Mallorca 2010 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

A few Honey buzzards moving through and there was a Caspian tern at Albufera. I will be spending Friday at Cuber and will report from there.

 

[BoroFan]

ive just rememebered that i went for a walk around the walkway near the la gola visitor centre back at the end of july and remember seeing 2 wood ducks further up river near one of the bridges. has anyone else seen them? and im expecting they are escapes?

 

[Mike Montier]

Ses Planes today. One Red kite, 7 Booted eagle, 6 Kestrel, 3 Common redstart, 1 Whinchat, 1 Pied flycatcher, 1 Tawny pipit, 8 Alpine swift, 4 Northern wheatear, 3 hoopoe and other more common species. Cuber tomorrow and will post. Quite a few Bluethroats around. Sorry, never seen Wooduck but must be escapes?

 

[Mike Montier]

Cuber yesterday: About ten Black vulture and a similar amount of Griffon vultures still around. Blackcap, Grey wagtail, White wagtail, 2 Robin, Blue rock thrush, 7 Song thrush, Eleanora's falcon, Red kite, Osprey, Crag martin, Wheatear, Whinchat, 3 Blue tits, 4 Redstart and two Common sandpiper. A bit quiet. Back to the UK for two weeks so will post on my return.

 

[LaGola]

The wood Ducks

Hi BoroFan,

There's still one Wood Duck in la Gola.
When we opened the center in August there was a pair (male and female). One month ago the female dissapeared, and now only the male stays in the wetland.
In fact both were ringed but not with official rings, so I suppose they are escapes.
In the torrent near the supermarket I saw 3 Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata domestica), and that can be a problem if they hybridize with Mallards.

 

[LaGola]

news from Mallorca

Hi,
I invite you to visit our blog to kwon about interesting observations given in Mallorca and Menorca.
http://blog.lagola.info/2010/10/estornells-i-altres-observacions.html

Regards,

Cristina

 

[Mike Montier]

Winter visitors arriving in force now: Robins everywhere, Song thrushes and high numbers of Starling which are spectacular as they wheel around at dusk especially at Albufera.They seem to peak at the end of October and into November. Good autumn migration including many Black kite, a few Hobby and a possible Bonelli's eagle in the Boquer valley. Swallows are still pouring past and there are a few Swift as well. Crag martins are back in their winter environments although I have yet to see many Black redstart.

 

[LaGola]

Migration through Mallorca

Hello,
as Mike says, winter visitors are arriving to Mallorca and migrants are still in their way to Africa. A highly recommended place for observation is the Cap de ses Salines, in the south of the island.

http://blog.lagola.info/2010/10/bon-moment-per-visitar-el-cap-de-ses.html

 

[Mike Montier]

Albufera this afternoon and evening mainly for the Starling roost which numbers around one million birds, unbelievable and quite a sight. The Cattle egret roost is also impressive. Otherwise a bit quiet, Purple swamp-hen, Black-winged stilts, Hoopoe, one Great white egret, Glossy ibis, Night heron and many Marsh harriers.

 

[Clive Griffin]

Hen Harrier (ringtail) at Albufera yesterday (depuradora), Grey Wagtail, Black Redstart and several Mistle Thrushes. An Eleonoras Falcon at Ses Puntes. 12 Dunlin and 2 Greylag at the CIM pool.
8 Goldcrests seen at Es Calo (Betlem) today.

 

[Mike Montier]

Migration very extended this year it seems as there are still some summer migrants around that have normally gone by now. Redstarts overlapping with wintering Black redstarts is unusual I understand. Common Cranes are around both in the north and at Salobrar de Campos here in the south.

 

[LaGola]

redstart

Hello Mike and everybody,
I suppose these are last redstarts.
In fact these two species often overlap specially during October.
In the last Anuari Ornitològic de Balears one Redstart was detected the first of November in Menorca.
These days a large number of Robins and Thrushes are still arriving to Balearic Islands.

 

[Mike Montier]

Excellent, thanks. Let's hope it is a good year for winter visitors; I have already seen good numbers of Goldcrest here in Mondrago. I remember a few years ago the fields here were covered in thrushes so it would be nice to see similar numbers this year as the past few year have been not so productive. We will see!

 

[Mike Montier]

Albufera today: A bit quiet but a good day in wonderful sunshine. Highlight was without doubt a splendid adult male Hen harrier, also a Ring-tail hen harrier. Many Marsh harrier, Osprey, Peregrine, a couple of Spoonbill and two Glossy ibis. A Wood sandpiper, Spotted redshank and Golden plover. The Starling roost has to be seen, perhaps one million birds. Who's counting??

 

[honeym]

Hi Mike

Great to read your up-date from s'Albufera.

I too have seen the Starling roost there. It's an amazing spectacle, especially when they go right over your head so that the sky darkens - and the noise of the wings is just incredible.

I think recall someone (I think A. Stagg) actually photographing the 'swarms' and then counting the individual dots - perhaps there's something in one of the old Mallorca bird reports.

Best wishes

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks Martin

Counting from photos! I never thought of that. It is very hard to estimate, but guesstimates seem to range from half a million to two million. I don't know but on Saturday I have never seen so many and there must be over one million birds. It's incredible to watch and quite mesmerising and as you say the noise is fantastic. They stream past for what seems like several minutes and even then more come. Highly recommended!

 

[Mike Montier]

Salobrar de Campos today: Two Bluethroats from the rough track known as "Eddies Track". Take wellies! The birds were on the path leading from the first gate on the left. Bluethroats are quite scarce in Mallorca and are a winter visitor but this year seems particularly good.

 

[honeym]

Hi Mike

If you approach s'Albufera from the Depuradora road, I've found that the track leading inland (Cami d'en Pep) from the boundary gate can be good for Bluethroat. I've certainly seen several there over the years.

Martin

 

[LaGola]

Black Vulture

Hello,
Last weekend took place a census of Black and Griffon Vulture in the Sierra de Tramuntana. Results aren't available yet but first courtship flights of this species were observed.

Cristina.

 

[LaGola]

Wintering birds

Hello,

Here are an interesting tour if you are in Mallorca next weekend

http://blog.lagola.info/2010/11/ocells-dhivern.html

http://www.gobmallorca.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2547

Regards,

Cristina.