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Mallorca 2019 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
Benjamin Ofield
Well-known member
timsg80
Gregor Tims
My best guess would be a very dishevelled Melodious Warbler?
Benjamin Ofield
Well-known member
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I don’t know where to start, the bird alert has been on fire.
I was looking at photos of Rufous Bush Chat late last night so I should have predicted one of those and not Cream-coloured courser. I hope someone posts photos and details because it appears one has dropped into Albufera.
Big numbers of terns today, groups of over double figures of Whiskered tern at Bassa de Can Guidet and Sant Jordi. A White-winged Black tern, a Black tern and Golden Oriole at the tower.
It seems there is an invasion of Rollers with groups of up to four being seen along with individuals all across the Island.
I am still only able to go out locally so I’m missing out big time. It matters a lot less these days but I would still love to be up north enjoying some of these goodies.
I’m just pleased for everybody who is enjoying the birds. All the sun seekers are bored and complaining like mad about this atrocious weather but not us birders, we are having a field day!
Good luck everybody, there are loads more rarities out there.
Mike
I was looking at photos of Rufous Bush Chat late last night so I should have predicted one of those and not Cream-coloured courser. I hope someone posts photos and details because it appears one has dropped into Albufera.
Big numbers of terns today, groups of over double figures of Whiskered tern at Bassa de Can Guidet and Sant Jordi. A White-winged Black tern, a Black tern and Golden Oriole at the tower.
It seems there is an invasion of Rollers with groups of up to four being seen along with individuals all across the Island.
I am still only able to go out locally so I’m missing out big time. It matters a lot less these days but I would still love to be up north enjoying some of these goodies.
I’m just pleased for everybody who is enjoying the birds. All the sun seekers are bored and complaining like mad about this atrocious weather but not us birders, we are having a field day!
Good luck everybody, there are loads more rarities out there.
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Phil and I saw a feldegg some years ago but it was not accepted. It seems there can be confusion with another sub species which I will look up.
The Cap needs to be deep glossy black with no hint of any other colour, especially green. I can’t see your photo well enough but I do hope others comment.
With regards to the Warbler, it looks good for a species of hippolais with a typical pose in the first shot. It’s a bit scrappy and again I hope other birders comment. Thanks,
Mike
The Cap needs to be deep glossy black with no hint of any other colour, especially green. I can’t see your photo well enough but I do hope others comment.
With regards to the Warbler, it looks good for a species of hippolais with a typical pose in the first shot. It’s a bit scrappy and again I hope other birders comment. Thanks,
Mike
Benjamin Ofield
Well-known member
Thanks Mike I'm now thinking maybe motacilla flava thunbergi Ashy-headed wagtail, I think the head colour looked alot darker than I thought because of the weather!! As for the warbler my first thought was Melodious but as you can see it was soaking wet just like I have been all day!
Mike Montier
Well-known member
As soon as I put the phone down, it rings again.
Reports of huge groups of Barn Swallows and Swifts.
Philip phoned to say he had just seen a White-rumped Swift in Santa Ponça.
Phil thoroughly deserves this record. I have been birding with him from dawn until dusk and returned to his apartment exhausted but he still goes out onto the balcony in the dark to look for owls and Stone curlews. He is probably the most dedicated birder I know so there is no mistaking this record. There are I believe reports of Common Swift with partial leucism but Phil knows this is not the case with this bird so many congratulations to him.
He also saw a pair of Montagu’s Harrier (a male and female) in the fields around Santa Ponça and a Little Bittern at Golf II.
More reports to follow soon!
Mike
Reports of huge groups of Barn Swallows and Swifts.
Philip phoned to say he had just seen a White-rumped Swift in Santa Ponça.
Phil thoroughly deserves this record. I have been birding with him from dawn until dusk and returned to his apartment exhausted but he still goes out onto the balcony in the dark to look for owls and Stone curlews. He is probably the most dedicated birder I know so there is no mistaking this record. There are I believe reports of Common Swift with partial leucism but Phil knows this is not the case with this bird so many congratulations to him.
He also saw a pair of Montagu’s Harrier (a male and female) in the fields around Santa Ponça and a Little Bittern at Golf II.
More reports to follow soon!
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Ah yes, it was thunbergi. Our bird was solid black and no mistake that it was feldegg. I can still see it now in my mind’s eye. What a beauty. Shame it wasn’t accepted but I fully understand how difficult having to make the decisions is. These days I would have taken a photo of course, no arguments then. I’ve still ticked it though!
Mike
Mike
Maties Rebassa
Well-known member
Hello. Difficult to tell from these photos, because the bird looks wet and some important details are not seen, but looks like an Isabelline Warbler, Iduna opaca. Hope it can be relocated!
The wagtail is a thunbergi, as you said. Every year some of these are seen in spring.
Maties
The wagtail is a thunbergi, as you said. Every year some of these are seen in spring.
Maties
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Red-footed falcons are beginning to show so a trip to the central plain may be worthwhile.
Also a few Montagu’s harriers coming through.
Let’s see what rarities will be found in the next few days, it could be interesting.
Yesterday was a bank holiday of course so there were more birders out looking despite the atrocious weather. Not many people will be out today but I do hope that those who are around have a bonanza.
Good luck to all, Mike
Also a few Montagu’s harriers coming through.
Let’s see what rarities will be found in the next few days, it could be interesting.
Yesterday was a bank holiday of course so there were more birders out looking despite the atrocious weather. Not many people will be out today but I do hope that those who are around have a bonanza.
Good luck to all, Mike
How long are the rollers usually around? I will be there from May 11 for a week. I agree with Maties on the wagtail. We see a couple of extra dark thunbergii in Sweden every year when they migrate north. Depending on light and weather they can appear dark. The bird in the Pictures has some ashy color, especially around the neck, i think.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Vincent. You should be ok for Rollers on that date. They are regular in early May at the best site which is Can Cullerassa in the north near Pollença.
All sightings will go on this forum so it’s worth keeping an eye on the thread for up-to-date information.
Mike
All sightings will go on this forum so it’s worth keeping an eye on the thread for up-to-date information.
Mike
Last edited:
Clive Griffin
Well-known member
There was a feldegg at Albufera in March 2017, Maties submitted the record with my photo. Perhaps Maties can comment on the frequency of records for Mallorca?
There's certainly a lot of migrant activity at the moment. I just just saw a male Golden Oriole in the fig tree in front of my house - a first for my "garden" record!
There's certainly a lot of migrant activity at the moment. I just just saw a male Golden Oriole in the fig tree in front of my house - a first for my "garden" record!
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BA Birder2
Member
Some useful holiday ticks from Albufera today inc pied and spotted flycatcher, redstart and our first red knobbed coots; 1 with a neck collar. Also 2 big grasshoppers. Does anyone know what species are there? WiFi not great so can't put photos on but both a good 5-7cm in length. Thanks Tom
Benjamin Ofield
Well-known member
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Tom
I know very little about insects but we do have some very knowledgeable people on this thread who I’m sure can help.
As far as I know there is an Egyptian Grasshopper as in this photo. I was told it’s an Egyptian locust but I really don’t know. It is identified by the vertical stripes over the eye I believe so if your Grasshopper has that feature then I think that’s the one.
Mike
I know very little about insects but we do have some very knowledgeable people on this thread who I’m sure can help.
As far as I know there is an Egyptian Grasshopper as in this photo. I was told it’s an Egyptian locust but I really don’t know. It is identified by the vertical stripes over the eye I believe so if your Grasshopper has that feature then I think that’s the one.
Mike
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BA Birder2
Member
Thankyou Mike. I think Egyptian grasshopper is the most likely. Tom
Maties Rebassa
Well-known member
Clive, I think there are only 3 or 4 accepted records of Motacilla flava feldegg in the Balearics, but I have not exact numbers now with me. Anyway, quite a rare bird!
Today I could hear at least 2 Red throated Pipits passing in fly in 2 different places in Albufereta, so there must be some other birds migrating elsewhere. Others nice migrants too there, as Redstarts, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Whinchats, Garden Warbler, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Wood Warbler, S-T Larks, etc.
Maties
Today I could hear at least 2 Red throated Pipits passing in fly in 2 different places in Albufereta, so there must be some other birds migrating elsewhere. Others nice migrants too there, as Redstarts, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Whinchats, Garden Warbler, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Wood Warbler, S-T Larks, etc.
Maties
