Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)

[Pancho44]

Cala San Vicent

Just home from two weeks at Cala San Vicent, with a fair amount of birding.
Audouin's Gull daily around the beaches.
Sardinian Warblers everywhere, also Serins.
Blue Rock Thrush and Balearic Warblers on the walk out to Puig d'Agila, also Eleanora's Falcons. Dots on the sea presumably Balearic Shearwaters.
Views of distant Black Vultures from the Siller Pass over to Puerto Pollenca.
Mediterranean Shag surfacing amongst the swimmers off Cala Molins - to their surprise. Probably feeding on the little flatfish they disturb.
Boquer Valley in a howling gale - not a good idea: no birds.
And a Bonelli's Eagle over - viewed from the comfort of a sunbed - the moral being always take your binoculars wherever you are!

 

[skippo]

May I please seek the help of this thread. I am spending a week based in Port Andraxt from 6 June and would like to do some birding along with some snoozing. I am not familiar with good sites - where would you advise a novice to begin? I would love to see more raptors esp the red footed falcons and eagles, but also terns and owls. Odd mixture I know!
Thanks

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Skippo, I am not so familiar with the area around Andratx so I do hope somebody else responds. For most raptors, the mountains are best but I am not sure if you have transport. There has been a large influx of Red-footed falcons in the last few days but many have now moved through. They may all be gone by the time you arrive but one or two may linger. Both Black and Griffon vultures are possible here and there are some good sites for these but again I don't know about Andratx. Owls are never easy to see here but a night walk will reveal calling Scop's owls and with a bit of luck you may see one. Barn owl not so difficult and sometimes Long-eared owl can be seen moving around at dusk. Areas of trees and scattered bushes seem best. Other raptors can be seen in fields and Peregrines can be seen along the coast. Marshes hold numbers of Osprey, Red kite are now more common so should not prove a problem. Let me know if I can help more and good luck. Mike

 

[s.g.]

Majorca 5 April to 19 April 2015

little bittern at salbufera.
Steve.

 

[skippo]

Many thanks Mike. Shame about the falcons but perhaps I will be lucky. We will have a car so can get around a bit. We will certainly go up to Pollenca and should be able to take in s'Albufera - which I think is the main marsh birding area. I imagine that the vultures and eagles are best seen in the Tramuntana? Can you also tell me if there are likely to be guides or local experts in s'Albufera? A lot of my birding results in a list of ' could have been this, but might have been that!'
Thank you for your help,
Richard

 

[Mike Montier]

Still large numbers of Red-footed falcons moving through. A few Knot have been at Salobrar de Campos for the last two days, a very hard bird to see here in Mallorca. Mike

 

[Mike Cross]

Two days to go and getting a little bit excited. Thanks again for all advice given. One final question. Obviously have been reading any trip reports I can find and there appears to be a few referring to "arrived at 9:30 and managed to get the last parking space at S'albufera" Given that Mrs C is a late starter is parking really that bad there even mid week and is it a question of no parking space then leave and try another day?
Apologies if this is a really daft question but I have no idea of available parking, other options, visitor numbers and turnover, regulations etc

Many thanks

Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi Mike
Parking is limited at s'Albufera. There is only a smallish car park which is just off the main road, near the entrance. If you don't get a place there you can park opposite along some of the roads near the hotels (do check for parking regs), or in some of the side roads just before you cross the bridge over the main canal - as you leave the long strip development of Alcudia. I've never known anyone not get a space.
If disabled, or walking is difficult, one can drive down to reception and park in the old car park.
Check the scrub along the canal for birds - Moustached Warbler can be seen and Night Herons roost on the opposite side of the main canal. I've also had good views of Little Bittern crossing the canal.
Hope this helps.
Martin

 

[Mike Cross]

Hi Mike
Parking is limited at s'Albufera. There is only a smallish car park which is just off the main road, near the entrance. If you don't get a place there you can park opposite along some of the roads near the hotels (do check for parking regs), or in some of the side roads just before you cross the bridge over the main canal - as you leave the long strip development of Alcudia. I've never known anyone not get a space.
If disabled, or walking is difficult, one can drive down to reception and park in the old car park.
Check the scrub along the canal for birds - Moustached Warbler can be seen and Night Herons roost on the opposite side of the main canal. I've also had good views of Little Bittern crossing the canal.
Hope this helps.
Martin

It does, many thanks for the response/advice/assurance

Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Skippo, yes, vultures are best seen in the mountains, Mortitx is good also the approach road to the Sóller tunnel should give good views of many raptors, try the gardens at Alfabia as well, so it's possible to combine the two.
There are usually lots of people birding at s'Albufera and they will be very helpful in sharing advice on identification and places to go. Good luck and do let us know.
Steve. Thanks as always for the fantastic photos, they always add so much to this thread. Mike

 

[s.g.]

Majorca 5 April to 19 April 2015

thanks mike,
shellduck and a different l. bittern. at salbufera
Steve.

 

[bob freeman]

Still large numbers of Red-footed falcons moving through. A few Knot have been at Salobrar de Campos for the last two days, a very hard bird to see here in Mallorca. Mike

Mike is the Central Plains Maria area still best for RF Falcons or are they turning up all over this year ?
Chance to be arriving on Monday and hopefully break my duck on seeing one at long last if there are a few still moving through.

Cheers

Bob

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Bob. Maria has been a disaster this year! For some reason, all the Red-footed falcons are turning up at Villafrance de Bonany which I think the locals call "Pla de L'Anzell" , much easier for me to get too but further for people in the north. It would be worth the trip though with up to 30 birds being seen together. I hope they stay for a few more days. Mike

 

[Josep Manchado]

Hi Bob. Maria has been a disaster this year! For some reason, all the Red-footed falcons are turning up at Villafrance de Bonany which I think the locals call "Pla de L'Anzell" , much easier for me to get too but further for people in the north. It would be worth the trip though with up to 30 birds being seen together. I hope they stay for a few more days. Mike

Hello Bob,
Here is where we call it Pla de Lanzell and where these days still are around 20 red footed falcons.
Thanks

 

[Mike Montier]

Thank you Pep, very helpful.Mike

 

[s.g.]

Majorca 5 April to 19 April 2015

nightingale at salbufera.
steve.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Hi Bob. Maria has been a disaster this year! For some reason, all the Red-footed falcons are turning up at Villafrance de Bonany which I think the locals call "Pla de L'Anzell" , much easier for me to get too but further for people in the north. It would be worth the trip though with up to 30 birds being seen together. I hope they stay for a few more days. Mike

Interesting. The place where I had them on Saturday was just NW of Maria de la Salut (I assume that's what you mean by "Maria", Mike).

Mind you, I only had five of them, but still not what I'd call a disaster. 8-P

 

[bob freeman]

Mike & Josep Thank you Very Much for info,I will look at the map now and hope they stay around for a while longer .

Cheers

Bob

 

[Joe52]

I got back a week ago & steadily going through the shots I captured.

 

[Joe52]

Another set.