Hi All
I´m just back at s´Albufera after six days mothing on the island of Cabrera. We only just managed to get there as the sea conditions were rather rough, to say the least. They were only slightly better on the way back this morning when we had to leave a day early due to the availability of a boat (staff change-over day).
We had an interesting time but it was hard work - not helped by me getting a cold two days into the trip which I´m finding hard to shake off.
Managed to spend some time birding and there were several waves of migrant activity during the time we were there. The day we arrived (18th) we saw a Black Kite passing through and there were lots of Chiffchaff around which left after two days to be replaced by numerous Willow Warbler. Throughout there were lots of Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear, plus plenty of flava Wagtail, local and migrant Spotted Flycatchers and Woodchat Shrike, plus Pied Flycatchers, Whiethroat and Subalpine Warbler. There were also Nightingale, Tree Pipit, Turtle Dove and Short-toed Lark. We heard Stone Curlew every evening and saw the resident Ospreys daily. For me, the best birds were several Black-eared Wheatear (both sexes) and a cracking male of the eatern form, with the all black throat. We also had one Bee-eater on two consecutive days and I saw four yesterday evening - all within 10m of me - and Balearic Warbler less than 2m away. Not a massive list but some superb close views.
Despite the rough seas we had good close views of both Balearic and Cory´s Shearwater on the trip back to Sa Rapita.
Added to that we managed to more than triple the list of moths recorded for the island. All aided by the help and generous hospitality of all the staff, etc., there.
Oh. I forgot to mention that we also saw Genet.
Martin