Mallorca 2021 (1 Viewer)

[Geordie Dave]

A leisurely late morning and early afternoon around Pollenca bay, starting at Albufereta then Can Cuarassa and finally the fields around Llenaire. Generally quiet; marsh harrier, successful fishing Osprey, stone curlews, common kestrel, grey and purple heron, around 60 cattle egret, common sandpiper, 6 avocets all at Albufereta. Ponds at Can Cuarassa dried up and nothing to see. 55 species in 2 days so far. Looking forward to a day at Albufera tomorrow. Saw almost no waders on my visits in June and July so I’ve got some catching up to do.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi pbjosh and welcome to Mallorca.
Cuber and Mortitx will indeed be good for raptors but I feel Moltoni’s warblers will have left their breeding grounds by now.
I don’t have last dates for the species, just one record on 5th October so you may be lucky to see one on migration. They are a moderate breeder in Mallorca.
The Bóquer Valley can be exceptional during migration so a visit is recommended. The fields just before and after the entrance can be very productive.
I would also recommend a trip to Son Real, not too far to pedal. It’s a great reserve at any time, lots to see and great scenery.
The main reserves of Albufera and Albufereta will be worth visiting, especially for waders.
Have a great time. There will be quite a few visiting birders around this week and next so you will no doubt bump into a few of us.
All news we get goes on this forum so it’s worth keeping an eye on it for the latest news.
It would also be good to hear about your sightings.
All the best,
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

The Cap has been pretty good this weekend, certainly much better than recently.
On Saturday, the raptors were very high, less so today.
Most of the action was earlier in the day, full details below.
A young Honey buzzard came past quite low.
A group of about 120 Bee-eaters was visually stunning and very musical.
Fantastic to see so many birders there, nearly 20 at one point which must be a record.
Mike

 

[pbjosh]

Thanks Mike! A friend had Moltoni’s about a week or 10 days ago, though I do imagine it’s cutting it close. The last time I was in range for it I was a week or two too early, unfortunately… c’est la vie

 

[Geordie Dave]

Started the day at the Depuradora with Kevin H this morning. Whiskered tern, conmon, green and wood sandpipers, plenty of crag martins and a group of 3 marsh harriers were seen. On to Albufera main reserve late morning. When I was last here in July the ponds were dry and there were no waders to be seen. Today, after recent heavy rains, the water levels were too high particularly at the Cibollar hides 1&2. We did see a black tailed godwit, up to 40 glossy ibis and dozens of plover from the hides around Sa Roca. At Cibollar dozens of redshank, 2 spotted redshank and 6 greenshank. After Kevin had left I went on to Es Colonbars where an Osprey was perched on the pole in front of the power station. Again water levels were high and the ponds were empty other than for a group of 20+ flamingo. I did have a brief view of a ring tail harrier heading fairly low from right to left in front of the power station. All in all a quiet but enjoyable day, My species total for 3 days now stands at 85. Need to decide where to go tomorrow!

 

[pbjosh]

I road up to Cuber today. A later start than I would have liked but c’est la vie. Had Black/Cinereous Vultures in a few spots as well as a few Griffons. One Booted Eagle, 2 Peregrines, several kestrel, Red Kite. Not bad, though no Bonelli’s. Had a Gray Wagtail and a Whinchat at Cuber. A Tawny Pipit was the first I’ve seen in some time. Going to go somewhere close tomorrow and give the shoulders a rest, doing 80km with a backpack on has left me a bit sore!

 

[Mike Montier]

Well done pbjosh, that’s a lot of pedaling.
The two Philips were at Cúber today so it’s a shame you didn’t meet.
I don’t want to steal any thunder so I won’t post their sightings as Phil.A. may want to post his day totals here.
Phil. G. did tell me he saw 6 Honey buzzard over Santa Ponça yesterday.
The general feeling from him was that there is a paucity of migrants around at the moment.
It will all hot up soon I feel sure.
Some big storms are predicted for tomorrow and Wednesday but as often happens, they miss parts of the Island completely.
I will let you know.
Mike

 

[Phil Akers]

Hi Mike,
Yes me and Phil Garnett were at Cuber yesterday. We Had a fairly early start 8.00 am: it was 17c, Brrrr. I`m very much acclimatized to the Mallorquin weather now and anything below 23c feels cold!
We got off to a good start with a Griffon Vulture gliding over us as we were still in the car park, and within the first hour of being at Cuber we also had Black Vulture, Booted Eagle and Red Kite. So much for what lots of people say, that the big raptors don`t get moving until later in the morning when things have warmed up.
We had a nice and steady walk around the reservoir path, it gradually became warmer and we found some nice birds. Although we didn`t see large numbers we had a decent tally of species, 26, which is quite good for Cuber.
Griffon Vulture 17, Black Vulture 7, Willow Warbler 2, Barn Swallow 20, Wood Pigeon 6, Goldfinch 24, Raven 20, Crossbill 10, Mallard 1, Sardinian Warbler 9, House Martin 50, Booted Eagle 5, Firecrest 2, Blue Tit 5, Chaffinch 14, Wheatear 1, Red Kite 2, Blue Rock Thrush 2, Stonechat 10, Whinchat 2, Kestrel 1, Great Tit 3, Spotted Flycatcher 4, Grey Wagtail 1, Greenfinch 9, Common Sandpiper 1.
Phil Garnett will be back over here in November and I`m sure we will have another Cuber outing then, Maybe we might find Red - Billed Chough? That would be nice.
2 of the photos I`ve posted are of a Weevil, don`t know which type yet and the other is a Common Blue butterfly or maybe a Chapman`s Blue? probably common.

 

[CTO La Gola]

Hello!
Warning: the staff from s'Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park recommend not visiting the park today due to the storm. It has been raining a lot in the area, so please wait for better weather and condictions.
Regards,
Cristina.

 

[Geordie Dave]

After the winds and very heavy rain this morning I ventured out around Port de Pollenca this afternoon to see if the weather had brought any birds in. Started at the platform behind Pollentia Club Resort; 2 willow warblers feeding together, 3 marsh harriers including adult male and 6-8 flamingos. On to the fields around Llenaire hotel, nothing to report. Finished off at the fields below the finca at Boquer valley. 50+ crag martins, a group of 6 spotted flycatchers, 10-12 linnets and a single Eleonoras falcon. Not seen one this close to the finca before, I normally see them at the seaward end of the valley. The wind was picking up and it was starting to rain when I left at 5.30; we could be in for an interesting couple of days, he says hopefully!

 

[pbjosh]

I took the break in the rain to go to Bóquer as well, made it out to the end and back though not much except wind past the halfway point. At least 5 Common Redstarts, and a couple more briefly/barely seen. Several Med and 2 Euro/continental Spotted Flys. One Pied Fly. Booted Eagle, 2 Cinereous Vultures, 2-3 Eleonora’s high over cliffs on the W side of the valley. A couple of House-Martins in with the Crag Martins and Barn Swallows, and one Blue Rock-Thrush at the building there at the start of the valley. Lovely afternoon and nearly beat the rain back

 

[pbjosh]

Started at the platform behind Pollentia Club Resort

If you don’t mind - where exactly is this? We are staying about 100m from what I take to be the Pollentia Hotel but I don’t see anything promising looking there on the map - must be another spot?

 

[Geordie Dave]

If you don’t mind - where exactly is this? We are staying about 100m from what I take to be the Pollentia Hotel but I don’t see anything promising looking there on the map - must be another spot

It’s the Port Blue Club Pollentia Resort & Spa. It’s the hotel just before Albufereta, along the road to Alcudia. If you go to the south edge of the hotel turn down the track and into the rough ground car park. The platform is in the back corner of the car park. It overlooks a small scrape pond with views into Albufereta reserve. I think you are referring to the Pollentia hotel near the Uyal Hotel on the seafront

 

[pbjosh]

It’s the Port Blue Club Pollentia Resort & Spa. It’s the hotel just before Albufereta, along the road to Alcudia. If you go to the south edge of the hotel turn down the track and into the rough ground car park. The platform is in the back corner of the car park. It overlooks a small scrape pond with views into Albufereta reserve. I think you are referring to the Pollentia hotel near the Uyal Hotel on the seafront

That clears it up nicely! Appreciate the info and sorry for being dense

Hopefully the weather tomorrow is nice enough to ride down from Pollença and not end up drenched. Looks doubtful but we’ll see what the morning brings.

 

[Mike Montier]

Very wet and stormy today but I will still take a look down the Cap.
Lots of flooding up north but here in the south, we have escaped any drama.
A Sparrowhawk and 2 Alpine swift were seen yesterday by Jason.
Storms are usually good for the displacement of some species so you just never know what may turn up.
Something mega I hope, it’s the perfect time of the year.
Mike

 

[pbjosh]

Spent the morning and midday at l’Albufereta and Can Cullerassa.

Nothing notable but fair numbers of birds. Kentish Plovers, Curlew Sands, lots of Stone Curlews were nice to see. A few Wheatears here and there, a Pied Fly, 2 Marsh Harriers. Just in front of where we are staying are three Sandwich Terns on some rocks.

 

[Mike Montier]

The rain missed the Cap this morning. I stopped there for a while and soon saw a lone Honey buzzard looking in no hurry to leave.
An adult Bonelli’s eagle joined me, soon to be accompanied by another.
Up popped a very plain looking warbler looking very much like a Garden warbler but as soon as I focused on it, it was gone.
No sign of any Rock sparrows but I didn’t stay long.
Down at the Cap there was one Bee-eater, one Hobby, a Kestrel and another Hobby, all going south.
I looked up to see two magnificent “V” formations high in the sky and I quickly realised they were Grey heron. I was hoping for Common crane but they looked pretty good anyway.
Two groups, one of 22 and the other 25 and there were 5 tail-end Charlies, making a great total of 52, the most I have ever seen.
More tomorrow!
Mike

 

[NealM]

I'm hoping this appears in Mallorca 2021 thread.
As a newbie, a big thanks MMM - Maestro Mike Montier - for his sterling work keeping forum going. I think I had only met Geordie Dave while birding on the island before crossing paths with Josh at S'Albufereta this morning.
As I usually stay in Port de Pollensa and don't drive I concentrate on Boquer Valley around to Son Real with the usual suspects in between.
I did think of using the moniker The Useless Birder, but it's not quite true!
I can add to Josh's S'Albufereta list: about 30 Yellow Wags and a Grey Wag in flooded field by low-level tower; a first ever visit to the screen overlooking the new scrapes brought Ruff, Barwit, Common Sand, Green Sand, LRP. Well done to whoever created these scrapes they a good addition to the site.
And now to why I almost used the Useless Birder. From screen saw what looked like three Little Stint but in the time it took me to get scope up for better view they'd disappeared. Bouger as some might say.
Only here until 26th but back in mid-Oct so I can hopefully add to the sightings.
Neal

 

[pbjosh]

We just went for an afternoon walk at Bóquer and while I was only birding casually had a good sighting right at the end. Just below the castle/old building, looking off the terrace over the stone wall and down towards the barren fields below I caught a bird in flight and saw it briefly perched- sparrow sized give or take, plump body, peach colored. Long tail. Sharply striped face, black stripes on pale gray. Clearly a Rock Bunting which seemed fine for the area until I realized it doesn’t normally occur on the Balearics. I stuck around for 10-15 minutes but didn’t relocate it unfortunately. If anyone else tried to look for it it was literally just about 20m below the center of the rock walled terrace/driveway/landing whatever you call it.

Was nice to see you today Neal, not sure how I missed all those wagtails, I think I know about where you’re talking about. And sounds like more waders were present later. A site to check again if I go past!

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi NealM
Welcome to the Mallorca thread and I look forward to reading about your time here.
I’m sure we will meet soon, I am up north for the weekend so I think I will probably bump into some birders around the reserves. Quite a few are on the Island at the moment.
Mike