foresttwitcher
Virtually unknown member
Nice pictures Joe.
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Mallorca 2015 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
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Mike Montier
Well-known member
A few Honey buzzard trickling through, mostly dark birds. It's hard to say how many Red-footed falcons have been through the Island in the last week or so, certainly hundreds and maybe about one thousand in all, I have seen over twenty together, quite a sight as they were nearly all male. Mike
bob freeman
Well-known member
Mike thanks for posting update, the RF Falcons must be late in moving through this year as I missed them all last year and was on the Island mid May.
If just one hangs about into next week I will be Well Chuffed.
Cheers
Bob
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Bob, I will try to keep one here for you.
Thanks for the Starling photos Steve. I keep seeing starling from the motorway to the airport at the beginning near Llucmajor but I have not seen one close enough to establish its identity. If they are spotless then there must be a small population there as well as Can Curassa. Mike
Thanks for the Starling photos Steve. I keep seeing starling from the motorway to the airport at the beginning near Llucmajor but I have not seen one close enough to establish its identity. If they are spotless then there must be a small population there as well as Can Curassa. Mike
GiG
Well-known member
Got back yesterday from another great week staying at Puerto Pollensa. Birding included a full day out at S'Albufera and Depuradora and a half day cycling around roads/tracks around Albufereta plus bits while sight-seeing etc.
Still sorting photos so will add some plus details over the next few days. Stayed at the excellent Hotel Pollentia and had no luck with Scops Owl but only went down the track along the back of the hotel a couple of nights.
Gi
Still sorting photos so will add some plus details over the next few days. Stayed at the excellent Hotel Pollentia and had no luck with Scops Owl but only went down the track along the back of the hotel a couple of nights.
Gi
Mike Montier
Well-known member
A quick scoot round the Island this morning turned up only two Red-footed falcons, both male and in flight, the majority have left now. Good numbers of Tawny pipits, Booted eagle, lots of Red kite around. Most migration will be over now and the Island settles down for a long dry summer. I think there may be a surprise or two still lurking somewhere, the constant easterlies will have brought a few rarer birds to Mallorca. Mike
GiG
Well-known member
Stayed in Puerto Pollensa from 23rd to 30th May.
Birding from the coach from the airport to Puerto Pollensa I saw three Red Kites along the MA13 motorway, one at Santa Maria del Cami, one near the turn-off to Benissalem and the third near the turn-off to Lluc.
Headed to Pollensa market on the 24th, saw a Honey Buzzard between Puerto Pollensa and Pollensa, in Pollensa up the 365 steps to the chapel Sardinian Warbler, Serin with a Firecrest in conifers at the top. In the market area a Hummingbird Hawk-moth which caused afew looks when I went to photograph it!
Birding from the coach from the airport to Puerto Pollensa I saw three Red Kites along the MA13 motorway, one at Santa Maria del Cami, one near the turn-off to Benissalem and the third near the turn-off to Lluc.
Headed to Pollensa market on the 24th, saw a Honey Buzzard between Puerto Pollensa and Pollensa, in Pollensa up the 365 steps to the chapel Sardinian Warbler, Serin with a Firecrest in conifers at the top. In the market area a Hummingbird Hawk-moth which caused afew looks when I went to photograph it!
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GiG
Well-known member
Went to Formentor beach on the 25th, taking the bus there and ferry back exploring the area walking along the road by the edge of the wood. Lots of Crossbills about plus Firecrest, Sardinian Warbler, Serin, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap while highlights included a singing Icterine Warbler in the gardens the other side of the road to the pines by the beach, singing Wryneck to the right of the road walking past the coach/parking area with a Golden Oriole flying through the tress the other side.
Back in Puerto Pollensa in the afternoon had a walk around La Gola – lots of Mallards and a Little Egret. Explored the grassy area at the back of the site with several Painted Lady butterflies on Scabious and alarm calls by birds alerted me to a close flyover Peregrine. Followed a path seeing Clouded Yellow and Speckled Wood and came out on the ring road. Scanning the hills behind saw a large raptor heading away. Noted wings bowed and thought that looks big when another raptor came up to mob it. Realised the second bird was a pale phase Booted Eagle and this was much smaller, and saw that the first bird was an eagle as it circled a couple of times to show it was coloured by two tones of brown and slightly paler head before drifting away. Wish I had my scope with me!
Back in Puerto Pollensa in the afternoon had a walk around La Gola – lots of Mallards and a Little Egret. Explored the grassy area at the back of the site with several Painted Lady butterflies on Scabious and alarm calls by birds alerted me to a close flyover Peregrine. Followed a path seeing Clouded Yellow and Speckled Wood and came out on the ring road. Scanning the hills behind saw a large raptor heading away. Noted wings bowed and thought that looks big when another raptor came up to mob it. Realised the second bird was a pale phase Booted Eagle and this was much smaller, and saw that the first bird was an eagle as it circled a couple of times to show it was coloured by two tones of brown and slightly paler head before drifting away. Wish I had my scope with me!
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GiG
Well-known member
Went to S’Albufera briefly on the afternoon of the 26th so I could get a permit to go in early later in the week. On the walk up a Squacco Heron was in the trees at the heronry amongst the Cattle Egret. Got my permit as well as purchasing the ‘Birding Tourist’s Guide to Majorca 2nd Edition’ and the ‘Butterflies and Dragonflies Guide Nature Park S’Albufera De Mallorca’ books. Had a quick look from Sa Roca hide, several Black-winged Stilts, Kentish Plovers, Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Stint, a Stone-curlew and my first ever Marbled Duck. On the way back saw Clouded Yellow and a few Speckled Wood with the Squacco Heron still in the same area and to Audouin’s Gulls on the canal close by.
Did an Island Tour on the 27th seeing a Woodchat Shrike on the outskirts of Puerto Pollensa, a species that I had trouble seeing last year. Further along the journey saw a Black Vulture from the coach just before the ‘Knotted Tie’ section of road enroute to Sa Calobra. Stopping at the café by the ‘Knotted Tie’ saw the same or another Black Vulture as well as a Griffon Vulture.
At Sa Calobra a Raven overhead a couple of times and a Shag was in the harbour area showing well, as was one last year. On the ferry from Sa Calobra to Port de Soller saw 3 individual Scopoli’s Shearwaters, one of which flew close past the past giving super views and a total of 6 Balearic Shearwaters. Finally a Red Kite at the coach park at the train station at Son Reus.
Did an Island Tour on the 27th seeing a Woodchat Shrike on the outskirts of Puerto Pollensa, a species that I had trouble seeing last year. Further along the journey saw a Black Vulture from the coach just before the ‘Knotted Tie’ section of road enroute to Sa Calobra. Stopping at the café by the ‘Knotted Tie’ saw the same or another Black Vulture as well as a Griffon Vulture.
At Sa Calobra a Raven overhead a couple of times and a Shag was in the harbour area showing well, as was one last year. On the ferry from Sa Calobra to Port de Soller saw 3 individual Scopoli’s Shearwaters, one of which flew close past the past giving super views and a total of 6 Balearic Shearwaters. Finally a Red Kite at the coach park at the train station at Son Reus.
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Hi there!
GiG, your mention of those butterflies on Mallorca reminded me of the ones I saw one evening when I was looking for the Nightjars at Punta de n'Amer. At first I thought they were Hummingbird Hawkmoths, then I realized they were kinda striped. I couldn't get a picture of them because they were moving incredibly fast, even faster than the Hummingbird Hawkmoths I had seen before.
There were hundreds of them, feeding on plants that looked a bit like honeysuckle.
Maybe they were Striped Hawkmoths (Hyles livornica)? Are they common on Mallorca?
GiG, your mention of those butterflies on Mallorca reminded me of the ones I saw one evening when I was looking for the Nightjars at Punta de n'Amer. At first I thought they were Hummingbird Hawkmoths, then I realized they were kinda striped. I couldn't get a picture of them because they were moving incredibly fast, even faster than the Hummingbird Hawkmoths I had seen before.
There were hundreds of them, feeding on plants that looked a bit like honeysuckle.
Maybe they were Striped Hawkmoths (Hyles livornica)? Are they common on Mallorca?
GiG
Well-known member
Hi Houdiny,
I'm afraid Striped Hawkmoth is a species I've not encountered before and this being only my second visit to the island I'm still learning what species are about. Hopefully Birdforum member Martin (honeym) who regularly posts on this thread will see your post and be able to help you with his knowledge of moths on Mallorca.
honeym
Well-known member
Hi Houdiny
Yes, Striped Hawkmoth is a common enough species on Mallorca and occurs on all the Balearic Islands. If it was the wings that were striped then they probably were Striped Hawkmoths (but Silver-striped also occurs). If, however, it was the abdomens that appeared to be striped, then I would suggest Convolvulus Hawkmoth. The body is more stationary when they are flying and tends to be noticed more.
Whichever species it was it must have been quite a spectacular sight and was almost certaily an influx from North Africa, i.e. migrant examples.
Best wishes
Martin
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Would love to have seen the moths, a great sighting.
The Red-footed falcons were flying low over a field just before the "Pla de Lanzell" but did not hang around. Definitely on their way north! Mike
The Red-footed falcons were flying low over a field just before the "Pla de Lanzell" but did not hang around. Definitely on their way north! Mike
Rob Williams
Well-known member
May not be Mallorca 2015, but I've just booked my week-long easter 2016 break!
GiG
Well-known member
Full birding day was the 28th, got a taxi early morning to S’Albufera on the track up to the centre with the raised walkway to the right a Moustached Warbler was singing away and showing to the left. Visited Sa Roca hide first with similar species as my previous visit the other day with very close Little Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover although no sign of the Little Stint. A Yellow Wagtail collecting insects right below the hide and a couple of Marsh Harriers above the reeds.
Moving on to Cillobar 1 and 2 hearing Sardinian Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and a showy male Serin near the canal bridge. From the two hides Shelduck, Common Tern, a couple of Purple Herons flying across in the distance and the odd Cattle Egret and Night Heron flying over the hides, often chased by the Black-winged Stilts. Saw a Woodchat Shrike in the distance along a fence line and Zitting Cisticolas doing their flight display.
Absolute highlight though was a cracking Squacco Heron from the bridge across to Cillobar 2 hide, brilliant watching feeding at close range and from the same viewpoint a showy singing Nightingale. Back up to the canal bridge to see Purple Gallinule and Crested Coot I chatted to a German birder/photographer who’d had a Red-footed Falcon on site earlier in the week. We watched more Cattle Egret and Night Heron fly over with distant Grey and Purple Herons.
I headed round the back past the mound to Sa Roca stopping at the new hide which had a Common Darter on the side. Near the solar panels a Great Reed Warbler sang away and with patience showed well to get some digiscoped photos. Further along the track I spotted an interesting beetle, which upon research is likely Geotrupes stercorarius.
Moving on to Cillobar 1 and 2 hearing Sardinian Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and a showy male Serin near the canal bridge. From the two hides Shelduck, Common Tern, a couple of Purple Herons flying across in the distance and the odd Cattle Egret and Night Heron flying over the hides, often chased by the Black-winged Stilts. Saw a Woodchat Shrike in the distance along a fence line and Zitting Cisticolas doing their flight display.
Absolute highlight though was a cracking Squacco Heron from the bridge across to Cillobar 2 hide, brilliant watching feeding at close range and from the same viewpoint a showy singing Nightingale. Back up to the canal bridge to see Purple Gallinule and Crested Coot I chatted to a German birder/photographer who’d had a Red-footed Falcon on site earlier in the week. We watched more Cattle Egret and Night Heron fly over with distant Grey and Purple Herons.
I headed round the back past the mound to Sa Roca stopping at the new hide which had a Common Darter on the side. Near the solar panels a Great Reed Warbler sang away and with patience showed well to get some digiscoped photos. Further along the track I spotted an interesting beetle, which upon research is likely Geotrupes stercorarius.
