Mallorca 2017 (1 Viewer)

[kevinh]

At depadura this morning, bluethroat, glossy ibis, wood, green and common sandpiper.

Great to be back

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Patrick, Carlota will be able to tell you the history of your Bonelli's, its age and when it was released/born. I think she reads this thread so she will hopefully respond. I will send her a text.
Not sure about the egrets yet but I do know there has been more than one on the Island this year.
Good to know you are back Kevin, I am looking forward to returning myself tomorrow. Straight to the Cap Sunday morning although it does seem to have quietened down quite a bit. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Patrick, your Bonelli's is a young bird with the name of Garballo I think. It is from Mortitx. Carlota will hopefully confirm. Thanks Pep for asking Carlota. Back tomorrow! Mike

 

[Patrick_m]

Thanks Mike, great info and great to meet Garballo.

 

[eagle33]

S albufera tonight, bluethroat, hobby was nice and a female fudge duck. Little bitten eventually, redstarts and pied flys. Only collared red knobbed coots about.

 

[s.g.]

a couple of the very obliging Osprey, Greenshank and Dunlin.
Steve.

 

[s.g.]

a few shots of the reef/hybrid heron at Ces Cara on the 9th sept.
Steve.

 

[Mike Montier]

Huge numbers of migrant Booted eagles through the Island today. I missed most of them as I was on my way back from the UK. I still managed to see over twenty on my way back from the airport in the afternoon, mostly around Campos. I don't have the final figure and I was hoping either Pep or Martin could confirm.
I think the Pectoral sandpiper was still present this afternoon. Mike

 

[davercox]

Huge numbers of migrant Booted eagles through the Island today.

Can't be, everyone knows they don't cross expanses of sea.

 

[Mike Montier]

Good one Dave! Pep will post the numbers for the weekend later today, I don't have the totals but it's in the hundreds. Mike

 

[Simon Wates]

Good one Dave! Pep will post the numbers for the weekend later today, I don't have the totals but it's in the hundreds. Mike

Crikey - that's lots! Here at Sagres, Portugal the birds should have been peaking 200 some days ago - but this hasn't happened from what I have gathered, just some tens.

I wondered, like here, if in Mallorca they are practically all (99%+) 1st year birds on their first migration?

The Sagres birds don't cross to Africa, odd ones do fly out some way but all seem to come back, they re-orientate and its believed they make it to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Is it known where the Mallorca birds go to from there?

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Simon. Pep will comment later. All our birds went high to the south towards Africa. Groups of 19,38,17,21,32,11 and then lots more in single figure groups.None came back during the following three hours at least.Over 100 yesterday and even more today, Pep has the numbers. Many were indeed young birds. There have been some very strong winds on the peninsula which blew them towards Mallorca. All interesting stuff. The ongoing joke in the UK was that a Booted Eagle turned up there and some birders thought it was not a genuine vagrant because Booted eagles don't cross water! I have just watched a couple of hundred doing just that so maybe that will put an end to it. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Also thousands of mixed hirundines today, mostly Barn swallows. Large groups would fly up and down the coast before flying low over the sea, they would then all rise up in their hundreds and fly off towards Africa. It was magic to watch proving yet again that watching common birds can be very entertaining. Personally, I find the whole phenomenon of migration one of the most fascinating aspects of birding. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Magick, I have only just returned and seen your post.
Mallorca would be a very good place to study Black Vulture. Seeing them in flight is not difficult in many different locations. I believe there is a feeding station too where very close views can be had, thus allowing prolonged study of these magnificent raptors.
I hope someone will give details here but I will research it and post again.
There was a very good TV programme featuring a man who pioneered the centre and did so much to ensure the success of the Black Vulture. 23 hatched last year I believe. Mike

 

[Patrick_m]

Hi Magick,

This is the rehabilitation centre for vultures. They will be able to give you all the info you need on local birds. They have a handful of Black and Griffon as permanent residents, birds that will never fly again because of accident or other trauma.
They open to the public on Monday and Friday morning, 9:00 to 14:00, I think, and the first Saturday of the month.

Black Vulture Conservation Foundation (B.V.C.F).
Finca Son Pons s/n
Ctra. Palma-Alcúdia km 38.200 (salida 35 desde Palma, y salida 37 - direccion Ullaró- desde Alcudia)
07310 Campanet
Mallorca, España
Tel.: 971-575 880 / 661 212 222
Fax: 971-50 95 41
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[eagle33]

A few Shots from last week around the Island

 

[eagle33]

Egyptian Grasshoppers

 

[Houdiny]

A fantastic day at the Cap! As Mike has already mentioned, thousands of hirundines as well as a good 150 Booted Eagles passed the Cap today. Highlight of today was a Short-toed Eagle circling above us, gaining height and then flying south. You certainly don’t get to see that every day! When we decided to head back home, we took a short stop at km 3 on the long road going north. We - again - failed to see any Rock Sparrows, but - thanks to my wife - we spotted a nice 1cy Pallid Harrier (probably the same we saw last week)! What a day!

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

A Short-toed eagle flew out to sea from the Cap this morning, first spotted by Mara (who found many of the other birds too!). What a beauty it was. Two Sparrowhawks as well which completed a wonderful morning.
Further up the road, Martin, Pep and Susana saw the Pallid Harrier again so they had an even better day. I still went home a happy man though. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Many thanks Patrick for the information. I remember going there many years ago, it's well worth a visit. Mike