Mallorca 2020 (1 Viewer)

Mike Montier · Jan 26, 2020

Very nice photos David, that’s a good camera you have. (Yours were good too Mike!)
I have been out around the fields near Llombards.
Nothing unusual but there were big numbers of Skylarks, Meadow pipits, Linnets and some Corn buntings too.
Two Red kites, two Booted eagles and one Marsh Harrier.
Lots of flowers out and the countryside is looking good.
A Hen Harrier was seen at Salobrar de Campos so I will visit the site one evening to see what comes in to roost there.
Normally there are over twenty Marsh harriers and one or two Hen harriers so it will be interesting to see what turns up.
Mike

StewB · Jan 26, 2020

Mcnswiss2 said:
Today was the day to hunt the Warblers at Port Colom.
This is one of the sites described in the great book “Birding Tourist Guide to Majorca “
Immediately we heard Dartford Warblers calling, and after searching for these “shy” birds we concluded we heard or saw up to 4 or 5 Dartford Warblers. The views of the birds were stunning but the birds were nervous and it was difficult to get photos.

M

The BTG doesn’t mention Dartfords at Porto Colom (nor do any of the other guides so far as I can see), but like you, Mike M and I had birds singing & showing there last year. It would be good if it was a bit more widely recognised.

Stew

Simon Wates · Jan 26, 2020

StewB said:
The BTG doesn’t mention Dartfords at Porto Colom (nor do any of the other guides so far as I can see), but like you, Mike M and I had birds singing & showing there last year. It would be good if it was a bit more widely recognised.

Stew

I notice that the Collin's Bird Guide shows Dartford for Mallorca - looking at an older atlas of Spanish breeding birds, it is present in the north of the island.

https://www.miteco.gob.es/va/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/curruca_rabilarga_tcm39-100178.pdf i

StewB · Jan 26, 2020

Simon Wates said:
I notice that the Collin's Bird Guide shows Dartford for Mallorca - looking at an older atlas of Spanish breeding birds, it is present in the north of the island.

https://www.miteco.gob.es/va/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/curruca_rabilarga_tcm39-100178.pdf i

Hi Simon, yes they are certainly at Son Real in the north - I’ve had some helpful information from Mallorca birders about Dartfords there , and Dartfords were recently mentioned there on the forum pages. Never the less I’ve struggled and never seen them there (yet!), despite a lot of looking. It’s one of my favourite reserves on the Island, so no doubt I’ll be putting in some more time when we visit later in the year!

Stew

Mike Montier · Jan 26, 2020

Thanks Simon and Stew
I have seen Dartford warblers at Porto Colom many times over the years, with Mike, Stew and Michael.
Yesterday we had stunning views showing all salient features, ie, a smaller sylvia Warbler with a fluttering flight, longer tail, lovely wine-red underparts and those gorgeous white throat spots, then all doubt is removed.
Part of the problem is that most birders and nearly all visiting birders concentrate on the north of the Island and the south is so poorly covered.
This applies to many other species.
I regularly see Common tern and Mediterranean gulls from Porto Petro and Cap de Ses Salines but again doubt has been expressed.
It gets a bit tiresome at times but I will go on covering lesser known sites in the south and hopefully add a bit more knowledge to the birds of Mallorca.
Records can then be amended accordingly.
Thanks for your help.
Mike
Ps. The new guide to Mallorca by Rebassa, Manchado, Torrens and Oriola, due out soon in English, is a much more up-to-date publication and does show Dartford warblers at Porto Colom and much more new material. It’s an excellent guide so I will give details of the release date and how to purchase copies.

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 26, 2020

StewB said:
Hi Simon, yes they are certainly at Son Real in the north - I’ve had some helpful information from Mallorca birders about Dartfords there , and Dartfords were recently mentioned there on the forum pages. Never the less I’ve struggled and never seen them there (yet!), despite a lot of looking. It’s one of my favourite reserves on the Island, so no doubt I’ll be putting in some more time when we visit later in the year!

Stew

Yes Stew, I heard and saw at least one if not two on path 4 down to the beach at Son Real. See my report above.

Josep Manchado · Jan 26, 2020

The new Guide Birds of Mallorca

Mike Montier said:
Ps. The new guide to Mallorca by Rebassa, Manchado, Torrens and Oriola, due out soon in English, is a much more up-to-date publication and does show Dartford warblers at Porto Colom and much more new material. It’s an excellent guide so I will give details of the release date and how to purchase copies.

Hi, thank you Mike, yes, the translation of the new guide, uptated to december of 2019 is ready to be printed in the next days.

The new guide, includes a checklist with the status of the 385 species seen at Balearic Islands (372 in Majorca and 13 only out of Majorca), including the Brown Booby, seen at the end of last year. This checklist contains a lot of information completally updated, dont forget the Touristic Guide was printed in 2009 and in the last 10 days the info about Majorca birds is quite more.

The structure of the book is 150 (target species), based on the preferences of British and European birders. This 150 species have a full page for each. Besides these 150, there are 75 other species (less desired species because too common or easier) with small text and sharing page between 5 species.

I upload a pic of the 2 formats, I think the book is really interesting, specially because the location map and the phenology diagram are very helpfull and all 225 species have it. Also the Checklist contains the best and lasted information, a big amount of info.

Both map and diagram have differents colors for seasons and abundance.

I hope it will be printed and avalaible in february.
Josep

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 26, 2020

A Sunday walk around the perimeter of S’Albufera ending in the Puput (Hoppoe) Cafe at Son Baulo.
Quiet for birds but very pleasant walk.
The best birds seen included Male Hen Harrier, Avocet, Moustache Warbler and 7 Turnstones.
Other birds seen included Marsh Harriers, Ravens, Wigeon, Great White and Little Egret, Audouins Gullls, Black Winged Stilts, Little Grebe, Common Pochards, Common Redshank, Serins, Goldfinches, Sardinia Warblers.

Mike Montier · Jan 26, 2020

Thank you Pep.
Many birders are very much looking forward to getting a copy and I know it will be a great success.
Perhaps you could let us know where we will be able to order copies when the time comes.
Mike

Mike Montier · Jan 26, 2020

As with most sylvia warblers, the Dartford Warbler is a flighty little thing and only perches out in the open infrequently, mostly to sing and display.
The one thing that struck Mike and I was the flight pattern, clearly different from the accompanying Balearic warblers.
They looked obviously smaller but it was the tail that was the most prominent feature. The flight is fluttery and rather jerky with the long tail seemingly following on behind, as if only half attached. I don’t remember noticing it before, but once we had seen many flight views, it was definitely a common trait.
What lovely birds they were too.
Both Mike and I have some great photos of trees, bushes and twigs, they really are difficult to capture.
I am going back there in the next few days to try to get some acceptable photos.
Mike

StewB · Jan 26, 2020

Josep Manchado said:
Hi, thank you Mike, yes, the translation of the new guide, uptated to december of 2019 is ready to be printed in the next days

I hope it will be printed and avalaible in february.
Josep

The pictures look really excellent - can’t wait to get a copy!

Stew

VincentB · Jan 27, 2020

I will be comming down on May 23 for a week. I have been there several times and seen most of the common birds. Not yet been able to see balearic warbler though. Any help on easy spots to find them would be helpfull.

Mike if you have any suggestions where to go on the eastcoast to explore some of the less covered places would also be interesting.

Vincent

Mike Montier · Jan 27, 2020

Hi Vicent.
Not a bad time to be coming to Mallorca.
Again, there are parts of the east coast which have yet to be discovered and it would be good to try any coastal location there.
The best known site is Punta de N’Amer. There you can seawatch, both Scopoli’s and Balearic shearwaters can be seen in big numbers. The late afternoon and early evening are the peak times for birds going south. There is also a chance of Yelkouan shearwater and the outside chance of a Storm Petrel whizzing across the surface of the water in the evenings.
There are Nightjars there and they will have arrived for your visit.
Stone Curlew are abundant.
Balearic Warbler should be possible at any area of low scrub near the coast. I have certainly seen them at Punta de N’Amer.
The Mallorca Birding Map is a good idea, it’s not expensive and it lists all the Premier sites for birding. I’m sure it’s available online.
If you have transport then the north coast is of course the best place but the central Plain would be worth a visit for Lesser Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon. Also harriers and the off-chance of a Short-toed Eagle.
If you have any specific species in mind, I would be pleased to help. Just let me know.
Mike

VincentB · Jan 27, 2020

Mike Montier said:
Hi Vicent.
Not a bad time to be coming to Mallorca.
Again, there are parts of the east coast which have yet to be discovered and it would be good to try any coastal location there.
The best known site is Punta de N’Amer. There you can seawatch, both Scopoli’s and Balearic shearwaters can be seen in big numbers. The late afternoon and early evening are the peak times for birds going south. There is also a chance of Yelkouan shearwater and the outside chance of a Storm Petrel whizzing across the surface of the water in the evenings.
There are Nightjars there and they will have arrived for your visit.
Stone Curlew are abundant.
Balearic Warbler should be possible at any area of low scrub near the coast. I have certainly seen them at Punta de N’Amer.
The Mallorca Birding Map is a good idea, it’s not expensive and it lists all the Premier sites for birding. I’m sure it’s available online.
If you have transport then the north coast is of course the best place but the central Plain would be worth a visit for Lesser Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon. Also harriers and the off-chance of a Short-toed Eagle.
If you have any specific species in mind, I would be pleased to help. Just let me know.
Mike

I was there a few weeks earlier in May last year and saw around five Red-footed Falcons on the central plains. I have the birding tourist´s guide which I have used in previous visits, so I have covered most of the spots closest to Alcudia. We will rent a car for a few days and try to focus on new places to visit.

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 27, 2020

I attended a WEA bird watching meeting in 1979 in St Albans in the UK. The talk was given by a young Ornithologist who started the meeting with “ I am sharing with you my holiday slides of the different habitats that Mallorca offers”.
The enthusiasm and passion he had for the Island stimulated me to visit those many years ago.
Today we ventured a few kilometres from the coast, passed the marsh lands, to mountain region of Mortitx and Lluc.
This time of the year is one of the best to visit the Pollensa section of the Tramuntana mountains.
Birds seen included 6 Black Vultures, 8 Griffon Vultures, 3 Booted Eagles, 4 Ravens, 3 Red Kites, Kestrels, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Goldfinches, Serins, Black Redstarts.
So many birds in the vineyards, however no sign of Bramblings, Siskins, nor Hawfinch.
Thanks to WEA and thanks to Mallorca.

.

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 28, 2020

VincentB said:
I will be comming down on May 23 for a week. I have been there several times and seen most of the common birds. Not yet been able to see balearic warbler though. Any help on easy spots to find them would be helpful

Hi Vincent,
One of my favourite places is the fishermans walk above Cala San Vincenc, near Pollensa.
I was walking up there today and heard or saw 6 individual balearic warblers. Still very nervous and no photos ( I attached a photo from last year). I heard two Dartford Warblers but could not pinpoint them. Several Sardinian Warblers, Blue Rock Thrushes, Two Booted Eagles and Red Kite were also seen.

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 29, 2020

A morning visit to the Mirador and Formentor Beach. Just a word of caution, last time I went to the Mirador my car was almost broken into. Best to park when other cars are present and stay close.
Met a lovely women at the Mirador; a 83 year old, who used to run bird watching tours back in the 60s. She Knew all the fore runners like Eddie Watkinson, Graham Hearl, etc. She even remembered this was the site for Blue Rock Thrush and Alpine Accentors. Just as she said this both appeared!
In addition Blackredstarts, Balearic Warblers, Sardinian warblers were seen. In total 1 or 2 Alpine accentors were seen.
At the Beach other species seen included Crossbills, Yellow Legged Gulls, Hoppoes and a possible Lesser Black backed Gull was seen. Look at the attached Photo.
However the verdict seems to be that its a Yellow Legged Gull.

Mike Montier · Jan 29, 2020

An evening spent at Salobrar de Campos is always one of the highlights in January.
It’s hard to be precise but certainly over twenty Marsh harriers came into the reeds during dusk. Five males and the rest were young or female birds.
One Ringtail Hen Harrier was the bird I was after and it performed very well nearby before dropping down into the reedbeds.
The Water rails were very vocal and Greater Flamingoes were numerous.
Mike

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 29, 2020

A late afternoon visit to S’Albufereta.
Birds seen included 46 Flamingoes, Curlews, Little Ringed Plovers, Little and Cattle Egrets, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebes, Kestrels, Black winged Stilts, Corn buntings, Serins, Goldfinches, GreenShank, Fan tailed Warblers, Water Rails.
No sign of bluethroats or Hawfinch that have recently been reported.

Mcnswiss2 · Jan 30, 2020

Afternoon visit to S’Albufera and Maristany. Wonderful Weather.
Very Quiet in the park. Best birds seen in the park included Black Tailed Godwit, Pintail, Garganey, Marbled Ducks, Dunlin, Common Snipe, and Kingfisher.
The Mute Swan is still present at Maristany. Among the Shoverlers, Common Pochards, and Gadwalls was a solitary Turfted Duck.

Mallorca 2020 (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

(Pep)

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread