Mallorca 2018 (22 Viewers)

[Mike Montier]

Hi Geordie Dave. A visit to the south is a good idea. Migration has mostly finished at the Cap de Ses Salines in the far south so not much point in going there.
Salobrar de Campos is probably the best place to go. Expect about 200 Greater Flamingoes, possibly some Common Crane and good numbers of waders.
Most of these species could probably be seen in the north but they are more reliably seen in the south.
Let me know when you are going. I would be happy to meet up if you would like.
All records go onto this thread so you will be kept up to date.
All the best. I hope the weather improves. Mike

 

[J Moss]

One Yellow-browed Warbler today at Porto Colom, at the western end of S'Algar close to Carrer de Far. It was silent and rather elusive, but a fairly typical-looking bright individual, so different to what Mike and Maties have seen close by. Unfortunately no sign of the possible Hume's in the pines around the front of the houses.

Good to see you briefly today Mike!

 

[s.g.]

Majorca Sept 2018

Thanks Guys for the Dragonfly and Spider names.
mixed flock at tucan on the 8th sept of herons, egrets and gulls, must have been an hatch of something but not sure what.
Woodchat depuadora.
Whinchat depuadora.
Steve.

 

[Mike Montier]

Kevin. Glad you are coming back. I hope we can meet up. I don’t know anybody who has been to Bassa de can guidet recently so I have no news on the White-headed duck.
Jason. Yes, great seeing you again, albeit briefly. I will be at Porto Colom as much as I can. I think there are still some good birds along the east coast, an area that just doesn’t get the coverage of the north. Good luck with your birding too.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I have been watching a satéllite image of these very strong winds coming from the atlantic, howling through the straits of Gibraltar and smacking straight into Mallorca.
I wonder if a sea-watch might be worthwhile although I’m not sure what species might be blown this way. I will go and have a look! Mike

 

[honeym]

One Yellow-browed Warbler today at Porto Colom, at the western end of S'Algar close to Carrer de Far. It was silent and rather elusive, but a fairly typical-looking bright individual, so different to what Mike and Maties have seen close by. Unfortunately no sign of the possible Hume's in the pines around the front of the houses.
Good to see you briefly today Mike!

Hi Jason
Good to see you are back on Mallorca. Will you be mothing at all?
Martin

 

[LaGola]

Wonderful La Gola

Hello!
today, a lot of water in the park and strong winds which have brought this fantastic flock of Cattle Egrets.
Lots of Chiffchaff (I've been trying to have a look to all of them just in case) and yesterday still one Balearic Flycatcher and one Common Redstart.

In November the Bird Centre will be open: Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm, and Saturdays from 8am to 2pm. The park is always open.

Regards,
Cristina.

 

[LaGola]

Hi All

The Black Vulture (mobile phone) pictures from the roadside near the Llenaire Hotel, 14th Oct. Less than 10 meters distant.

Great view!!!

 

[J Moss]

Hi Martin,

Unfortunately not this time, though perhaps later in the winter. Only moths I have seen of note were lots of Utetheisa pulchella, Crimson Speckleds at Punta de n'Amer.

Hi Jason
Good to see you are back on Mallorca. Will you be mothing at all?
Martin

 

[honeym]

Hi Martin,

Unfortunately not this time, though perhaps later in the winter. Only moths I have seen of note were lots of Utetheisa pulchella, Crimson Speckleds at Punta de n'Amer.

.

Ah well, enjoy the birds.

I'd heard there have been plenty of U. pulchella recently.

Best wishes

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

A very pleasant sea watch late afternoon from my local lighthouse.
Very good numbers of Scopoli’s shearwaters and just a few Balearic shearwaters. I have grown so fond of these threatened and very elegant small shearwaters that I just can’t wait to get to the coast to watch them flapping their way madly past my patch. They never fail to bring a smile to my face, they are just brilliant.
Also, three Gannet and one Lesser black-backed gull, quite rare for my area.
A Rustic bunting on Menorca shows that there are still some exceptional birds around. I bet there are a few more too, so frustrating that there are not more people out there searching for them.
Mike

 

[s.g.]

Majorca Sept 2018

Kestrel at Depuadora.
Woodchat also Depuadora.
Red Kite and Honey Buzzard at the road to Cap de Ses salines.
Steve.

 

[JeffMoh]

A very pleasant sea watch late afternoon from my local lighthouse.
Very good numbers of Scopoli’s shearwaters and just a few Balearic shearwaters. I have grown so fond of these threatened and very elegant small shearwaters that I just can’t wait to get to the coast to watch them flapping their way madly past my patch. They never fail to bring a smile to my face, they are just brilliant.
Also, three Gannet and one Lesser black-backed gull, quite rare for my area.
A Rustic bunting on Menorca shows that there are still some exceptional birds around. I bet there are a few more too, so frustrating that there are not more people out there searching for them.
Mike

Great birds! The shearwaters and particularly the gannet have been top of my want-to-see list for years.
Where is your local lighthouse, Mike?
Jeff

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi JeffMoh. My local lighthouse is a short walk from where I live in Porto Petro. It’s normally very good but it depends on how close the shearwaters are. Some days they are very near to the coast which is great, other days they are far away which is not so good.
Gannets are now regular.
There are many sites every bit as good as Porto Petro so it depends where you are coming from. On the east coast there are many places like Punta de n’amer and Porto Colom and in the south there is the Cap de Ses Salines so you can chose whichever one is nearer.
If you are willing to travel you could always come to Porto Petro and if you are on holiday and don’t have a telescope you could always borrow mine.
Let me know. Mike

 

[s.g.]

Majorca Sept 2018

Think these are Mullet but not sure what they are up to. Salbufera.
Coupl of shots of a Swallow Tail at Albufereta
False Smooth Snake ? Son Real.
Steve.

 

[honeym]

Think these are Mullet but not sure what they are up to. Salbufera.
Coupl of shots of a Swallow Tail at Albufereta
False Smooth Snake ? Son Real.
Steve.

Hi Steve - I think I'm right in saying that the Mullet are literally 'gasping for air'.

As for the snake, I'm no expert but I have a copy of a paper that suggests that the False Smooth snake is confined to Formentera and Cabrera. Perhaps it is the Southern Smooth snake, which does occur more widely.

Martin

 

[Maties Rebassa]

Steve, I have a picture of a snake very similar to yours. I made it from the hide of Son Real in 23rd september, could even be the same one? When I've seen your picture, I thought that I was looking at mine!

I dont know how you call this snake in english, the latin name is Macroprotodon cucullatus (if I'm not wrong).

Best wishes,
Maties

 

[Maties Rebassa]

The picture of the snake, sorry!

 

[s.g.]

Thanks guys,
Hi Maties ,My photo was also taken from the hide at Son Real but on the 21st sept. guess its the same one though.
Pied Fly Son Real with prey item not sure what it is though, had an Hoopoe at the same place with the same prey last year.
Hummingbird hawk moth Boquer Valley, had around 12 individuals in a 3 hour visit on the 22nd sept.
Little Egret albufera with a passenger on board.
Steve.

 

[honeym]

Steve, I have a picture of a snake very similar to yours. I made it from the hide of Son Real in 23rd september, could even be the same one? When I've seen your picture, I thought that I was looking at mine!
I dont know how you call this snake in english, the latin name is Macroprotodon cucullatus (if I'm not wrong).
Best wishes,
Maties

Hi Maties
In English it's the False Smooth snake, so I went back to the paper I mentioned and I think I misread it. I now think it is present in Mallorca (where it is an introduced species) but they were looking at future projections for the range expansion into the localities I mentioned.
Best wishes
Martin