IanF
Moderator
This was around our tenth visit to this location and I’ve posted reports in previous years – here’s the 2003 trip report for details of location and comparison of birds seen. Several photo links don't work probably due to the site crash which also lost the 2004 report.
Each year we’ve visited has seen more or less the same range of species but sometimes one or another more numerous. In 2002 it was Pied Flycatcher, 2003 was Stone Curlew, 2004 Wryneck and this year it was Spotted Flycatcher, Blackbird and various raptors. Also Woodchat Shrike - the first one I have seen in Majorca (plenty in Menorca though).
The first week of the holiday it was quite warm, more so than usual at this time of the year with temperatures hovering around 28°C (82°F). The second week was cooler with rain on a couple of days and quite a bit of cloud around.
Overall the birding, just a couple of hours each morning or afternoon was a lot tougher this year. I ended up with just about as many species as usual but they were in far fewer numbers and a lot harder to spot, being much more wary of my presence than previously. I know I’ve put on a bit of weight over the last year but there isn’t really that much more of me that would disturb them
I put it down to the overly hot weather making them keep to cover!
List of birds seen.
Audouins Gull – daily sightings with 4-5 from the hotel balcony each morning.
Redshank
Shag – juveniles and adults – a pair each morning from the hotel balcony.
House Sparrow – very numerous all around the resort.
Kestrel – pair at least each day – strangely larger than the ones we have locally in the UK.
Red-legged Partridge – 7 on the first day – a yearly sighting.
Sardinian Warbler – always around but only ever fleeting glimpse this year.
Blackbird – very numerous this year one of the commonest birds sighted.
Blue Rock Thrush – a yearly tick but only one for certain this year.
Serin – very numerous in mixed flocks with Linnets and Sparrows.
Linnets – very numerous.
Tree Sparrow – several small groups around edges of resort.
Common Redstart – a couple of females sighted.
Spotted Flycatcher – very numerous in the first week but just a few by the second week.
Stonechat – numerous but not as many as in previous years. Easy to spot on bush tops.
Greenfinch – quite numerous in the almond groves.
Hoopoe – at least 3 seen every day but not as common as on previous visits.
Wryneck – only one bird seen this year – though another found as road kill.
Goldfinch – quite common.
Collared Dove – numerous
Turtle Dove – a couple seen - never very numerous and still very wary of people.
Mediterranean Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Willow Warbler – several seen
Nightingale – seen several times Costa de los Pinos.
Robin – several Costa de los Pinos.
Great Tit – several Costa de los Pinos.
Crossbill – flocks of 6-7 Costa de los Pinos and Port Verde.
Fan-tailed Warbler – several about.
Booted Eagle – seen most days over Son Severa and Costa de los Pinos.
Little Egret – just one in the resort this year though several around the airport.
Cattle Egret – two in the resort and several by the airport.
Barn Swallow – overhead most days.
Grey-cheeked Parrot – seen several times. Escapee most likely!
Cirl Bunting – several around this year.
Winter Wren – several Costa de los Pinos.
Goldcrest – several Punta de n’Amer and Costa de los Pinos.
Firecrest – several times seen in pairs very close views Costa de los Pinos.
Siskin – fewer than usual – Costa de los Pinos and odd ones in mixed orchard flocks.
Common Sandpiper – by the Cala Bona Harbour
Woodchat Shrike – one seen just about daily always in the same spot.
Northern Wheatear – just the odd one or two in the Almond groves.
Stone Curlew – 3 most visits under Olive bushes by Port Vell.
Rock Sparrow – several around the resort area.
Whinchat – usually several seen but just he one this year.
Blackcap – another usually numerous bird but just a few this time.
Osprey – one bird sighted a couple of time Costa de los Pinos.
Feral Pigeon – very numerous Costa de los Pinos.
Whitethroat
Spectacled Warbler
Bonelli’s Warbler
Starling – only one seen and that was on the last day!
I've no doubt there were a few more Warbler species about - but they can be pretty trying to ID.
There were quite a few raptors around on several days during our stay mostly by the ridge over Costa de los Pinos drifting down as far as Son Severa and sometimes over the bay. Kestrel, Osprey and Egyptian Vulture were for sure. Black and Red Kite were about but several eagles/buzzards left me stumped. Two of which had yellow wing tags which from the sketches I made were most likely Long-legged Buzzard. Bonelli’s Eagle were also possible - next year I’ll have to take the Collins!!!
Other critters seen were several butterflies – including Wall, Swallowtail, Pasha, Brimstone and Large White. Hummingbird Hawk Moths. Several grasshoppers, lizards and a Nosed Grasshopper. Bats were numerous in the resort as were various fishes in the harbour.
Each year we’ve visited has seen more or less the same range of species but sometimes one or another more numerous. In 2002 it was Pied Flycatcher, 2003 was Stone Curlew, 2004 Wryneck and this year it was Spotted Flycatcher, Blackbird and various raptors. Also Woodchat Shrike - the first one I have seen in Majorca (plenty in Menorca though).
The first week of the holiday it was quite warm, more so than usual at this time of the year with temperatures hovering around 28°C (82°F). The second week was cooler with rain on a couple of days and quite a bit of cloud around.
Overall the birding, just a couple of hours each morning or afternoon was a lot tougher this year. I ended up with just about as many species as usual but they were in far fewer numbers and a lot harder to spot, being much more wary of my presence than previously. I know I’ve put on a bit of weight over the last year but there isn’t really that much more of me that would disturb them
I put it down to the overly hot weather making them keep to cover! List of birds seen.
Audouins Gull – daily sightings with 4-5 from the hotel balcony each morning.
Redshank
Shag – juveniles and adults – a pair each morning from the hotel balcony.
House Sparrow – very numerous all around the resort.
Kestrel – pair at least each day – strangely larger than the ones we have locally in the UK.
Red-legged Partridge – 7 on the first day – a yearly sighting.
Sardinian Warbler – always around but only ever fleeting glimpse this year.
Blackbird – very numerous this year one of the commonest birds sighted.
Blue Rock Thrush – a yearly tick but only one for certain this year.
Serin – very numerous in mixed flocks with Linnets and Sparrows.
Linnets – very numerous.
Tree Sparrow – several small groups around edges of resort.
Common Redstart – a couple of females sighted.
Spotted Flycatcher – very numerous in the first week but just a few by the second week.
Stonechat – numerous but not as many as in previous years. Easy to spot on bush tops.
Greenfinch – quite numerous in the almond groves.
Hoopoe – at least 3 seen every day but not as common as on previous visits.
Wryneck – only one bird seen this year – though another found as road kill.
Goldfinch – quite common.
Collared Dove – numerous
Turtle Dove – a couple seen - never very numerous and still very wary of people.
Mediterranean Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Willow Warbler – several seen
Nightingale – seen several times Costa de los Pinos.
Robin – several Costa de los Pinos.
Great Tit – several Costa de los Pinos.
Crossbill – flocks of 6-7 Costa de los Pinos and Port Verde.
Fan-tailed Warbler – several about.
Booted Eagle – seen most days over Son Severa and Costa de los Pinos.
Little Egret – just one in the resort this year though several around the airport.
Cattle Egret – two in the resort and several by the airport.
Barn Swallow – overhead most days.
Grey-cheeked Parrot – seen several times. Escapee most likely!
Cirl Bunting – several around this year.
Winter Wren – several Costa de los Pinos.
Goldcrest – several Punta de n’Amer and Costa de los Pinos.
Firecrest – several times seen in pairs very close views Costa de los Pinos.
Siskin – fewer than usual – Costa de los Pinos and odd ones in mixed orchard flocks.
Common Sandpiper – by the Cala Bona Harbour
Woodchat Shrike – one seen just about daily always in the same spot.
Northern Wheatear – just the odd one or two in the Almond groves.
Stone Curlew – 3 most visits under Olive bushes by Port Vell.
Rock Sparrow – several around the resort area.
Whinchat – usually several seen but just he one this year.
Blackcap – another usually numerous bird but just a few this time.
Osprey – one bird sighted a couple of time Costa de los Pinos.
Feral Pigeon – very numerous Costa de los Pinos.
Whitethroat
Spectacled Warbler
Bonelli’s Warbler
Starling – only one seen and that was on the last day!
I've no doubt there were a few more Warbler species about - but they can be pretty trying to ID.
There were quite a few raptors around on several days during our stay mostly by the ridge over Costa de los Pinos drifting down as far as Son Severa and sometimes over the bay. Kestrel, Osprey and Egyptian Vulture were for sure. Black and Red Kite were about but several eagles/buzzards left me stumped. Two of which had yellow wing tags which from the sketches I made were most likely Long-legged Buzzard. Bonelli’s Eagle were also possible - next year I’ll have to take the Collins!!!
Other critters seen were several butterflies – including Wall, Swallowtail, Pasha, Brimstone and Large White. Hummingbird Hawk Moths. Several grasshoppers, lizards and a Nosed Grasshopper. Bats were numerous in the resort as were various fishes in the harbour.
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