SEVENTEEN SPRINGS- EPISODE 22-8TH-15TH APRIL 2011
BEACH BIRDS
Hi Hugh
Having checked my notebooks, we overlapped by just two days as I was on Mallorca from 13 April – 4 May 2011, so I thought I would post a report.
Arrived to a wet and windy Palma. This year, rather than getting a hire car I was picked up from the airport by one of the group and taken straight to s’Albufera, my home for the trip. Had Raven, Corn Bunting, Swift and Cattle Egret on the journey north. The course leader was in a meeting when I arrived at Sa Roca so I went round the hides with two of the group leaders (we were running a wetland monitoring course). Lots of Swallow, Swift, House and Sand Martins plus all the usual suspects were there including Marbled Duck, also plenty of waders (Redshank, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Green and Common Sand., Kentish and Ringed Plover – as well as Garganey). On the side of the path to Bishop II I discovered a Cetti’s warbler nest. A stunning construction containing three chestnut brown eggs. Unfortunately, it was deserted. Back at Sa Roca had the first of many Nightingale, a female Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher. In the field opposite reception there were White and Yellow Wagtails and from the CIM hide overlooking the pool, Little Stint, 3 Ospreys, 2 Marsh Harrier, Purple Heron, Peregrine and Audouin’s Gull.
After going through the moth trap the next morning I revisited CIM hide where there were 3m and 1f Garganey, 3 Marbled Teal, Osprey and Marsh Harrier. Sunday was quite stormy and from Bishop I I saw my first ever water spout above the hills beyond Puerto Pollensa. Quite impressive! On the Monday I picked up a Red-rumped Swallow, plus Little Bittern, Blackcap, Night Heron. Later that day I managed a quick trip out, so went to La Gola where I added Chiffchaff, Serin and Crossbill. Out in the bay there were 5 Sandwich Tern sitting on the line of rocks.
On Wednesday 18 April several of us left s’Albufera to spend some days moth trapping on Cabrera – until 24 April. It was quite an eventful trip over to the island and rather choppy, so I arrived soaked. We managed to fit in some birding and on a quick tour of the island in one of the official vehicles we saw several Eleanora’s Falcons, lots of Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush, Osprey, Black Kite, Kestrel, Linnet, Black-eared Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails, Hoopoe, Nightingale, Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike, Stone Curlew, Yellow-legged and Audouin’s Gulls, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Red-legged Partridge, Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Swift. On other days we added Common Sand., Raven, Whinchat, Shag, House Sparrow, Sub-alpine Warbler, Bee-eater, Robin, a male Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Ospreys, 1f Bluethroat, Tawny Pipit, Turtle Dove, Whiskered Tern, Tree Pipit. All the days there were quite windy, which meant the birds were quite hard to see. Our boat arrived for the return journey. It was an inflatable with central seating but no cover – and it was quite choppy, but we did get nice close views of both Cory’s and Balearic Shearwaters.
Back at s’Albufera we added Shelduck, Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Snipe. During the moth trapping session on the first night back I added Barn Owl, which was sitting in a White Poplar tree illuminated by the mv lamp. The following day added 4 Wood Sandpiper, Oystercatcher. A trip to the Depuradora added Black-necked Grebe, Great Reed Warbler, Squacco Heron, Stonechat, Common Waxbill, Fan-tailed Warbler, Great White Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Temminck’s Stint, Grey Plover. The following day added Sedge Warbler, 2 Gull-Billed Tern, Water Rail, Hoopoe. On Friday 27 April there were 20 Wood Sandpiper at Bishop I, a Booted Eagle flying over, & Temminck’s Stint, 3 Common Tern and the first Black-winged Stilt chicks. That evening I left s’Albufera to spend one night moth trapping at Binifaldó, up in the Tramuntana. It turned out to be a good session as it was warm and humid overnight.
Returning to s’Albufera on Saturday afternoon I had just enough time to do a quick tour round the hides, adding 2 distant Griffon Vulture, Wryneck, 2 Spoonbill, one summer plumage Sanderling (and 19 Curlew Sandpipers). On Sunday morning there was little in the moth trap so I got out to the hides early. At Bishop I I was greeted with a flock of 28 Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Stint, 2 Marbled duck, 23 Curlew Sand. However, once again I missed out on the big one as our group leader had a Great Snipe from Bishop II later in the day. I’ve missed several during my trips, so it’s one of my bogey birds. Monday 1 May added 4 Avocet to the list. On Wed 2 May I decided to go out to the hides before the reserve opened to the public and discovered Bishop I full of photographers. Several visits during the day revealed that they had spent the entire day there!