Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)

[Michael J Raven]

Where is the Los Pinos area; crossbill would be good

 

[honeym]

as we sipped our orange juices I heard the unmistakeable sound of Bee-eaters, and 3 showed very briefly over the Hotel terrace. Later on, as we walked down the Cami Volantina I heard them again, and this time there were 6 birds around the power lines to the south of the road.

Hi Hugh
That seems to be a good early record. 2nd April was also the first datethey were recorded in both 2011 and 2012 according to the Anuari Ornitologic Balear that I have.
Martin

 

[hughm]

Hi Martin and Michael- It was good to see the Bee-eaters- I usually only hear them as they fly over at a great height in the Boquer Valley. Los pinos is an urbanisacion just to the SW of La Gola- it has, not surprisingly, alot of mature pines, and I have found Crossbills in the area quite often over the last 15 springs that I have visited Mallorca. To get there turn off the promenade at the play area by the Guardia Civil along the Carrer de Xarxa, go almost to the end at the by-pass, but turn right just before the by-pass roundabout. HTH- Hugh.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Hugh/Rob,

Where was it you had the Balearic Warblers? That's my main target when I come there next month, and any advice on a stake-out other than the Boquer would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[RobWilton]

Hi all,
Spent a couple of hours along the MA-3513 NW of Maria de la Salut this morning.

Highlights included:
2+ spectacular male Lesser Kestrel hawking insects.
11 Short-toed Lark and a Stone Curlew in one of the ploughed fields.
1 Common Crane that climbed to great height before before drifting north.
Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, several Corn Bunting etc.

Then went onto Pollenca where we climbed the 365 steps to the church where a couple of feeding Crossbills were noted.

c4 Crag Martin were noted at the first viewpoint on the way to Formentor.

Our hotel overlooks Albufera where 13 Night Heron were seen flying north at dusk over a 30 minute period at dusk.

Cheers
Rob Wilton

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks for all the posts, I am still in the UK and missing lots it seems, can't wait to be back. Jeff, I will post here some other sites for Balearic Warbler as soon as I return.Depends where you are staying, near Pollenca I assume? Mike

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Thanks for all the posts, I am still in the UK and missing lots it seems, can't wait to be back. Jeff, I will post here some other sites for Balearic Warbler as soon as I return.Depends where you are staying, near Pollenca I assume? Mike

Correct, Mike, but I'll have a car. So if I need to move around a bit, that's workable.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Apus batesi]

Alpine accentor

Hi folks!

New to posting on this site and departing Bristol tomorrow with family for Soller. Looking forward to a bit of birding, lots of walking, maybe a bike ride too!

I was wondering whether I'm too late for alpine accentors?

Cheers

Simon

 

[honeym]

Hi Simon
Not necessarily but you need to be lucky. For example, in 2012 the last sighting was of one on 15 April at the Albercutx Watchtower overlooking the sea and previously there had been 4 examples on 1 April on Puig Major. Probably the higher up you can be, the better.
Good luck
Martin

 

[Michael J Raven]

Hi Rob - I am with Bill and Helen Whybrow (unfortunately leaving tomorrow), and Angie Raven (nee Whybrow - here with me until 11th) all from Lowestoft.

Son Real today produced: woodchat shrike, crossbill (several), thekla lark, song thrush, black redstart, wheatear and 2 Hermann's tortoise (alas no Balearic or Dartford warblers). Added an early common whitethroat in Port de Pollenca this evening.

Hope to go to Albufera tomorrow - might see you around.

 

[hughm]

Hi again- a very mixed day today but a surprise Mallorca tick was a bonus. I got the car early on, and as the hire place was in Alcudia I popped in for the first time ever to Maristany (Tucan Marsh). It was covered in both types of Pochard, including a female RCP with loads of ducklings. I can see why the Scaup was here last winter- it is an obviously deep water body in contrast to most others in the area. Then to C'an Cuarassa briefly- nothing new but more Bee-eater calls distantly to the NW. I collected my sons and went up to the Talaia d´Albercutx- very busy on Good Friday- and there were members of GORA with their scopes set up for migrating raptors- but the only one I saw was my second ever Sparrowhawk for Mallorca- the first being also on 3rd April in 2002. The group was very friendly and Pep Manchado introduced me to some others of the group. We then collected my wife and drove off to Alcanada for our picnic and walk- a very pleasant area east of Port d´Alcudia. The birds were nothing special, with a sadly deceased Hoopoe by the roadside, but then I picked up what I assumed to be a Firecrest in a conifer, but after tracking it down I eventually got good views of my first ever Goldcrest on the island. I know they are winter visitors and are normally gone by late March, but perhaps this one is a very late bird. Then back to the Hotel, dropped off the family and went back to C´an Cuarassa again. I went up the track inland and was about to turn back when 3 calling waders came in- my first Wood Sandpipers of the trip- and they fed in the small pools to the right of the track. An Osprey fished in the bay as I went along past the screens- still LRP and Greenshank there- but between the two screens I caught sight of some birds in a bush about 100m to the right, put up the scope and found 13 Spotless Starlings, which eventually flew off. I have yet to see them on the wires near the Club del Sol- only Feral Pigeons there and the roof has been repaired which may have put off the SStarlings from attempting to breed. Tomorrow hopefully to the mountains in the Lluc area- although the Easter weekend traffic will probably be pretty bad. Hugh Matthews

 

[Alan Whitehead]

I've just finished a review of my visit from 1st - 10th March.

http://duffbirder.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[Peewit]

I've just finished a review of my visit from 1st - 10th March.

http://duffbirder.blogspot.co.uk/

Great report Alan - enjoyed reading it and I love your Audoins Gulls - fabulous photos :t:

 

[honeym]

Hi Alan
Me too. Your Stonechat looks like one of the local race but, as you say, striking. Sometimes misid'd as Siberians.
Best wishes
Martin

 

[Alan Whitehead]

Hi Kathy and Martin. Thanks for the kind comments. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[RobWilton]

Hi Michael,
Please pass on my regards to Bill and Helen.

From what I've heard things are very slow back home with next to no migrants, so this has been a very welcome break indeed. We head home on Monday so we may well bump into each other.

We spent the afternoon at Albufera yesterday. Loads of flava wagtails, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilts, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Spotted Redshank, 3 Ruff, Avocet, Booted Eagle, and superb views of a perched Osprey.

There were 6 or so Crested Coot on the main channel viewed from the bridge near the information centre, as well as a couple of Red Crested Pochard.

A male Little Bittern was seen flying into a small patch of reeds along the main channel when scanning from a viewing platform where 3 Night Heron were seen roosting in the bushes opposite.

Cheers
Rob

 

[Ben Nevis]

Great report and photos Alan.I shall be back on the Island In July,where It shall be hotter and the birding shall be a bit harder.It really Is a fantastic Island.

 

[fatherjackhackett]

Hi Mike,

Yes, i was with Bromley YOC and went birding with you a few times (late 80s) in your 7 seater Peugeot if my memory serves me correctly.

Matt.
(Apologies to all for posting non birding stuff.)

 

[Peewit]

Great report and photos Alan.I shall be back on the Island In July,where It shall be hotter and the birding shall be a bit harder.It really Is a fantastic Island.

Hi BN

You are brave with going to Mallorca in July, as I think it will be very hot - a sleep in the middle of the day to keep away from the heat of the sun...comes to mind. How many times have you been? o

OH and I make a point on going in May or October time to Menorca due to the prices for our sailing hioliday. The prices double in July, and the school holidays bring a lot of families to sail - and at other times it is more couple based (which suits us)

Minorca Sailing have a 'creche' so all young children are well looked after, and you can escape birding or whatever you wish to do - even if it is not sailing as intended (part of the price paid)
When we first went to Minorca Sailing in 2005, we where taken on nature trips on the island in the evening, but they have stopped doing that, and that is sad for us :-C

I also understand that a daily boat trip from Menorca to Mallorca is possible, and we may have a go and see what it is like....sometime in the future.

http://www.directferries.co.uk/ferries_from_mallorca_to_menorca.htm

We have not been as adventurious as we could be but we will spread our wings, and see what else there is around.

 

[Alan Whitehead]

Great report and photos Alan.I shall be back on the Island In July,where It shall be hotter and the birding shall be a bit harder.It really Is a fantastic Island.

Cheers Ben. Enjoy your trip.