Mallorca 2017 (2 Viewers)

[Mike Montier]

Nice shots of the increasingly rare Marsh sandpiper Steve. I remember seeing seven at Salobrar de Campos one year but I have seen very few in recent years.
Raptorash. Autumn at the depuradora is far and away the best place to see Bluethroat. I have seen nine together and there were another seven nearby. Every year is different of course. I think they are more numerous in autumn but some do spend the winter here. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Simon. I guess we just don’t know at this stage but I agree with Pep. In the spring, Booted eagles come through the north in good numbers. Pep is suggesting that they come directly from Africa. I can’t think where else they would be from.
In the autumn we think they go direct to Africa. It certainly seems that way. They head straight out to sea in the direction of Africa and I believe Pep is saying that there would be no reason to change direction. I’m not sure where the belief comes from that Booted eagles don’t cross water. Maybe that theory is not correct but I’m out of my depth here. I hope we can somehow establish their route. It would be fascinating to know. Mike

 

[Simon Wates]

Thanks Mike, that's clear now. I just find it amazing that a Booted Eagle can sustain 270kms of powered flapping flight, which is what they have to do, once they start losing height. And that's presuming they make the shortest crossing to N.Africa - near Algiers. I have no doubt they can do maybe a 100kms or so sea crossing - if they do much more than that its a feat to behold. Of course weather conditions can increase or decrease this potential.

If none or very few adults do this - they obviously know better!

 

[Houdiny]

Simon, I’ve found a paper on juvenile Honeybuzzard’s migratory routes (http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1855/20170387). They don’t seem to mind crossing larger distances above the ocean. I reckon if they can do it, so can Booted Eagles, as the wingspan/bodymass ratio is not too different. With Short-toed Eagles and even larger raptors, this is a different story.

 

[Simon Wates]

Simon, I’ve found a paper on juvenile Honeybuzzard’s migratory routes (http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1855/20170387). They don’t seem to mind crossing larger distances above the ocean. I reckon if they can do it, so can Booted Eagles, as the wingspan/bodymass ratio is not too different. With Short-toed Eagles and even larger raptors, this is a different story.

Thanks very much Houdiny. I'll look with more time later but on a quick scan through this very nice work 2 things stood out for me especially (apart from the actual title of the document!); None of the 31 Honeys went through the Strait of Gibraltar or the Middle East flyways. Also, how they prefer to travel with an oblique side wind - eg. going southwest in a westerly wind. This make sense -they do not like travelling with a tail wind I think, preferring to use more side/head on winds to get the updraught.

 

[Raptorash]

Best time of day for raptor movement

Hi Mike (thanks for reply on Bluethroat)

I have another question if I may ? I probably only have one chance of going to the south of the island during my stay - so can I ask what time of the day is the most productive for raptor movement south off the island ?

I ask, because when I lived in Cyprus in the late 90's, it wasn't worth going to the Akrotiri peninsula at the wrong time of the day in the autumn - you just wouldn't connect with enough raptors. Raptors tended to lift off from the Turkish mainland on the 1st thermals of the day (09:00 to 10:00) and not get to the Akrotiri peninsula until around 13:00 - 14:00 - then they would do one of two things.

A). Some would spiral above the peninsula and regain height if thermals were good, get up to 5,000 feet plus and then go straight off to the Israeli or Egyptian mainland. These would be leaving between 13:00 and 14:00.

B). Some would be too exhausted to make the onward journey and these would rest up, roost overnight in the citrus plantations and conifer windbreaks around the plantations, then these birds would use the 1st thermals the next day to gain height and set off southward.

Hence there would be 2 very productive periods (providing wind and weather conditions were conducive to raptor migration) to raptor watching on the peninsula - 09:00 - 10:00 and then again 13:00 - 14:00. Of course there were always birds that fell outside these patterns (often those imms making their first migration movement), but by and large the big passages were fairly consistent.

What sort of pattern does the raptor migration follow here ? I suspect (but haven't been yet) that the area you are watching from (called the "Cap" if I understand right) isn't similar to the Cyprus experience in that the Akrotiri peninsula mostly comprises a very large predominantly dry (in autumn) salt-pan which can generate very good thermal conditions for raptors enabling them to gain considerable height over a land-mass before starting the long glide southwards over the water mass of the Med.

All this is really by way of me asking (in a very roundabout way!!) - what's the best time to be at the "Cap" and where to watch from please ?

rgds
Ash

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Ash. A few birds rest in the nearby pines overnight but very few. I have seen both Marsh Harrier and Montagu’s Harrier leaving at first light. There is then a lull until about 10am when thermic conditions improve. I guess the peak time would be between 11am and 1pm. It then goes quiet again and sometimes that’s it for the day. Migrant Common Kestrel go through at all times and Hobby do too, I have seen big numbers of the former leaving the Cap at 4pm and they continued through until well after five. I have seen Hobby leaving much later but I did read that they sometimes migrate at night. I am no expert, this is just my experience and they are the facts as I have witnessed.
The Cap is the most southerly point of Mallorca, Cap de Ses Salines.
Hope this helps and I hope others add their experiences too, the more information the better, we are always learning something new. Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Ps “Where to watch”. The lighthouse is the best place but the locals all move from there when it gets too hot. We all move further up the road in the shade of the pine trees where there are some open views.
All the best, Mike

 

[Maties Rebassa]

Hello. My opinion on Booted Eagles, Scarlet Rosefinch and Bluethroat.

Booted Eagles: I'm sure they cross directly from Mallorca to Africa. When I was studying the raptor migration in Cabrera in years 1994 and 1995, Booted Eagles were the 3rd more numerous species and they were leaving Cabrera in clear south direction, flying very, very high. Only a few were leaving Cabrera in south-west direction (so, this ones could maybe reach Ibiza). The peak of the migration for this species was the last days of september and very first days of october. Most were passing and leaving Cabrera between 11:00 and 13:00 hours.

Scarlet Rosefinch: most of the sights are produced in october and in small islets, but there are a few in "mainland" Mallorca too. Last was in Albufereta last october.

Bluethroat: the best month to see this species is, by far, october. In other months, from september to abril, it's quite scarce (or even rare, specially in some winters). But in october the Bluethroat can be locally quite common.

In the attach below you can see the phenology of wintering (blue) and migrating (orange) Bluethroats in Mallorca. Extracted for the new book we are working in, to release next spring.

 

[Patrick_m]

This morning at the Cap I counted 21 Booted eagles going for it and a couple Red Kites that seemed to want to follow.
I have attached some pictures if someone wants to identify the portion of juveniles as I am no expert.
As Mike mentioned below two of them took off from pine trees near the lighthouse at about 9:45. Picked up some altitude for a while and went for it. Then a flock of 12 showed up just after ten. All these birds were surprisingly low, maybe 100m or so. Then later between 10:30 and 11:30 two smaller flocks flew past, these were very high, just on the limit of ID with binoculars. There were a few more far dots behind them that I could not ID. By then the wind had shifted more to the North East and they all seemed to drift west of Cabrera.

I have also found this article which unfortunately does not answer some of the interesting questions below but offers good info nevertheless.
https://www.seo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Mellone-et-al-BIRD-STUDY-Aquila-pennata-2013.pdf

 

[kevinh]

This morning at the depadura 7 bluethroats, 3 glossy ibis, g.w.egret (flyover), whinchat, snipe, wood, green and common sandpiper etc.
Quite a few hirundines passing through but not as many as last Thursday when there were around 2000 on pylon cables.
P.S. nice to bump into Max again

 

[s.g.]

Thanks mike, also found 1 on the 13 sept 2012 at the salbufera so quite pleased to find another.
Couple of shots of woodchats, spotted fly, and fan tailed warbler.
steve.

 

[Simon Wates]

Booted Eagles: I'm sure they cross directly from Mallorca to Africa. When I was studying the raptor migration in Cabrera in years 1994 and 1995, Booted Eagles were the 3rd more numerous species and they were leaving Cabrera in clear south direction, flying very, very high. Only a few were leaving Cabrera in south-west direction (so, this ones could maybe reach Ibiza). The peak of the migration for this species was the last days of september and very first days of october. Most were passing and leaving Cabrera between 11:00 and 13:00 hours.

Thanks Maties, I didn't realise crossing to Africa from the Balearics was known about for so long!

Did you manage to judge the age on those Booteds, I know its not possible at great distance but did you get an impression of mainly juvs?

 

[Patrick_m]

Another interesting article about migration, Short-toed Eagle this time, as one was seen recently.
https://www.bou.org.uk/mellone-short-toed-eagle-migration/

And a great list of papers on raptors migration around the Mediterranean.
http://www.raptormigration.org/MEDRAPTORS-papers.htm

 

[Mike Montier]

Absolutely nothing at the Cap this morning, not a single migrant. Yesterday was overcast with rain all day so I thought today, with blue skies and a north easterly wind, would be good. The locals call days like this as “un capote” and we’ve had quite a few this autumn. You just never know.
Two local Bonelli’s eagles were together in the sky, an immature and an adult male. Mike

 

[s.g.]

more Osprey and a Marsh Harrier.
Steve.

 

[LaGola]

La Gola Birdlist

Hello,
in this link you will find the updated birdlist of the last 15 days of September.
https://www.ctolagola.com/birdlist-listado-de-aves-llistat-d-aus/

Today at the Park there still are some Spotted Flycatchers (Balearic/Tyrrhenic and European), Pied Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, Common Redstart...
Residents as Firecrest, Crossbill, Zitting cisticola,Serin...

And at s'Albufereta yesterday up to 85 Flamingos were counted.

regards,
Cristina

 

[Pancho44]

Hi Mike,

We are coming back to Mallorca for a week, but will be staying in Camp de Mar for a change. Any suggestions for birding sites in that area? Probably nothing as exciting as Formentor was in May!

Regards,

Pancho44.

 

[s.g.]

few shots of Hoopoe, has anyone any idea what its eating, pointed snout, stiff rear end?
Steve.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Pancho44. You will be in a great area and if you are coming during migration, anywhere along the coast and especially the headlands, will be great. The whole area there is seriously underwatched so you may well find a few surprises.
You don’t say when you are coming so it all depends on your timing but if it is soon then you will be in time for the late migration which will be good for warblers and chats.
Andratx has produced some great birds in recent years so where you are staying could be equally productive. Good luck and do let us know what you see. Mike