Great. Many thanks and good birding for rest of the week...
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Mallorca 2017 (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
Great. Many thanks and good birding for rest of the week...
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Thank you Pep for the very detailed information on the breeding Spotless Starlings, I knew they were around the airport so it's nice to know exactly where.
Thank you also Barred Wobbler for your really interesting experiences with Griffon v Ruppell's vultures, I have no experience of Ruppell's but did see a strange Griffon once so this information will be a great help to us all. Mike
Thank you also Barred Wobbler for your really interesting experiences with Griffon v Ruppell's vultures, I have no experience of Ruppell's but did see a strange Griffon once so this information will be a great help to us all. Mike
I have to say I`m not confident enough to say it was a Ruppell`s. Stupid really but my main mission on this trip was to possitively identify a Moltoni`s. I`m sorry but this really is a rubbish description. The four vultures appeared over the ridge, three definite Griffons the other as I said looked interesting [i.e. different]. Overall it appeared to have a darker ground to the underwings but with pale feathers to the coverts [described in my notes at the time as "blotchy/spotted"]. The underbody also appeared to be streaked with pale feathers & I noted that the size appeared a little smaller than the Griffons though difficult to judge accurately. The bird soared with wings held in a very shallow "v". The wedge shaped tail looked extremely short which may have been exagerated by the broad wings [bulging secondaries]. It would certainly not have been in adult plumage. The obvious detail missing from this description I realise is no mention of the "diagnostic" white forewing line. As I said I regret not taking sufficient notice of it at the time intent on seeing a Moltoni`s which I am pleased to say I eventually did. So no way can I claim the bird as a Ruppell`s but anyone visiting Cuber should bear in mind the possiblity of the Ruppell`s being still around and I would be interested in any reports of it over the next few weeks.
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
A juvenile Ruppell's with a more typical griffon here, photographed Sept 2015 at the Algarrobo watchpoint, Algeciras.
Ruppell's to my eye usually has a compact, 'rakish' look about it. The jizz is somehow different.
NB. Other shots in this sequence show that the griffon is a bit lower and therefore closer to the camera than the Ruppell's, so the size difference is a bit exaggerated here.
Ruppell's to my eye usually has a compact, 'rakish' look about it. The jizz is somehow different.
NB. Other shots in this sequence show that the griffon is a bit lower and therefore closer to the camera than the Ruppell's, so the size difference is a bit exaggerated here.
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Brief visit to Depuradora de S'Illot / San Bosc yesterday afternoon produced Purple Heron, many young Shelduck and BW Stilt, 2 Marbled Duck, 4 Green Sand, good numbers of Yellow Wag, at least 7 Bee-eaters, a family party of RL Partridge, Tree Sparrow, Short-toed Lark, several Tawny Pipits posing nicely on the roadside fences and a flock of a dozen Spotless Starling (from viewing platform look south in line with the orange bladed wind pump).
Wish it had clicked that Marinstay was Tucan Marsh - drove right by it!
Wish it had clicked that Marinstay was Tucan Marsh - drove right by it!
vulture at cuber
All good points you make and I would say the jizz of the Ruppell`s in your photo reminds me more of my bird though I`m well aware that the mind plays tricks with you. The diagnostic pale line to the leading edge of the wing is so obvious & I was well aware of this feature prior to seeing my bird but I did not record this at the time. You would think after 50 odd years birding I`d take detailed field notes or run off a record photo though with my idiot camera at the height the bird was it would be little use. I did not get my scope on the bird just my bins. One of those birds I`ll no doubt agonise over until I finally see a "good one." Thanks for your comments which are very much appreciated.
All good points you make and I would say the jizz of the Ruppell`s in your photo reminds me more of my bird though I`m well aware that the mind plays tricks with you. The diagnostic pale line to the leading edge of the wing is so obvious & I was well aware of this feature prior to seeing my bird but I did not record this at the time. You would think after 50 odd years birding I`d take detailed field notes or run off a record photo though with my idiot camera at the height the bird was it would be little use. I did not get my scope on the bird just my bins. One of those birds I`ll no doubt agonise over until I finally see a "good one." Thanks for your comments which are very much appreciated.
Mad4Birds
Well-known member
One of the disappointments of Albufera is the lack of updated sightings - there doesn't seem to be the same culture of encouraging & reporting information. Sometimes this is combined with indifference of at least some of the staff - several years back I reported a WW Black Tern flying around Sa Roca to be told that wasn't possible. I guess we're a bit spoilt at many reserves in the U.K.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I too had a family party of Balearic Warbler in the Boquer last week at the far seaward end, by the pillbox on the western sie of the valley
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
Watching a white-winged black tern in Northumberland a couple of days ago I remarked that I'd found two for myself, but they were both in Spain; one on the Ebro Delta and another at Salinas de Cerrillos in Almeria.
I suspect that the species may be more common than many realise on spring migration.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Four Red-rumped swallows at Salobrar de Campos seems unseasonal for migrants, maybe they are breeding? I have also seen singles at Albufereta, Santanyi and the Depuradora, Albufera. I don't know of any confirmed breeding though.
The photograph of the Ruppell's Vulture with a Griffon is really useful, thanks for posting. There are several marked differences which will help anyone spotting this bird at Cuber, We will now know what to look for, Mike
The photograph of the Ruppell's Vulture with a Griffon is really useful, thanks for posting. There are several marked differences which will help anyone spotting this bird at Cuber, We will now know what to look for, Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I don't have the facts to back it up, but there seem to be far less Turtle doves this year. I have just been looking at one through my scope and what a beautiful bird it is. How anyone could blast these lovely doves out of the sky just for fun is beyond me. I guess some people are still living in the Stone Age. Mike
I agree Mike. Beyond belief in a modern world....a few weeks ago I was watching hen harriers on Isle of Arran - there are more breeding pairs on that small island than in the whole of England! This is just the clearest evidence of systematic persecution by idiots for short term gain. Hopefully same does not happen here with Turtle doves.
To stay positive, Mallorca is just stunning for its diversity of bird life, and you're very lucky to live here with these magnificent creatures on your doorstep.
I was pleasantly surprised with the birds I had at this supposedly quiet time in Mallorca. It was good to be able to get to grips with Balearic Woodchat & Balearic Flycatcher [at ultra close range even on the flagged footpaths centre of Porto Pollensa]. Breeding Wryneck at the nest at entrance to Boquer & one bird I forgot to mention in my first post - Marbled Duck [juvenile or female] the moment I entered Sa Roca hide, it just flew in, landed on the water in the distance then within half a minute drifted behind vegetation & that was it. Typical view.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I missed a few things when I went up Boquer last week in the thunderstorms - whereabouts was the Wryneck as will have another go early morning later in the week
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
2 Ruddy Shelduck still present today at Maristany - cracking little spot
Other birds present included 2+ Purple Gallinule, 3 Purple Heron, LR Plover, Wood Sand, several Yellow Wag, very good numbers of Coot and Moorhen, Little Grebe, GC Grebe, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Gadwall, Audouin's Gull, YL Gull and at least three singing Great Reed Warblers
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Was tempted back for another visit this afternoon - generally similar fare with the following variations:
Sandpiper numbers increased to 15 on the basin nearest the viewing platform - 10 Green and 5 Wood, Avocet seen distantly mobbing a Marsh Harrier, even better views of a pair of Tawny Pipit on the fence, revised estimate of 10-12 Bee-eaters along the track, Short-toed Lark, Audouin's Gull, 2 Stone Curlew and a further 2 calling.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Thanks Mickelene, I do feel very lucky to live here, it's all very exciting too because there are now many more locals taking up birding and it is great to be part of what is happening here. More surprises are being discovered all the time because of the increase in people looking.
I have been birding a few times in Arran, what a great place with a few Golden Eagles seen there. I may be going back later in the year. All the best, Mike
I have been birding a few times in Arran, what a great place with a few Golden Eagles seen there. I may be going back later in the year. All the best, Mike
phil turney
Active member
Boquer Wryneck
The Wryneck (or two) was seen on the left hand side of the Boquer farm track. Before you reach the main locked gate (the one with the l/h sub gate) there is a metal gate set between two high pillars. The gates have newly repaired hinges and is padlocked. Looking directly ahead about five metres is a scruffy tallish thin tree with a few obvious golden yellow dead leaves at it's centre. The Wryneck was very active in this tree. A fellow observer heard another bird off to the left. Also in view was the Woodchat Shrike perched on the right hand side of the tree and a Hoopoe was in front on the ground.
Phil
The Wryneck (or two) was seen on the left hand side of the Boquer farm track. Before you reach the main locked gate (the one with the l/h sub gate) there is a metal gate set between two high pillars. The gates have newly repaired hinges and is padlocked. Looking directly ahead about five metres is a scruffy tallish thin tree with a few obvious golden yellow dead leaves at it's centre. The Wryneck was very active in this tree. A fellow observer heard another bird off to the left. Also in view was the Woodchat Shrike perched on the right hand side of the tree and a Hoopoe was in front on the ground.
Phil
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Many thanks Phil
On Mike's earlier observation re Turtle Dove, the only place I have encountered them in the 11 days I have been on the island is around the south-eastern viewing platform at Albufereta
honeym
Well-known member
Hi Andrew
to be fair on the staff at s'Albufera (who manage under extreme conditions not known to most visitors) I think a little background information might be helpful.
The main reason that there have been no lists of recent sightings, as there used to be, is the fact that all the Parc Naturalists in the Balearics were sacked several years ago. It was they who compiled the list - and did a lot of other essential biological recording. Also many visiting birders don't bother to report their unusual sightings to the reception staff - who mainly have to deal with hundreds of non-birding tourists during their working day. I know most of them and they are usually most helpful.
As for your WWBT sighting, I can't offer an explanation. It is, however, an uncommon passage migrant on Mallorca.
Martin
