Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)

[Merlin]

All the best Mike and hopefully a speedy return to the Birds & Forum

Best regards

Merlin

 

[StewB]

Firstly, best wishes for Mike tomorrow - hopefully you'll soon be back in the field!

This morning the rain was relentless - occasionally easing to merely torrential.. I went to Cami des Polis, where the cattle were wading almost belly-deep in water andh an osprey was the best bird. At Toucan Mars the wildfowl were mostly sheltering in the reeds, hence no scaup! A great white egret was on some standing water near C'an Cuarassa, at which point I abandoned birding and returned to the appartment to dry out!

The weather improved greatly this afternoon, so I went to the Albufereta, where there were 16 stone curlews and a spotted redshank on a flooded field. Most of the reserve was inaccessible due to standing water, so I headed back. Later I had abooted eagle riding the updraft on the road to Albercutx, where at the miador the sea held not a bird!

Despite the weather we've had an enjoyable few days. We fly back to the UK tomorrow, but are looking forward to returning in September.

Stew

 

[acro]

Wishing you all the best for Friday and a not too frustrating recouperation period. Take it easy Mike!

Many of us will miss your regular updates, certainly one of the things I look forward to reading when I get home from the drudgery of a days work!

But we will all wait patiently of course !!:-C

+1

Many thanks for this thread (Mike and everyone). Not planning to visit until mid-April but following the thread more or less daily. Best of recovery.

 

[honeym]

Hi

A coupe of recent reports: a Redwing at s'Albufera on 5 Feb and a Long-eared Owl at s'Albufereta last Saturday.

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Out of hospital but pretty sore at the moment, I hope for a good recovery and I will be running up the mountains again soon, quite a lot going on. All the mountains covered in more snow than I have seen in a while, a few Redwings around as Martin says, they are quite scarce, and I think a Short-eared owl at Albufereta. About one million Starlings at the roost near Santa Ponça, a magnificent sight. Spring is on the way with lots of blossom out and wild flowers will soon be at their best. Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi

A coupe of recent reports: a Redwing at s'Albufera on 5 Feb and a Long-eared Owl at s'Albufereta last Saturday.

Martin

Whoops. I really must get my scientific names right!

Mike, good to hear that you are out of hospital already.

Martin

 

[Ben Nevis]

Glad to hear you are out of Hospital Mike and hopefully following Doctors orders.One step at a time and I'm sure you shall be out and about when you're ready. :t:

 

[honeym]

Jack Snipe reported from s'Albufera in the last few days and 4 Turnstone at Can Picafort.

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

I have never been good at following doctors orders especially with all these good birds about. However, I am under the watchful eye of my good wife and am behaving myself, about two months rehabilitation should do it. Still lots of snow on the mountains which is a picture, many summer migrants will be appearing any day now. Mike

 

[StewB]

I have never been good at following doctors orders especially with all these good birds about. However, I am under the watchful eye of my good wife and am behaving myself, about two months rehabilitation should do it. Still lots of snow on the mountains which is a picture, many summer migrants will be appearing any day now. Mike

Hope your recovery goes smoothly Mike. I'm sure some gentle walking in the Mallorcan countryside will aid things nicely, and raising and lowering binoculars must count as legitimate exercise!

Stew

 

[StewB]

I have never been good at following doctors orders especially with all these good birds about. However, I am under the watchful eye of my good wife and am behaving myself, about two months rehabilitation should do it. Still lots of snow on the mountains which is a picture, many summer migrants will be appearing any day now. Mike

Hope your recovery goes smoothly Mike. I'm sure some gentle walking in the Mallorcan countryside will aid things nicely, and raising and lowering binoculars must count as legitimate exercise!

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

A lovely male Merlin flying across the bay by the lighthouse at Porto Petro this evening just before 6pm. I have never seen a male in Mallorca before, I have forgotten just how small they are, brilliant. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks Stew, I have been taking your advice, raising and lowering of binoculars is working a treat! Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi All
The attached article about s'Albufera appearred in the Diario de Mallorca earlier this month, following World Wetlands Day. I've had it translated as it makes interesting reading and highlights things that have been said previously on this forum. It is directed at the politicians not the staff of the reserve who do a great job under what are ever increasingly difficult times and conditions
Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Thank you Martin. The deterioration in the park is obvious but as you say it is no reflection on the staff who do a magnificent job. When I see the amounts of money being spent elsewhere on the Island I get very distressed. The wetlands are one of the most important treasures in the whole of Mallorca and must be preserved at all costs. If only the authorities could see that. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Just downloaded some photos I took at Cala Gamba a couple of weeks ago because I thought I saw a Slender-billed gull. Looking at the images it is without doubt Slender-billed.
After twenty years of fruitless searching I now keep finding them everywhere. I don't think numbers have increased so it is our skills that have improved. Most birds seem to be first calendar year and I think I just never looked properly and dismissed them as Black-headed. Valuable lesson to be learned, take a bit more time over every bird! Mike

 

[StewB]

Hopefully, this post should have a copy of my notes from my February trip to the northeast attached!

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

A fantastic report Stew, I really enjoyed it. Sorry about the weather, you were very unlucky. About 17 degrees now with lots of people eating lunch outside and a few migrants trickling through, mostly House martins and Barn swallows. Lots more to come soon I hope. I have been to all the sites in the south where I don't have to walk and they are all really quiet, especially on the sea with just a few Balearic shearwaters seen. There was a large movement of these birds a few days ago on the east coast but here in the south on the same day I only saw one! Mike

 

[honeym]

An enjoyable read, Stew. You did much better than I did during a February visit.
Still reports of Alpine Accentors, also Hawfinch and 2 Bullfinch. Good numbers of Starlings around Magalluf and 5 species of hirundine seen today.
Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Bullfinch are ultra rare and I would love to see one of them. Were they at Mortitx Martin? If they were I have no hope of walking that far, more's the pity. Mike