Mallorca 2021 (2 Viewers)

[Mike Montier]

Three Ring ouzel seen at Randa by Toni and two Alpine accentors at San Salvador were logged by Juanjo.
Ring ouzel is quite a difficult bird to catch up with here so this location offers a great opportunity to record these rather handsome thrushes.
Mike

 

[honeym]

Another year without the delights of Mallorca so, before I sign off for Christmas may I wish all on here a Happy Christmas and hopefully a bird-filled New Year -- and thanks for keeping us up-to-date.

"I'll be back!"

Martin

 

[Mike Montier]

And to you Martin.
Thanks so much for answering all our moth, butterfly and insect questions!
Hope to see you back here soon.
All the very best, Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

My attempts to clean up the rarities around Salobrar de Campos were not successful sadly.
I started at the salt pans looking for the flock of Golden plovers and despite being early, there were very few individuals around, just one small group and a few stragglers, and certainly none that looked even remotely different.
Then round the back of Salobrar at Sa Barrala, I saw many flocks of pipits, larks and buntings but they were all distant and highly mobile.
No matter where the flocks settled, they were never near where I was.
The frustration was too much so I ignored my own advice to stay put, and started chasing around the fields. This made matters considerably worse.
It’s a pity because I believe there are some great birds around the area but it really is too much for one person the manage. We need to get a few more birders there and spread out. That way, the flocks would always be near somebody.
I then went to the polo pitch which was covered in pipits and larks.
As far as I could see, all were Meadow pipits, Thekla larks and some white wagtails. A few thrushes were also present, all Song thrush.
A frustrating day then but the sun was out, it was 19 degrees with no wind, so I really shouldn’t moan.
I will have another go tomorrow.
Mike

 

[derban]

My attempts to clean up the rarities around Salobrar de Campos were not successful sadly.
I started at the salt pans looking for the flock of Golden plovers and despite being early, there were very few individuals around, just one small group and a few stragglers, and certainly none that looked even remotely different.
Then round the back of Salobrar at Sa Barrala, I saw many flocks of pipits, larks and buntings but they were all distant and highly mobile.
No matter where the flocks settled, they were never near where I was.
The frustration was too much so I ignored my own advice to stay put, and started chasing around the fields. This made matters considerably worse.
It’s a pity because I believe there are some great birds around the area but it really is too much for one person the manage. We need to get a few more birders there and spread out. That way, the flocks would always be near somebody.
I then went to the polo pitch which was covered in pipits and larks.
As far as I could see, all were Meadow pipits, Thekla larks and some white wagtails. A few thrushes were also present, all Song thrush.
A frustrating day then but the sun was out, it was 19 degrees with no wind, so I really shouldn’t moan.
I will have another go tomorrow.
Mike

My sympathies Mike, somewhat mitigated by the fact that it is about 25-30 degrees warmer where you are than where I am! Good luck tomorrow.

 

[Mike Montier]

Our trip to Son Real today was canceled so we made for Randa in the hope of seeing Ring ouzel.
After a short wait, I got flight views only.
Then to my surprise, Pep appeared. Poor Pep fell and broke his arm on Christmas day, but as I have said so many times, you just can’t keep a birder down.
We had some distant views of a male in a tree, then flight views of two more.
Finally, after we had moved to a road a bit closer, we got acceptable if distant views of one perched on a rock.
I then left for Casa Blanca for the White storks but after scouring the area, none were seen.
Next stop was prat de sant jordi.
Lots of Common snipe were present, green and common sandpiper, black-winged stilts, water pipit and white wagtails.
Some kids flushed the lot and I was overjoyed to see a diminutive Jack snipe taking flight with its larger cousins. I’ve seen so few Jack snipe in Mallorca, they are very hard to see, but Sant Jordi offers much less cover than other likely sites, and thus, views are more likely.
It’s worth a trip to Randa anyway, the views are amazing.
Mike

 

[derban]

Our trip to Son Real today was canceled so we made for Randa in the hope of seeing Ring ouzel.
After a short wait, I got flight views only.
Then to my surprise, Pep appeared. Poor Pep fell and broke his arm on Christmas day, but as I have said so many times, you just can’t keep a birder down.
We had some distant views of a male in a tree, then flight views of two more.
Finally, after we had moved to a road a bit closer, we got acceptable if distant views of one perched on a rock.
I then left for Casa Blanca for the White storks but after scouring the area, none were seen.
Next stop was prat de sant jordi.
Lots of Common snipe were present, green and common sandpiper, black-winged stilts, water pipit and white wagtails.
Some kids flushed the lot and I was overjoyed to see a diminutive Jack snipe taking flight with its larger cousins. I’ve seen so few Jack snipe in Mallorca, they are very hard to see, but Sant Jordi offers much less cover than other likely sites, and thus, views are more likely.
It’s worth a trip to Randa anyway, the views are amazing.
Mike

Great stuff Mike!

 

[Mike Montier]

I spent yet another morning at Salobrar de Campos in a vain attempt to see the three rare and scarce birds which were all seen on the same day by Maties and a visiting birder.
It doesn’t help the self-belief to try every day to relocate even one of them and fail.
I just don’t get it.
Still, I feel I’m learning a lot in the process. Watching pipits, larks and buntings for hours on end has been a great education. Observing posture, behavior, feeding action and other diagnostic features has been most enlightening.
Bill shape, tail length and many other details has all helped me to become a better birder.
It’s a vast area of countryside that I have been searching so that doesn’t help.
I looked up and saw a group of raptors. I was surprised to see, one Osprey, one Marsh harrier, one Booted eagle, one Red kite and one Black kite all in the sky at the same time.
Much more like it and a darn sight easier than watching little brown birds scuttling along the grassy fields.
The same goes for the Golden plovers. I visited the flock on the salt pans first thing this morning. Hundreds of birds but they all looked the same so no luck there either.
All part of being a birder I guess.
Mike

 

[Richard Prior]

A nice Royal Flush of raptors there Mike! A Happy 2022 to you all out there (and please stop sending the rain up here can you?).
As one 'mature' birder to another, I have found over the years that trying to relocate rare or scarce birds reported by others is never really satisfying (even if you refind them!), certainly not compared to the adrenalin of looking for your own goodies (the latter activity can of course take years to produce a result but that doesn't make us lesser birders (in my opinion at least)

 

[Mike Montier]

That has really helped Richard.
I totally agree with you, finding my own Short-eared owl at the Cap this year was my best bird of the year, far more satisfying than ticking somebody else’s bird.
Best wishes to you too for a happy and healthy new year.
Let’s hope we all enjoy good health and some great birding.

 

[Mike Montier]

A lovely day out at s’Albufera today with the two Philips. It was great being in their company, sharing stories and a lot of laughter. The best thing is that they both treat every bird as special which made me appreciate the beauty of the more common species. My last outing of the year and I didn’t even make 200 species.
Still, there is always next year and hopefully lots more fun to come.

 

[transform777]

And how sad just to see it happen without being able to do anything!

Of course we can do something. End support for industrial fishing is the logical first step. The main reason why there is a boom in plant-based foods in the West which at least opens up the possibility for re-wilding / reforesting / less pressure on the Amazon / seas etc. is due to 1. activism, 2. consumer behaviour resulting from that and some documentaries. Even Greenpeace / Attenborough / Sierra Club were behind the activists on this because uncomfortable to challenge sponsors / members. I refer you the greatest danger mentioned in video. Become an advocate for veganism is the next necessary step - for numerous other reasons. Seaspiracy and Cowspiracy are highly worthwhile watching.

 

[Phil Akers]

Just back in from walking from Son Serra de Marina to son Baulo and back, with our friends plus dogs. This is our favourite coastal walk, the scenery is gorgeous and there`s always the chance of finding a few nice birds.
I was hoping to find a Northern Wheatear or maybe a Tawny Pipit. No joy with the Wheatear but I found 5 Tawny Pipits. There were also 4 Turnstones, about 20 Kentish Plovers several of which appeared to be paired up, a Kestrel, Red Kite, Theklas Larks and of course Stone Chats and Audouins Gulls.
Maybe next time for the Wheatear ?
Cheers Phil A.

 

[Richard Prior]

Just back in from walking from Son Serra de Marina to son Baulo and back, with our friends plus dogs. This is our favourite coastal walk, the scenery is gorgeous and there`s always the chance of finding a few nice birds.
I was hoping to find a Northern Wheatear or maybe a Tawny Pipit. No joy with the Wheatear but I found 5 Tawny Pipits. There were also 4 Turnstones, about 20 Kentish Plovers several of which appeared to be paired up, a Kestrel, Red Kite, Theklas Larks and of course Stone Chats and Audouins Gulls.
Maybe next time for the Wheatear ?
Cheers Phil A.

Are you doing a bit of time travelling Phil ( see which year this thread relates to )?
Cheers
Richard

 

[Phil Akers]

Are you doing a bit of time travelling Phil ( see which year this thread relates to )?
Cheers
Richard

OMG how on earth did I do that ?

 

[Richard Prior]

OMG how on earth did I do that ?

If it had been me it would be counted as ‘a senior moment’

 

[MJB]

OMG how on earth did I do that ?

Cue the appearance of a blue Police Box and music by the BBC's electronic workshop...?
MJB