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Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
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
This shall be my 4th year In a row,I have been In July.This Is due to my (non birding wife's) work holidays,as she works at a School,so holidays outwith School term are a no-no.
I have seen some fantastic birds at that time of the year,even though It can become very hot In the afternoon.I tend to head out first thing In the morning and sometimes,early evening.I also enjoyed the fantastic company of Mr Montier last year and hope to do so again this year.Over to you Mike ???
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Matt, yes I remember you well, happy days and we saw some great birds with Chris, Dave, Allan and Steve. I think you lived near the bottom of Corkscrew Hill?
Hi Allan, great report, thanks, I see you got some feedback on your Stonechat photo.
Hi Ben Nevis, yes, it will be a pleasure to go out birding with you again this year, I really enjoyed our trip last year, hopefully we will get closer views of Bee-eaters this time. Can't wait to get back to the action, first stop, the Central Plain for those Lesser Kestrels! Mike
Hi Allan, great report, thanks, I see you got some feedback on your Stonechat photo.
Hi Ben Nevis, yes, it will be a pleasure to go out birding with you again this year, I really enjoyed our trip last year, hopefully we will get closer views of Bee-eaters this time. Can't wait to get back to the action, first stop, the Central Plain for those Lesser Kestrels! Mike
Michael J Raven
Member
At Albufera this morning. At Sa Roca hides, 2 marbled duck, 3 garganey, osprey, 15-20 yellow wagtails. At Cibollar hides: 4 Temminck's stint, 4 spotted redshank, 3 greenshank, 2 green sandpiper, 1 lapwing, 2 avocet, 5 wood sandpiper, a female pintail, 3 ruff, 1 dunlin, 6 garganey. A flyover whimbrel over the entrance track, plus 13 cattle egret and 22 night heron. 2-3 singing moustached warbler and 2-3 flyover bee-eater. Also, a strange small heron fast asleep at the back of the Cibollar I hide - looked like squacco. Finally, 3-4 Scopoli's shearwater close inshore seen from the reserve entrance. Also, fleeting glimpse of possible garden warbler - though it seems very early for this species (according to annual bird reports) - Mike - when does this species usually turn up?
La Gola, this evening - crossbill 2, common sandpiper, greenshank and the female RC pochard.
La Gola, this evening - crossbill 2, common sandpiper, greenshank and the female RC pochard.
Hi all,
Not a lot to report this evening.
Found a muddy pool on the southern edge of Albufera which held 25 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, Green Sand, Stone Curlew, and Water Pipit.
Had brief views of Blaearic Warbler in the Boquer Valley; am surprised how elusive these are though!
Are there any Subalpine Warblers about at the moment? If so does anyone have any ideas as to where the best place is to find them.
I also thought Reed Bunting would be pretty easy to find but haven't bumped into any as yet. Any information would be welcome.
Cheers
Rob
Not a lot to report this evening.
Found a muddy pool on the southern edge of Albufera which held 25 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, Green Sand, Stone Curlew, and Water Pipit.
Had brief views of Blaearic Warbler in the Boquer Valley; am surprised how elusive these are though!
Are there any Subalpine Warblers about at the moment? If so does anyone have any ideas as to where the best place is to find them.
I also thought Reed Bunting would be pretty easy to find but haven't bumped into any as yet. Any information would be welcome.
Cheers
Rob
Peewit
Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover
This shall be my 4th year In a row,I have been In July.This Is due to my (non birding wife's) work holidays,as she works at a School,so holidays outwith School term are a no-no.
I have seen some fantastic birds at that time of the year,even though It can become very hot In the afternoon.I tend to head out first thing In the morning and sometimes,early evening.I also enjoyed the fantastic company of Mr Montier last year and hope to do so again this year.Over to you Mike ???
Spain is an addictive place to visit - 4 years of joy for you BN - heat is not an issue when you like a place so much as you do. It is a pity that high peak times are so expensive
Early morning when the sun rises, and when the sun sets are the best times to go birding. We have seen some lovely birds in Menorca at these points in the day - especailly at sunrise over Ses selines saltpans
Nice to met BF'rs like Mike :t:
:gh::-O
Peewit
Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover
Hi Mike
Bee-eaters are always gathered at Tirant in Menorca every May - so you will get an opportunity to see them close-up within this month, We can hear them for miles around, and they fly high up in the sky over the bay, and we can still hear them LOL
In my recent report I have yet to complete, I will post photos of them feeding, mating, and all sorts. o
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Corkscrew Hill- 119 bus! Anyway, back to Mallorca. Answers to Rob- Subalpine can be around but they can turn up anywhere and it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The Reed Buntings at Albufera are easier to see on the path round the perimeter in the SW corner, although they can be elsewhere if you are lucky. today I took my sons in the car, but as my elder boy has Asperger´s Syndrome and is very worried about being away from toilet provision we can only go to certain places- we went to Costitx for a chocolate, and then up into the mountains to Lluc, where there were plenty of Firecrests and a plethora of Chaffinches, together with a Blue Tit. We were there for 2 hours and I scanned the sky and ridges constantly, and just when I thought I would draw a blank on raptors 2 Black Vultures appeared along a ridge for about a minute. Tomorrow my wife has chosen for us to go to Raixa- a historic estate near Bunyola- hopefully I will break my duck on Booted Eagle and one or two other "easy" species. Hugh Matthews.
honeym
Well-known member
Hi Rob
I believe I'm correct in saying that the Reed Bunting population in Mallorca has suffered quite a decline. My only recent sightings have been at the 'back' of the Park (the area furthest away from the sea, towards Sa Pobla). Take the road past the power station and when you get to the s-bend over a bridge with traffic priority signs take the rough track immediately ahead (be careful of oncoming traffic as they tend to take the corner quite fast) and go all the way to the end. You can then walk over another bridge with a steep approach that leads out onto a small pool/canal on the right. The track can be walked right to the far end, where there's a font (Font de Son Sant Joan). The areas of tall reeds alongside the track, mainly on the right, can often yield the local race of Reed Bunting.
Best wishes
Martin
I believe I'm correct in saying that the Reed Bunting population in Mallorca has suffered quite a decline. My only recent sightings have been at the 'back' of the Park (the area furthest away from the sea, towards Sa Pobla). Take the road past the power station and when you get to the s-bend over a bridge with traffic priority signs take the rough track immediately ahead (be careful of oncoming traffic as they tend to take the corner quite fast) and go all the way to the end. You can then walk over another bridge with a steep approach that leads out onto a small pool/canal on the right. The track can be walked right to the far end, where there's a font (Font de Son Sant Joan). The areas of tall reeds alongside the track, mainly on the right, can often yield the local race of Reed Bunting.
Best wishes
Martin
StewB
Well-known member
Hi Rob,
I think that the resident reed buntings are "Witherbii" and are pretty scarce. As quoted, the tall reeds in the area on the western edge of S'Albufera known as Cami des Polis are recommended (although our mutual friend Justin spent a very long time here before scoring. I've never seen them here or elsewhere). "Regular" reed buntings are a relatively common Winter visitor, but they've presumably already left.
I've seen subalpine warbler a few times at Embalse de Cuber, from the track near the bothy-like building just after the quarry.
Stew
Mike Montier
Well-known member
There is some excellent information on Sub-alpine warblers on the Mallorca thread some years ago which I will try and find. From memory Sub-alpine warblers move through the Island in the first two weeks of April followed by Moltoni's warbler, some of which stay to breed in several areas notably at Cuber Reservoir. They can be seen quite easily from the small car park walking down towards the dam with the reservoir on your right, the warblers, often two pairs, show frequently on either side of the track about three-quarters of the way down. I can answer some other questions tomorrow when I get back. Have fun! Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Reed Buntings have become quite difficult in recent years. Albufera is still the best site I believe but I have seen them all over the Island but nearly always at sewage works, I go to the one at Villafranca every couple of weeks but I appreciate that this site is quite some way from the North. Mike
Michael J Raven
Member
Mike - what is the status of garden warbler on Mallorca? - are they a common migrant, and when do they usually first turn up
honeym
Well-known member
Hi Michael
According to the Birding Tourist's Guide they are an abundant migrant. In 2012, according to the AOB "pas prenupcial, primer ex. el 21-IV a Formentor (Pollença). Pas postnupcial, 1 ex. el 10-Ix al port de Sóller. 2 ex. l’11-Ix al golf d’Alcanada (Pollença) (REs). 1 ex. els dies 3, 4 i 7-x a s’Albufera".
I don't have any more recent copies. I hope that helps.
Best wishes
Martin
According to the Birding Tourist's Guide they are an abundant migrant. In 2012, according to the AOB "pas prenupcial, primer ex. el 21-IV a Formentor (Pollença). Pas postnupcial, 1 ex. el 10-Ix al port de Sóller. 2 ex. l’11-Ix al golf d’Alcanada (Pollença) (REs). 1 ex. els dies 3, 4 i 7-x a s’Albufera".
I don't have any more recent copies. I hope that helps.
Best wishes
Martin
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Thanks Martin, I will try to find the excellent article by Motmot I think. I have obviously got the dates wrong!
Hi Michael. Garden warbler are seen quite regularly on migration and I will look up arrival dates tomorrow. Mike
Hi Michael. Garden warbler are seen quite regularly on migration and I will look up arrival dates tomorrow. Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Going back to the Sub-alpine warblers I must have meant May not April. It is clearly a mistake to call them an abundant migrant although I do remember reading that. They are scarce, no doubt about it and the island of Cabrera is the best place to see them. Mike
honeym
Well-known member
Year's ago I saw a family party of what I identified at the time as Subalpine Warblers, in the exact spot mentioned by Mike above, I guess they were what is now regarded as Moltoni's. I must amend my list! I recall it was a great day as, nearby, there were also some Spectacled Warblers both new birds for me at the time.
Martin
Martin
Peewit
Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover
Interesting bit of news about the Subalpine Warblers
Last time my OH and I, where lucky to see one at the Parque National de S'Albufera des Grau in 2007 time - hidden in a dense bush. Feels such a long time ago now.
We had one of the bird guides from the local GOB team at that time.
http://menorcawalkingbirds.com/en/trips-in-menorca/
This was May time by the way
Last time my OH and I, where lucky to see one at the Parque National de S'Albufera des Grau in 2007 time - hidden in a dense bush. Feels such a long time ago now.
We had one of the bird guides from the local GOB team at that time.
http://menorcawalkingbirds.com/en/trips-in-menorca/
This was May time by the way
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Michael J Raven
Member
Todays highlights: The Mirador viewpoint (near the Albercutx tower): crag martin 2, raven 2, blue rock thrush and thousands of tourists!)
Depuradora (S'Albufera): the roadworks are pretty much complete, and we were now able to drive to the platform: garganey 1, shoveler 60-80, pochard 5, redstart, hoopoe, green sandpiper, common sandpiper 5, spotted redshank, flava wagtails (15-20), meadow pipit 2, stone-curlew, cattle egret.
Tucan Marsh - what is the best point of access; as the road to the Hydropark was closed?
Depuradora (S'Albufera): the roadworks are pretty much complete, and we were now able to drive to the platform: garganey 1, shoveler 60-80, pochard 5, redstart, hoopoe, green sandpiper, common sandpiper 5, spotted redshank, flava wagtails (15-20), meadow pipit 2, stone-curlew, cattle egret.
Tucan Marsh - what is the best point of access; as the road to the Hydropark was closed?
