Mallorca 2014 (1 Viewer)

[Ram One]

Back today from a very enjoyable week staying in Alcudia and got around by walking, bus and taxi. From my hotel, taxis cost around 16 Euros to both Puerta Pollensa and Son Real.
In general the species I saw were similar to those reported by others, with my personal highlights as follows :-
15th April - Albufera. Night Heron opposite path to visitor centre, Little Stint and Wood Sandpipers at Sa Roca, Snipe, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank at Es Cibollar 1 and Osprey perched on post in front of Es Cibollar 2.
16th April - Boquer Valley. Booted Eagle, singing Blue Rock Thrush, Cirl Bunting half way along the valley but Pied Flycatcher was the only migrant passerine seen.
17th April - Albufera. Great views of Purple Heron at Sa Roca 1 and 10 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and 3 Ruff joining the other waders at Es Cibollar.
18th April - C'an Cuarrassa to Cami de Ca Volantina. Woodchat Shrike and Raven. (Sadly I missed out on the Spotless Starling, probably not looking until too far up the track.)
19th April - Son Real. Spotted Flycatcher, Wryneck and 2 Thekla Lark.
C'an Picafort - Bus Depot by Depuradora track. Pair of Bee Eaters.
20th April - Albufera- Ses Puntes track, 2 singing Moustached Warblers with one bird showing really well from a low clump of reed near the first viewing platform. Thousands of swifts passing through the reserve, some of which will hopefully be joining me back in England in the next few days.

In addition I saw a Weasel on Cami de Ca Volantina and 8 butterfly species, one of which, the Cleopatra was a first for me. As I said, a very enjoyable trip but still plenty to see on future visits.

John

 

[Ram One]

Back today from a very enjoyable week staying in Alcudia and got around by walking, bus and taxi. From my hotel, taxis cost around 16 Euros to both Puerta Pollensa and Son Real.
In general the species I saw were similar to those reported by others, with my personal highlights as follows :-
15th April - Albufera. Night Heron opposite path to visitor centre, Little Stint and Wood Sandpipers at Sa Roca, Snipe, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank at Es Cibollar 1 and Osprey perched on post in front of Es Cibollar 2.
16th April - Boquer Valley. Booted Eagle, singing Blue Rock Thrush, Cirl Bunting half way along the valley but Pied Flycatcher was the only migrant passerine seen.
17th April - Albufera. Great views of Purple Heron at Sa Roca 1 and 10 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and 3 Ruff joining the other waders at Es Cibollar.
18th April - C'an Cuarrassa to Cami de Ca Volantina. Woodchat Shrike and Raven. (Sadly I missed out on the Spotless Starling, probably not looking until too far up the track.)
19th April - Son Real. Spotted Flycatcher, Wryneck and 2 Thekla Lark.
C'an Picafort - Bus Depot by Depuradora track. Pair of Bee Eaters.
20th April - Albufera- Ses Puntes track, 2 singing Moustached Warblers with one bird showing really well from a low clump of reed near the first viewing platform. Thousands of swifts passing through the reserve, some of which will hopefully be joining me back in England in the next few days.

In addition I saw a Weasel on Cami de Ca Volantina and 8 butterfly species, one of which, the Cleopatra was a first for me. As I said, a very enjoyable trip but still plenty to see on future visits.

John

 

[Richard Prior]

"Some really splendid Finca up that neck of the woods too what a great place to live for those lucky folk.
Vulture pic attached

Cheers

Bob"

It's 34 years since I made my only trip to Majorca, so it's great to read that there's still birds to be seen, despite the many changes that must have happened in terms of tourist development in that time!
Bob, you've got an adult Black Vulture in your photo, note the black line down the throat and coverts darker than the flight feathers etc.
Cheers

Richard

 

[bob freeman]

"Some really splendid Finca up that neck of the woods too what a great place to live for those lucky folk.
Vulture pic attached

Cheers

Bob"

It's 34 years since I made my only trip to Majorca, so it's great to read that there's still birds to be seen, despite the many changes that must have happened in terms of tourist development in that time!
Bob, you've got an adult Black Vulture in your photo, note the black line down the throat and coverts darker than the flight feathers etc.
Cheers

Richard

Richard
Many Thanks again for Vulture ID,at least I got the Vulture bit right.
Yes Majorca is still a fantastic birding place even though some of the other birders I have spoken to this week seem to think that migrant wise it is not as good as years gone by.
I just like to be able to wander around the tracks watching the more common birds and if anything else shows up which it usually does then it's a bonus.
The first time I have made an April visit but I will be trying to make it an annual event from now on as the wild flowers in bloom and the smells in the air and of course the birdsong thrown in make it a no brainer.
Last full day today so grab some breakfast and get out there,looking outside it looks like being another warm clear sunny Spring day.
Such Joy.

Bob

 

[rachk116]

Reading these posts makes me excited for our trip starting 30th May. Usually go this time of the year but decided to have a change this time so looking forward to seeing how different it is.

This is such a good thread with really helpful posters. It has helped me a lot in previous years. I will try to give a bit back when I visit in a few weeks (wifi permiting |:d| ).

Keep up the good work.

Rach

 

[Mike Montier]

An evening walk last night at Mondragó produced the first Turtle dove, five Woodchats and one Pallid swift. The tower at Albercutx seems to be one of the best places to be at the moment, the hours between 10am and 12 noon seem to produce the best sightings various Harriers and many Marsh harrier, a few Montagu's and very occasional Pallid harrier. Black kite and Hobby may be seen too and I have seen Short-toed eagle every year so far. Good luck to anyone who goes, there are quite a good number of locals who go at the week-ends and they are very friendly and helpful. Mike

 

[bob freeman]

Hi All
Last post for this visit anyway.Day started off with Scops Owl calling at 0630 again in the back lane.
Decided to go looking for the elusive Depuradora again but no joy there,I parked up next to the coach depot and walked almost every path and lane off to the right but all I found was locked gates and barking dogs ,gave up after about four hours trudge as sky went black and thunder storm looked imminent.
Good thing about it was the birds seen in this area were top class,lost count of Hoopoe and Bee eater plus a pair of Larks feeding young,toss up between Thelka or Crested lark,Booted Eagle ,Kestrel and Marsh Harrier soaring about too.
Also managed great views of a Nightingale in full song as soon as I arrived.
Was going to try and get back to Can Cuarrassa this evening but ran out of time due to last minute things to do.
Anyway I will sign off now,Scops calling again in back lane and Nightingalei in full song too at 00.06.
Thanks all for all the help given in this thread and keep up the good work.
I will attach a few shots from today and bid you all farewell until next time.

Bob

 

[bob freeman]

Bee eater

 

[bob freeman]

Bee eaters

 

[bob freeman]

Thelka / Crested Lark ?

 

[honeym]

Hi Bob

Sorry you missed the Depuradora but I did say "Head down that road [snip] turning on the left with a binoculars sign on a chain-link fence.".
However, if the photos are anything to go by you saw some nice birds - and at close range, unless you trudge round with a huge lens.
I hope you have better luck next time.
Thanks for brightening up my day with the bee-eaters!

Martin

 

[Michael Schade]

Thelka / Crested Lark ?

Difficult to tell from just one picture. Crested and Thekla are hard to discriminate anyway. Although your picture is great, I cannot judge on the length of the bill, the size of the bird, and the "greyness" of the belly... Just from the location, I'd go for Thekla, but that may be wrong.

Best regards, Michael

 

[Mike Montier]

I think Thekla is the most likely as Crested have not occurred here as far as I know. Mike

 

[bob freeman]

Martin
Got you now I did walk down over the hump in the road but must have stopped walking just before the chain link fence as I could see the Bee eaters down the road to the right and I could also see other birders through my bins over in that direction too so thought I could maybe ask them.By the time I walked to the area the birders had driven off but the birds were still there and let me get to within about 10 metre of them as they perched up,I could see one bird flying up and bringing bees back to feed other bird with,part of courtship I would have thought,anyway next time I will definitely find The Depuradora.

Michael & Mike I thought Thelka Lark as the call was something I had never heard before and I remember seeing and hearing Crested Lark in Africa a few year back and sure it was different call wise.
Anyway back in wet windy South Shields now,well sick to have left a fantastic sunny morning in Majorca first thing today but all good things come to an end I suppose.
I will keep on following the thread and look forward to reading what else shows up in the coming weeks out there.

Cheers

Bob

 

[chris chapleo]

Pollensa 16-24 April

Hello all

Great thread -Ive just got back from week staying in Porto Pollensa ( 16-24 April) and think I met couple of you (eg Hugh chatted to you at Scops Owl stake out ). Been 8 years since I was last here and great to see the status of some birds seems to be good eg lots of Booted Eagles, Audouins, several GWE and several Osprey etc. Other things such as Purple Heron, however, seem to be much harder unless I was unlucky?

Most of what I saw has been covered in posts but seeing the Golden Eagle first day over Albufera ( being mobbed by Marsh Harriers) did give me a huge shock as I wasnt aware it was around until I spoke with a park ranger,

Other sightings that may be of interest:

Wryneck on several occasions at base of Bocquer Valley - twice feeding on pylons!
Turtle Dove at Albufereta on 18/4
Savis Warbler 21/4 at Albufera
2 Tree Sparrow Albufereta on 21/4 - not sure how common these are?
Balearic Warbler did take quite a lot of effort but eventually got brief but good views of one in Bocquer.

Anyway, really hope to be back next year for longer and will post as I go along then

Thanks everyone
Chris

 

[Mike Montier]

A Rock thrush has been seen at the tower at ALbercutx this morning so let's hope it is on its way to Cúber to breed this year. They are a very hard bird to catch up with here away from the reservoir and even then they are hard to see. mike

 

[honeym]

Hi Chris

I think you must have been unlucky not to see Purple Heron at either s'Albufera or s'Albufereta. I left the day before you arrived and had great views, at times, in the preceding three weeks.

You did well with Tree Sparrow but s'Albufereta is one of the known sites for them. Probably your Turtle Dove record there was more interesting.

Despite being in s'Albufera for three weeks, I missed out on Savi's.

Hi Mike

Good news about the Rock Thrush. I might get a chance to see one again as I've been invited out to s'Albufera in May and I'd sorely tempted.

Best wishes

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Hope you make it Martin and hope too that we will meet up and say hello. Mike

 

[rachk116]

Will the Balearic Warblers still be visible at the beginning of June? I'm guessing they're a bit more skulky whilst breeding. Where is the best place in the Boquer to get them? I had 1 right at the end in 2009 but can't quite remember where. All the tracks looked the same. Had none last year not even singing. Just wondered if anyone had any particular hotspots or regularly reliable areas. Would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks
Rachel

 

[hughm]

Rachel- I have always seen Balearic Warbler in the area which is basically flat at the end of the valley just before the path starts to descend towards the Cala Boquer. However there is the caveat that prolonged views are generally impossible, and unless there is little wind and few people around, you will find them very hard to see. There is a distinct large rock, about 1.8 metres high , in the middle of the flat area, and I usually hang about there and listen for the call- a much softer, less harsh sound than the predominant Sardinians. Can I also give a hint about the Depuradora- to get directly to the viewing platform in a car it is much easier to drive down the next road AFTER the coach depot on the CP to Muro road- I have historically found it to be in better condition than the one mentioned in Gosney, and it only has a short rough section at the end. However, it does miss any views over the Son Bosc area. Hugh Matthews- in showery Northampton.