Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

Following the storm are huge numbers of Barn swallow, over 1,000 at the Cap alone, House martins and a Montagu's harrier through too. Mike

 

[honeym]

Up North, it´s only recently stopped raining. The area in front of Sa Roca and the ´new´ hide (not the really new one overlooing the new lake) is now completely flooded, whereas yesterday there was a large amount of mud. The only ´new´birds there were 4 Dunlin.
As Mike commented, as soon as the rain eased off there was a large movement of hirundines but I could only see Swallows and Sand Martins.
Martin

 

[honeym]

Just thought I would have a quiet hour in Sa Roca hide, seeing if the rains had dropped anything in. Unfortunately a large group of photographers clearly had the same idea as virtually every window was blacked by a massive lens and every bit of floor was covered with rucksacks full of other lenses - there was barely any room to move - and the noise was worse than a day on the ranges at Pirbright! I was suprised that anything was close to the hide at all.
The only bird of note that I could see was a Little Stint and that was keeping its distance.
Had great views of a Hoopoe by the gate but that was short-lived as another downpour sent me scurrying back into the Lab.
Martin

 

[Dave Harris]

Yellow-browed Warbler Cap de Fermentor today

I've just had an e-mail from a mate who's found a Yellow-browed Warbler at Cala Munta, Cap de Fermentor. Not sure of their status in Mallorca but I presume they aren't that regular? I've asked for some directions. Photo attached. Bird found by Holmethorpe birder Gordon Hay.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Visit to Bocquer Valley in the afternoon

Amazing that little sign of the storm and torrential rain was seen.

Birds seen included:

- Booted Eagles
- Peregrines
- Elenores Falcon
- Red legged Partridges
- Barn swallows; Craig Martins; Sand Martins
- Blue Rock Thrush
- Sardininan Warblers
- Black and Common Redstarts
- Cirl Buntings
- Goldfinches
- Linnets
- Pied and Spotless Flycatchers
- Stonechats


Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

They are very rare and I predicted an influx following the storms so it's nice to get something right now and again. A great sighting and it would be helpful if the finder could submit the record. Lots of Hobby through today as well and I hope more good birds will be found this week-end. Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

They are very rare and I predicted an influx following the storms so it's nice to get something right now and again. A great sighting and it would be helpful if the finder could submit the record. Lots of Hobby through today as well and I hope more good birds will be found this week-end. Mike

I met a birder in Boquer Valley who mentioned a lesser whitethroat

I never saw it but who knows?

Mike

 

[gus guthrie]

I met a birder in Boquer Valley who mentioned a lesser whitethroat

I never saw it but who knows?

Mike

I had a Lesser Whitethroat in the Orchard just beyond the Farmhouse at the Boquer valley. There were loads of redstarts there at the time as well as Pied flycatchers and several Wryneck.

 

[Dave Harris]

I've just had an e-mail from a mate who's found a Yellow-browed Warbler at Cala Munta, Cap de Fermentor. Not sure of their status in Mallorca but I presume they aren't that regular? I've asked for some directions. Photo attached. Bird found by Holmethorpe birder Gordon Hay.

Cheers
Dave

Here are the directions if anyone is interested.

Directions; From the Cap de Fermentor about 3km back towards Porta de Pollenca there is a Car Park on the right hand side of the road. On the opposite side of the road is a Donkey stables with a footpath that leads down to Cala Murta. Keeping to the hard surfaced road you pass a small football pitch with an old plough/harrow in it on your left. The next paddock on the left
is where the Yellow-browed Warbler was found preferring the two fig trees on the right.
Cheers,
Gordon

Dave

 

[Mike Montier]

Many thanks Dave (and Gordon). The forms for submission can be found on the web site: www.gobmallorca.com The usual information is required, ie. date, number of birds, conditions but with the photo the process is much easier. Single observer records without photos are, like everywhere now, hard to get accepted. Lesser whitethroat is very difficult to get accepted because of all the young and female Sardinian warblers around, a photo would be essential. They are also very rare. Thanks all for your records, with all the recent winds and storms who knows what else is lurking in Mallorca. The north of the Island will be much better for all these passerines. Good luck! Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I fancy that the Bóquer Valley would also be worth a visit if anyone is nearby. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

The Yellow browed warbler is still present today and a Lesser whitethroat has been seen and photographed so the previous sighting looks good for acceptance, well done to all the finders and many thanks for posting here, great records and more to come I suspect! Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Morning visit to Lluc

As always, a great visit...ignore the tourists, do not kill the cyclists and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

In the middle of the Tramantura Mountains

The Coffee and Almond cake are special!

Birds seen included:

- Black Vultures (at a distance)
- Griffin Vultures
- Booted Eagles
- Ravens
- Barn Swallows and House Martins
- Hoopoe
- Firecrest
- Sardinian Warblers
- Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Greenfinches
- Robins, Robins and Robins

Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A White stork has been seen at Prat de Sant Jordi near the airport. Birders will be out in force at the weekend so more to come. Mike

 

[Josep Manchado]

Today a productive day at Formentor (Cases de Cala Murta), with 1 Common Whitethroat, several garden warbler, many common redstart, willow warbler and pied flycatcher and specially the yellow-browed warbler somebody saw yeaterday and one lesser whitethroat! what is very rare in Majorca and Spain.

Later in the Prat the Sant Jordi one white stork feeding on the fields near the road.

It looks like the storm has bring some nice birds to the island.
I hope tomorrow will be more.

 

[honeym]

Nothing quite so special at s'Albufera. Late afternoon walked to Es Columbars but the area is nicely flooded so just a few ducks and cormorants. Heard a bird call from the boardwalk but nothing I knew. Of course it failed to appear! At Es Cibollar I there were 2 Great White Egret, 3 Flamingoes, 2 Kingfisher, Osprey perched on the left hand tree branches, three summer plumage Dunlin. At least three more Kingfisher along the canal and at Sa Roca hide one Whimbrel.

Yesterday from the same hide I saw my first Mallorcan Plain Tiger butterfly, Danaus chryssipus.

Martin

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Nothing quite so special at s'Albufera. Late afternoon walked to Es Columbars but the area is nicely flooded so just a few ducks and cormorants. Heard a bird call from the boardwalk but nothing I knew. Of course it failed to appear! At Es Cibollar I there were 2 Great White Egret, 3 Flamingoes, 2 Kingfisher, Osprey perched on the left hand tree branches, three summer plumage Dunlin. At least three more Kingfisher along the canal and at Sa Roca hide one Whimbrel.

Yesterday from the same hide I saw my first Mallorcan Plain Tiger butterfly, Danaus chryssipus.

Martin

Hi Martin

I saw Cleopatra butterfly today at Lluc

How common are Brimstone in the Island?

 

[honeym]

Hi Martin

How common are Brimstone in the Island?

Brimstone is not supposed to be on the islands, despite a number of claimed sightings (probable misidentified female Cleopatra's seen in flight). However, a fairly recent paper stated that two were found in a collection in Menorca.
I hope this helps as I can't access my files until the computer here starts working again. Thankfully I brought my iPad!
Martin

 

[Graham Moffat]

Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler still in fig trees by Cala Murta track yesterday late afternoon. Thanks to Gordon and Dave - great find.
Graham

 

[Dave Harris]

Many thanks Dave (and Gordon). The forms for submission can be found on the web site: www.gobmallorca.com The usual information is required, ie. date, number of birds, conditions but with the photo the process is much easier. Single observer records without photos are, like everywhere now, hard to get accepted. Lesser whitethroat is very difficult to get accepted because of all the young and female Sardinian warblers around, a photo would be essential. They are also very rare. Thanks all for your records, with all the recent winds and storms who knows what else is lurking in Mallorca. The north of the Island will be much better for all these passerines. Good luck! Mike

Is there an English version?! We struggle to get notes out of Gordon from Holmethorpe & I don't know what his Spanish is like ;-)