SEVENTEEN SPRINGS- EPISODE 9-19TH MARCH-26TH MARCH 2005
COOK'S TOUR
As the title suggests yet another obsolete fleet this time, as we went to BHX to get our flight with Thomas Cook Airline on a pretty early Easter this year- we checked in behind a family of 12 which must take some organising and a lot of money for them all to go on holiday together. At the hotel an argument ensued as we got two rooms on the 8th floor again- but this time Grandad pulled rank and insisted on the room with the double balcony, whilst we overlooked the pool.
On the Sunday we missed church this year due to getting the boys ready and proceeded slowly along the front- popping round to the side of La Gola to tick Water Pipit and White Wagtail, and after lunch at the Joker going up to the foot of the Boquer , benefiting from the early date with a Mallorca tick in the form of a small flock of Siskins at the Pine avenue. An evening Scops search was unproductive but the Stone Curlews round the Llenaire roundabout were in good voice.
Monday was a local day with a nice surprise to begin with as a Turnstone was on the rocks offshore from the hotel, 2 Starlings in the grounds,and eventually the Balearic Warblers showed at the end of the Boquer. Winter visitors like Robin, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit and Black Redstart were still about in some numbers- a bonus of an early Easter but summer migrants are scarcer.
Tuesday was a beach day but i still managed to pop away for a brief look at the Boquer foot, and I called in at La Gola on the way back. Only Grey heron and Firecrest were new for the listbut i did note that i met a bird photographer- still a rarity then and in small numbers in hides! In the evening we went to Richard Strutt's presentation for his walks, and actually booked a trip on Good Friday which happened to be Susan's birthday.
We had learned to go to Albufera on the right day to avoid Alcudia market, so on Wednesday it was all aboard the bus. The boys now aged 6 and 4 both wanted to be in the new pushchair for the long walk to the visitor centre, where the new toilets were duly christened. Unfortunately a major issue became apparent as mt scope and eyepiece were terminally separated, but at Albufera there are always other scopes to borrow. The waders were reasonable, but the only Mallorca tick came from a small flock of Lapwing. The evening Scops hunts had all drawn a blank, which was worrying- were we too early this year?
Thursday was the start of the Easter period,and we went locally on the bus to Pollensa, to repeat the climb up the Calvari- again with Firecrests and Crossbills in the area.
Friday was our new venture- a day walk of 9 Km with Richard Strutt in the Lluc area called the Karst Valley Circuit. The only new bird for the trip list was Blue Tit- at a high elevation (see later discussion) but the walk was fun and the scenery interesting with limestone formations all over the place. In the evening i actually heard a Scops call but it seemed quite distant.
Saturday 26th we were mainly on the beach at the pine walk, and not much happened except that we had heard that a Red-breasted Merganser was around, and i eventually picked it up over towards the seaplane base- the only sighting in all 17 springs. By now i had acquired the mothing habit at home,and I actually managed to identify a Double-striped pug under a light in the Hotel car park- and looking for moths eased the boredom af a Scopsless night....
COOK'S TOUR
As the title suggests yet another obsolete fleet this time, as we went to BHX to get our flight with Thomas Cook Airline on a pretty early Easter this year- we checked in behind a family of 12 which must take some organising and a lot of money for them all to go on holiday together. At the hotel an argument ensued as we got two rooms on the 8th floor again- but this time Grandad pulled rank and insisted on the room with the double balcony, whilst we overlooked the pool.
On the Sunday we missed church this year due to getting the boys ready and proceeded slowly along the front- popping round to the side of La Gola to tick Water Pipit and White Wagtail, and after lunch at the Joker going up to the foot of the Boquer , benefiting from the early date with a Mallorca tick in the form of a small flock of Siskins at the Pine avenue. An evening Scops search was unproductive but the Stone Curlews round the Llenaire roundabout were in good voice.
Monday was a local day with a nice surprise to begin with as a Turnstone was on the rocks offshore from the hotel, 2 Starlings in the grounds,and eventually the Balearic Warblers showed at the end of the Boquer. Winter visitors like Robin, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit and Black Redstart were still about in some numbers- a bonus of an early Easter but summer migrants are scarcer.
Tuesday was a beach day but i still managed to pop away for a brief look at the Boquer foot, and I called in at La Gola on the way back. Only Grey heron and Firecrest were new for the listbut i did note that i met a bird photographer- still a rarity then and in small numbers in hides! In the evening we went to Richard Strutt's presentation for his walks, and actually booked a trip on Good Friday which happened to be Susan's birthday.
We had learned to go to Albufera on the right day to avoid Alcudia market, so on Wednesday it was all aboard the bus. The boys now aged 6 and 4 both wanted to be in the new pushchair for the long walk to the visitor centre, where the new toilets were duly christened. Unfortunately a major issue became apparent as mt scope and eyepiece were terminally separated, but at Albufera there are always other scopes to borrow. The waders were reasonable, but the only Mallorca tick came from a small flock of Lapwing. The evening Scops hunts had all drawn a blank, which was worrying- were we too early this year?
Thursday was the start of the Easter period,and we went locally on the bus to Pollensa, to repeat the climb up the Calvari- again with Firecrests and Crossbills in the area.
Friday was our new venture- a day walk of 9 Km with Richard Strutt in the Lluc area called the Karst Valley Circuit. The only new bird for the trip list was Blue Tit- at a high elevation (see later discussion) but the walk was fun and the scenery interesting with limestone formations all over the place. In the evening i actually heard a Scops call but it seemed quite distant.
Saturday 26th we were mainly on the beach at the pine walk, and not much happened except that we had heard that a Red-breasted Merganser was around, and i eventually picked it up over towards the seaplane base- the only sighting in all 17 springs. By now i had acquired the mothing habit at home,and I actually managed to identify a Double-striped pug under a light in the Hotel car park- and looking for moths eased the boredom af a Scopsless night....