Mallorca 2016 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

Just a note on the one remaining Ferruginous Duck at Maristany (Tucan Marsh): it appears to be a hybrid, the head shape is wrong so I will try to get a better photograph of it and post it on the I.D. Forum. We will then see what the duck experts say. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Not all birders are interested in lists but for those who keep a Mallorca total, getting to 250 would be a very good life list here.
In the Bigyear competition only a few birders get over 200 in the year. I have never made it despite a lot of running around. This year I am on course for a good year so far having reached 109. I will post the results throughout the year but I hope to do better than last year! Mike

 

[Ben Nevis]

Good luck Mike with your year list.
Any photos of the Starlings ? Would be brilliant to see.

 

[Mike Montier]

The Starlings would be best on video I think. A huge swathe poured past for a full ten minutes and would have made a great film, the numbers were truly breathtaking. I will try to capture them somehow. In the morning, they don't make so many shapes, they just pour past in jaw-dropping numbers. Mike

 

[J Moss]

Staying in Mallorca for the next week or so, I thought I would post a few sightings here. I hope they are of some use.

Visited Salobrar de Camposthis aftenoon, staying until the harrier roost around 6:30pm. Noted the ´grey´Little Egret again, which is presumably a hybrid Western Reef/Little Egret. See pictre below, but unfortunately it wasn´t particularly close.

The harrier roost consisted of around 20 Marsh and 3 Hen Harriers (2 males) and was a delight in incredibly warm conditions. A Peregrine also joined the arrival, while the day also so saw several Red Kites and a couple of Booted Eagles over. The Marsh Harriers were active all day and occasionally skydancing.

Bar the usual suspects, other sightings included:

Greater Flamingo 18
Common Crane 11 mobile birds
Greenshank 19
Kentish Plover 77
Little Ringed Plover 1 adult
Ringed Plover 1
Lapwing 10
Spotted Redshank 1
Curlew 8
Little Stint 7
Dunlin c60
Skylark over 100 on back fields, with several Thekla´s amongst them
White Wagtail over 100 overhead on their way to roost late on.

One orchid species flowering around Felanitx at the minute, Himantoglossum robertianum, the Giant Orchid.

 

[Mike Montier]

Great report JMoss, many thanks. You have taken a better photograph of the Little egret than I managed. I have been asked to submit some photos for the record of this bird but if I can't relocate it, I wonder if I could trouble you for a copy. I can PM my e mail.
Well done with the other birds, Cranes have not been so easy this year. Three Hen Harriers is good too. Keep posting!
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Just out of interest, where is the best place to watch the harrier roost from? Mike

 

[J Moss]

Hi Mike

More than happy to pass on any pics of the Egret if needed.

As for the harriers, the best place I know to view is from the main track running through the pans. We park by the ermita des banyos de Sant Joan and walk along the public path through the pans. We find that standing beside the first concrete building inside the pans was close enough, with good views of everything from there.

Cheers

 

[Mike Montier]

Many thanks JMoss, I will PM my email, they will be a great help in identifying this bird. Hybrid was my first thought but apparently there is a form of Little Egret that can show grey wing coverts, there was a paper on it in British Birds. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A couple of Barn Swallows have been seen, early even by Mallorca standards. None have been logged over the winter period so I assume they must be migrants. I have certainly seen both Barn Swallow and House Martin arriving on the coast on the earliest date of the 4th February so they are on their way! Common Swift can also be seen sometimes in February but many species are very similar to UK arrival dates. Mike

 

[honeym]

A couple of Barn Swallows have been seen, early even by Mallorca standards. None have been logged over the winter period so I assume they must be migrants. I have certainly seen both Barn Swallow and House Martin arriving on the coast on the earliest date of the 4th February so they are on their way! Common Swift can also be seen sometimes in February but many species are very similar to UK arrival dates. Mike

Hi Mike
One reported here today, in Dumfries & Galloway!!
Martin

 

[kevinh]

Great views of Hawfinch today from the hide at Son Real. Also lots of Siskins and twice a female hen harrier came down to drink.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Son Real Hide

Great views of Hawfinch today from the hide at Son Real. Also lots of Siskins and twice a female hen harrier came down to drink.

Hi Kevin

Where is the hide in Son Real?

Cheers

Mike

 

[foresttwitcher]

Where is the hide in Son Real?

Mike, have a look at information in posts 65 & 68 earlier in this thread.

 

[kevinh]

Hi Kevin

Where is the hide in Son Real?

Cheers

Mike

Hi Mike, from the car park follow the only path in then turn left at the first crossroad(blue walk no.4) After about 500 metres you should see a binocular sign on the right. Great place but a little patience is required. Good luck.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Son Real Hide

Hi Mike, from the car park follow the only path in then turn left at the first crossroad(blue walk no.4) After about 500 metres you should see a binocular sign on the right. Great place but a little patience is required. Good luck.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Hi Kevin

Good to meet you today

Here is the link to the GOB annual report

http://www.gobmallorca.com/informa-t/publicacions/balearic-bird-report-2014

Good journey home

 

[J Moss]

A couple of days in the Tramuntana, spending a night in the wonderful Castell d´Alarò followed by a trek up Puig de L´ofre saw at least 5 Alpine Accentors at the summit of the former, and some excellent views of both Black and Griffon Vulture from the top of the latter, looking down onto these wonderful beasts at 1093m. Booted Eagles were seen at all times, and frequently seen displaying, along with Red Kites, Peregrines and Kestrels. The Olives at the base of Puig d´Alaro were literally full of Chaffinches; I´ve never seen or heard anything quite like it! Also present were Siskins, Redwings and Blue Tits (all Mallorca ticks I think...), plus Blue Rock Thrushes and displaying Ravens overhead. A Sparrowhawk was also present in the pines below Puig de L´ofre.

Jason

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Son Real

Hi Mike, from the car park follow the only path in then turn left at the first crossroad(blue walk no.4) After about 500 metres you should see a binocular sign on the right. Great place but a little patience is required. Good luck.

Found the hide at least!

Visited between 4-5 pm today

Amazing number of bird spps drinking at the hide

Crossbills, greenfinch, chaffinch, robin, collard dove, wood pigeons, red legged partridges,willow warbler, siskins, mistle and song thrush, house sparrows, blackbirds, blackcaps

Harrier flying over

But no Hawfinch

Sigh

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi JMoss, great report and some super birds. Good to know so many Alpine Accentors are at the castle, I have only ever seen two there. Also Redwings are never easy in Mallorca.
All those Chaffinches are worth checking, (which I hope to do Sunday) for Bramblings which are also very scarce here.
Good birding, Mike