Mallorca 2016 (1 Viewer)

[Mcnswiss2]

Visit to Lluc

Great place to visit for scenary, birds and almond cake.
Birds seen today included:
So many thrushes and robins
Blue and Great tits
Blackcaps
Kestral
Black Vulture (distant view)
Griffin Vultures(6 in total)
Ravens
Black Kite (this was surprising - Mike are they still around this time of the year?)

Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Mike, yes, I have seen Black kite twice recently so a few overwinter most years. Glad you had a good day, some great birds there. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A lovely morning spent at Salobrar de Campos on this warm and sunny day. Over one hundred Flamingos and a large group of Curlew, over forty.
Also Temminck's stint, Little ringed plover and Green sandpiper.
An interesting egret was also there, possibly a hybrid garzetta x gularis. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Brian
Glad you are coming back, the birding scene is really picking up here with much more interest and consequently more great birds are being found.
Most people know I am hopeless with maps and co-ordinates and even more stupid with computers. A birding pal here sent me a google map of walk number four so I will try to work out how to post it here. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

ps, if I fail, which is likely, the hide is really easy to find. From the finca walk through the gate towards the coast and the path divides, fork left, it is marked blue walk number four, then after less than one km. there is a sign pointing right with a pair of binoculars painted on it. Follow the narrow track until you reach the hide, which is well and truly hidden in the pine trees so no wonder it can't be seen from above. It can't be too difficult because I found it! All the best and keep in touch if you need any particular species, let me know. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I saw a group of Ferruginous ducks at Maristany a couple of days ago, five or six. I then went shopping and forgot all about them! They are quite rare here so I feel a bit daft. Anyway, eleven have been seen by Pep today at Golf II Santa Ponça so all is well for anyone wanting to see them. Otherwise I may have been strung up. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Martin. I am really sorry, I didn't think that the trap would have been any use to anyone, I had all the bits with it too including a new bulb. You know how it is when the wife wants to clear the garage out, I have learnt not to protest. Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi Brian
A birding pal here sent me a google map of walk number four so I will try to work out how to post it here. Mike

There's a tourist map of Son Real here:
http://blog.jshotels.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/finca-son-real-mapa.png
It should be easy enough to find the route with Mike's directions
Martin

 

[smrtyr1]

Hi Mike and Martin thanks for your help, I think from Martin's description I can workout where it is.
Martin I would appreciate any info on scops owl sights as I failed last year and can't believe in years previous I had stopped at the pollensa park and didn't know about them.
Brian

 

[Mike Montier]

A Razorbill has been seen today just off the coast at Cuitat Jardi.
A great walk around Punta de n'Amer this morning but nothing unusual. A pod of Dolphins compensated though. Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Maristany

I saw a group of Ferruginous ducks at Maristany a couple of days ago, five or six. I then went shopping and forgot all about them! They are quite rare here so I feel a bit daft. Anyway, eleven have been seen by Pep today at Golf II Santa Ponça so all is well for anyone wanting to see them. Otherwise I may have been strung up. Mike

I made my first visit to the large ponds behind Lidl - why have I never been there before!!

The area could be a fantastic nature reserve if the rubbish was cleared up etc.
Mike do you know if the land surrounding the ponds is private?

Birds seen included

Ferruginus Ducks
Red Crested Pochard
Common Pochards ( > 10)
Turfted Ducks
Little egrets
Little Grebes ( > 20)
Kingfisher
Cormorants

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Maristany

I made my first visit to the large ponds behind Lidl - why have I never been there before!!

The area could be a fantastic nature reserve if the rubbish was cleared up etc.
Mike do you know if the land surrounding the ponds is private?

Birds seen included

Ferruginus Ducks
Red Crested Pochard
Common Pochards ( > 10)
Turfted Ducks
Little egrets
Little Grebes ( > 20)
Kingfisher
Cormorants

Interesting GOB article about this site

http://www.gobmallorca.com/que-feim...ts-de-dos-exemplars-de-becvermell-a-maristany

 

[Mike Montier]

One Razorbill still showing well off the beach at Cuitat Jardi, near Palma. A new bird for me in Mallorca, a bit distant but it does come in close at times. Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Moth traps

Hi Mike
It should have run off the mains - that's what I do in s'Albufera - but it does need a choke. If that wasn't there, or was faulty, it wouldn't work.
Shame you disposed of it as it would have come in handy at s'Albufera.
I hope you are fit enough to visit the UK some time soon - as well as making sure you can get out and see all the fantastic birds.
Martin

Good supplier in the UK for moth traps

http://www.angleps.com/mothtraps.php

But possible to make own "skinner" set with egg boxes etc

http://overthegate.myfreeforum.org/archive/how-to-build-a-skinner-moth-trap.__o_t__t_9028.html

 

[Mike Montier]

Yet another unseasonal bird in Mallorca with a Purple Heron at Maristany. Not sure what's happening this year with all sorts of summer visitors being seen. It has been unusually warm but nevertheless, it's all a bit strange. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Mike, many thanks for the very useful information. Martin has given me a couple of suppliers so I will invest in a moth trap when I eventually get back to the UK. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I don't know much about the status of Maristany. I did ask one of the locals and he told me it is protected.
It is a real gem of a place and a bit of a secret, tucked away at the side of Lidl. There have been some great rarities there and with more coverage, many more would be found I suspect. Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Walk from Port Pollensa to Cala san Vincente

A very pleasent walk taking less than 1 hour.
Interesting habitats on the way.
Birds seen included:

Booted Eagles ( 4- 5 sightings )
Ravens
Kestrals
Blue Rock Thrush ( 4 to 5 sightings ) Near views
So many stonechats, black redstarts and thrushes
Pheasent and Red footed Partridges
Shags and Yellow Legged Gulls

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Son Real / Depudora

Sunday afternoon visit

Birds seen at Son Real included 3 Turnstones, 4 Audouins Gulls, 3 Thekla larks

Fantastic Starling murmuration at the Depudora.

Other birds seen included 5 Stone Curlews, 12 Lapwings, Hoopoes, Marsh Harriers, Flocks of linnets, goldfinches, siskins, and thrushes. Shellducks, Pintail, Shoverlers and Green Sandpiper were also seen.

Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A fabulous day spent at Albufera. Starting at dawn the roost of Starlings leaving the marsh was staggering. I cannot estimate the total but it was two or three times larger than any previous murmuration I have seen here, which is estimated at over a million birds, certainly the number ran into the millions. Incredible. A ringtail Hen Harrier then flew over followed by five Common Crane. Lots of Marsh Harrier, Pintail. Marbled duck, Red-crested Pochard, Water Pipits, Kingfisher, Osprey, Moustached Warbler, Black-necked Grebes, 24 Night Herons, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshanks and Little Stints. 74 species in total. Mike