting and I will post further details as and when I receive them.
Many congratulations to Juanjo who has worked very hard this year and is now ahead of the game in the BigYear I believe.
Mike

Mallorca 2019 (2 Viewers)

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