Mallorca 2016 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

Hi Brian. I am not an expert but I can give some details. The countryside is turning green at the moment following some rainy days, it had been dry for months. I love the winter here, so different from the Mallorca that summer visitors see. There are some wild flowers appearing now, there will be a few more by the end of the year. January is usually a great month with calm and sunny weather. The almond blossom varies every year but early February is good. As far as I can remember, the giant orchids come out about this time followed by other species. I love the Bee Orchids which follow on but there are many different species and sadly I never note the dates. I will try to do this in future. My guess would be that March is a good time although many wild flowers continue to bloom well into April and May. I hope someone else can help. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Another Yellow-browed warbler has been found, this time by Juanjo at his drinking pool near Andratx.
Migration of raptors has slowed now with just one Honey buzzard today and a few Marsh harrier.
I am going to Boquer with Philip tomorrow and hope there will be some interesting birds around including one of those Yellow-browed warblers. I will post. Mike

 

[Ben Nevis]

Good luck to Philip (please pass on my reagards ?) and yourself tomorrow Mike.l'm sure we shall be ln for an lnteresting read tomorrow.

 

[Mike Montier]

I hope so Ben Nevis, thanks. I will pass on your best wishes to Philip and will post tomorrow night.
After that I am in the U.K. for two weeks visiting Yorkshire, Shrewsbury and Cley-next-the-Sea.
I am looking forward to seeing Rooks, Nuthatches, Dippers, Woodpeckers and Bullfinch. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A full day spent at the Boquer Valley and very pleasant it was too in glorious weather. Sadly there were no migrants but I was quite taken aback to see so many birders, nearly all British. Whilst watching Balearic warblers there were about twelve people present, quite a big number for Mallorca!
There were at least three showing, in the low scrub on the right of the main path quite close to the end of the valley.
They were skulking as usual, but they did come out into the open for short periods.
Also over ten Blue Rock Thrush and more than twelve Eleanora's Falcons.
Also a report of two Rock bunting near the entrance at 10.30 but no sign of them in a two hour search.
I would never disrespect anyone's record but we did see Cirl bunting in the area mentioned so we will never know without photographs.
A Yellow-browed warbler was seen by Maties near the Ses Puntes, Albufera.
Just as we were leaving the valley, two Common Redstarts popped up so we saw some migrants after all. Mike

 

[kevinh]

This morning at Depadura. 2 bluethroat, black necked grebe, black tailed godwit, greenshank, green,common and wood sandpiper, 2 kingfisher, moustached warbler and lots more.

PS Sorry I missed you Mike. We may bump into each other in the UK. I go back myself tomorrow.

 

[Mike Montier]

Sorry Kevin, I did post that we were going to Boquer in the hope you could join us. You were only yards away from a Yellow-browed warbler, shame you didn't know about it.
Be in touch next time and we can meet up, that would be great. Mike

 

[kevinh]

I saw your post and would have loved to join you. But as golfers have handicaps birders have wives. And mine wouldn't have been happy had I gone AWOL for the whole day.

 

[Mike Montier]

Understood!!

 

[s.g.]

sept. 18 to oct 3

did well with the 10 BRT and Balearic warblers mike well done.
would not normally post a shot of RNC but just loved the colors and patterns in the water.
linnets,
greenshank,
lapwing, all salbufera.
Steve.

 

[honeym]

not sure about the first photo but i remember martin mentioned Asian hornet, did not get too close.they were on the side of the steps at depuadora.
Steve.

Hi Steve
These are paper wasps, the genus Polistes. They can sting and it's not pleasant so best to keep one's distance.
The Asian Hornet is much bigger and has recently arrived on Mallorca - so one to look out for (some pics and infor here:
http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-velutina.htm).
Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Martin, thanks for that, I will keep an eye open for the hornets!
In the meantime, I attach a photo of a stick insect seen on the back of my car today. Crappy photo but I can't seem to find any information on their status in Mallorca. I have never seen one here before. Mike

 

[honeym]

Hi Mike
The only species that I can find a mention of is Clonopsis gallica (Charpentier, 1825), and that from a single record: Oxford University Museum: Pass of Soller on Palma side, 1 July 1901 (W. Holland].
However, (to me) it doesn't quite look right for that species so I have asked a colleague from the Museum for assistance and information.
Best wishes
Martin

Martin

 

[honeym]

UP-DATE
Hi Mike

I've done some more research and have also had a response from my colleague.

There are actually three species of phasmid (stick insects) recorded from the Balearic Islands:
Bacillidae Bacillus rossius (Rossius 1790)
Bacillidae Clonopsis gallica (Charpentier 1825)
Heteronemiidae Pijnackeria hispanica (Bolivar 1878)

Yours appears to be a male Bacillus rossius (Rossius, 1790).

Best wishes
Martin

 

[honeym]

Hi Mike
Here's another up-date from a different specialist:

"Interesting, there is a bisexual [by which I think they mean both sexes] population there - Bacillus rossius is known from Mallorca, in theory ssp. catalauniae from Spain, per Bullini, 1982. The only recorded locality is Las Maravillas, Palma, July 1985 (Ehrmann, 1988; Pinedo & Llorente, 1988 -- in Brock, 1991: 17).

Would it be possible for you to let me know the locality for the male - it would be very useful.
Thanks
Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

Thank you Martin for your usual detailed and informative response, very much appreciated.
I photographed the insect yesterday, 18th October in Carrer de Sa Punta Mitjana, Porto Petro, Mallorca at 3.34pm.
All very exciting, I have really enjoyed finding the odd moth and insect and I feel sure there will be many more discoveries to be made. I will keep looking. I will also make better photographs in the future, as soon as I have found the right setting on my camera!
Thank you again, Mike

 

[s.g.]

sept. 18 to oct 3

thanks martin,
nest looks a bit of a giveaway also.
black n. grebe,
l. bittern,
zitting cisticola. all salbufera.
steve.

 

[honeym]

Thanks Mike.
I've passed the info on.
Martin

 

[s.g.]

sept. 18 to oct 3

little bittern,
osprey x2,
greenshank.all salbufera.
Steve.

 

[Ben Nevis]

Great pics Steve. :t: