Mallorca 2021 (2 Viewers)

[southernsteve]

I didn't realise that Mallorca shouldn't have snakes, ok I know not birds, but anyone who visits S'Amarador might want to keep their eyes peeled for this monster......

 

[StewB]

I didn't realise that Mallorca shouldn't have snakes, ok I know not birds, but anyone who visits S'Amarador might want to keep their eyes peeled for this monster......

My understanding is that all the reptiles on Mallorca were introduced at some stage (albeit for some, thousands of years ago e.g. during Roman times). Martin commented on this quite some time ago. There are at least four species of snakes now at large, I think yours is a Viperine snake - the only species that I have seen on the island.

I’m not sure about amphibians - there is of course the exceptionally scarce Mallorcan Midwife Toad, which is presumably endemic.

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

I have the grandchildren staying here at the moment making merry, so life is very full-on.
However, I did manage to sneak away for a last gasp visit of the autumn to the Cap de Ses Salines.
A group of 9 Mistle thrush flew strongly past me to the south. I assumed they went out to sea but I’m told people were watching for migration from a boat and at the entrance to Cabrera and they didn’t see them. I can’t think they all changed direction and went elsewhere.
I saw many groups of passerines flying to and fro but they were too distant to identify and my hearing is not up to identifying them from calls any more.
Lots of Robins were singing and I saw quite a few Song thrush.
A nice pair of Bonelli’s eagles performed well and local Kestrels, Booted eagles and Red kites were ever-present.
On the way back up the road, I saw a Black vulture with a Booted eagle and three Red kites which made a pretty picture.
It was a very welcome and therapeutic break from the mayhem my grandsons are causing.
Mike

 

[southernsteve]

My understanding is that all the reptiles on Mallorca were introduced at some stage (albeit for some, thousands of years ago e.g. during Roman times). Martin commented on this quite some time ago. There are at least four species of snakes now at large, I think yours is a Viperine snake - the only species that I have seen on the island.

I’m not sure about amphibians - there is of course the exceptionally scarce Mallorcan Midwife Toad, which is presumably endemic.

Stew

My understanding is that all the reptiles on Mallorca were introduced at some stage (albeit for some, thousands of years ago e.g. during Roman times). Martin commented on this quite some time ago. There are at least four species of snakes now at large, I think yours is a Viperine snake - the only species that I have seen on the island.

I’m not sure about amphibians - there is of course the exceptionally scarce Mallorcan Midwife Toad, which is presumably endemic.

Stew

I have been reliably informed it's a Horseshoe Whip Snake which I have since seen media reports saying it should be reported......

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Back at last to the island. Many thanks for all the contributions that have been very welcomed this year.
Just a few hours spent this afternoon near the platform and New Hide at Albuferata.
Some 30 odd spps including Flamingoes(30), Cattle Egrets(40), Great White and Little Egrets, Dunlin, Kentish Plover, Meadow Pipit, Serins, Stonechats, Corn Buntings, Booted Eagles, Cetti Warblers and Stone Curlews. Its great to be back and looking forward to meeting old friends again.

 

[Phil Akers]

On the subject of Horseshoe Whip snakes, here`s a photo of one in my garden a few days ago. It had caught a lizard. As I edged around to get a better photo I spooked it. It released the lizard which shot off up the wall and the snake slid into a gap in the wall. I`ve been keeping an eye out for it but no sign of it.

 

[honeym]

There's a useful .pdf guide to the snakes of the Balearic Islands but according to my notes, there may be one or two additions. It's available as a download here:

(PDF) Les serps de les Illes Balears. Manual d'identificació

PDF | DL: PM 1680-2018 | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

www.researchgate.net

It's caught a gecko (which are lizards, but different). I've seen three species on Mallorca.

All the best

Martin

 

[LaGola]

Hello!
wonderful meeting of herons this morning in s'Albufereta Reserve: about 9 Grey Herons, 6 Great Egret, 1 Purple Heron and at least 10 Little Egrets.
I haven't done my morning walk around la Gola yet but there is a grup of 6 Siskin next to the bird Centre.
Also one visitor has told me that he still saw some Eleonora's Falcon in sa Calobra and along the coast of Sóller this last week.
Cheers,
Cristina.

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks Cristina, a very nice selection of herons and egrets there.
A couple of Redwings and some Ring ouzel reported. There was quite a big influx of thrushes yesterday and I have certainly seen more than usual in the last few days.
Mike

 

[southernsteve]

I probably know the answer to this question so clutching at straws really, but going through my photos from last week I came across this on of a Chiffchaff at Albufera. I was wondering if it could be an Iberian Chiff, the facial markings look a little different though legs may be too dark. Not sure about the wing projection, and of course it wasn't singing. Before I took these photos there was a local photographer taking an interest in the group of trees which raised my interest.

 

[Geordie Dave]

Arrived back from Newcastle yesterday on an early flight with only 48 passengers on board. Mallorca feeling cool and pleasant as we move out of the summer heat. Started today at Mortix which was stunning and very quiet. I saw 5 walkers and 0 other birders in 3 hours and for most of the time felt I had the whole valley to myself. I was hoping for Brambling, which I’ve seen in 4 different locations here in the past and for Bonellis eagle which I’ve been fortunate to see 3-4 times here including 2 together early last year. Sadly I saw neither and the whole valley was quiet. I remember last January/February when the vineyards were alive with hundreds, if not thousands, of passerines; chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch with a few cirl bunting and brambling. Today they were deserted. Higher up there were many Robins, chaffinch, a few black redstarts, blue rock thrush, a group of 10-20 cirl bunting, a Male kestrel and 3 distant vultures. A wonderful way to start my latest visit.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A visit to Albufera this very pleasent sunny afternoon.
Some 40 Species seen including Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagles, Cattle, Great White and Little Egrets, Black tailed Godwit, Kenntish and Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Night Heron, Lapwings, Wigeon and hundreds of Teal.
The Island always delivers.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Afternoon visit to Maristany on a wet day before Saturday Shopping.
Surprisingly active with wildlife.
Birds seen included 3 Marsh Harriers quartering over the reed beds, 3 Kestrels hovering and pouncing on their prey, Coots, Moorhens, Shoverlers, Red Crested Pochards, Common Pochards( approx.50), Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Little Grebes, Cormorants, Common Sandpipers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Sardinian and Cetti Warblers as well as large numbers of Collard Doves, Woodpidgeons, and Robins.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Sunday Afternoon visit to Son Real.
Many families there enjoying the great weather (23C)
The pond at the hide has been revamped and offers a good oppertunity to observe birds coming into drink.
Birds seen included: Kestrels, Crossbills, Serins, Goldfinches, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti and Sardinian Warblers, Greenfinch, Hoopoe, Great tits, Stone Curlews,Thekla larks and Sky larks.
No sign of Hawfinches nor Thrushes.
Many Insects seen enjoying the warmth, including Red Admirals, Speckled Wood, Large White, Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow and Two tailed Pasha Butteflies, as well as various dragonflies and others.
A great afternoon.

 

[Mike Montier]

A really good day out today with the two Philips and geordiedavid.
I got rather muddled over what time it actually was and I arrived in the dark.
There were no Rock sparrows and nothing else much about either until a group of kites came over, 7 in all, 2 Black kites and the rest were Red.
Phil arrived and said he’d seen two Black kites in Ses Salines with 4 Red kites so obviously the same group.
Not long after, a surprise Sparrowhawk flew low over, soon joined by an Eleonora’s falcon.
We then went to the Cap where we met David and Phil.A.
David will be writing up our subsequent sightings so I will leave it there.
It was great to be out in Mallorca again after a four week absence.
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

Travelled down to the Cap with Phil A this morning to meet Mike Montier and Phil G. We counted over 200 scopolis shearwaters before we gave up. Every time we looked through our scopes they continued to pass through from east to west in groups of up to 20. There must have been several hundred in total many very close in. We saw a few Eleanoras falcons, a peregrine, several booted eagles, a group of 6 wigeon before we decided to move on to “The Wall“ and then Passage 5. We saw a very large, dark eagle type bird moving south towards the sea but couldn’t identify it, we also had a small, fast dark falcon with a lot of red on its underside which we thought might be a Hobby. Other raptors included kestrel, more booted eagles, red kites, Eleonoras falcons and marsh harrier. We moved on to the Es Trenc road to view the ponds which was very quiet. A group of 20+ little stint was the highlight. Our final stop was the Fontsanta Hotel and down to a muddy Eddies Track. 80+ flamingo, 6 greenshank, 5 redshank, 3 ruff and a grey plover were the stars. After that it was back to Port de Pollenca for “Trick or Treat”, a few beers and some live music. What better way to spend a Sunday.

 

[Mike Montier]

Kevin confirmed that the Southern grey shrike is still at Pla de Lanzell. He posted news and a photo.
It was too much so I left immediately for my favourite location.
Sadly the bird was not showing, possibly due to disturbance, but it does go missing for periods as well so I will never know.
I will be going again this week and will report.
I guess it may well over-winter again. I certainly hope so.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

News broke this morning of a Snow bunting seen at Felanitx last week.
I believe Jason went to investigate the site and it was still there!
I was in a meeting with fellow Brits but I just got up and left. After an anxious wait, the bird showed, much to the delight of the birders gathered there.
High fives and other celebrations were very restrained due to the religious nature of our surroundings.
It all added to the occasion knowing that all of us were supposed to be somewhere else!
It was a cracking bird, a Mallorca tick and a great feeling sharing the joy with others.
They don’t get much better than this, highlight of the year so far.
Mike

 

[Josep Manchado]

Hello!
Great and happy day to me, a new bird for Majorca.
I was in a work meeting near Felanitx and i saw the when i saw the news about the snow bunting; returning to Palma i told my fellows in the car i wanted to stop in the cemetery of Felanitx, they were super surprised, but when i told them i wanted to see a bird there, they were astonished.
When I arrived the bird was hidden but then it appeared and i could take a pic of him with the mobile! of course not a great pic as Mike's one, but i had not my camera with me.
It was difficult to hide the celebrations, considering the place we were.

 

[Patrick_m]

Great day indeed, what a nice bird! And very tame too.
I got the chance to meet with Kevin, Dave, Mike and Phil and enjoy the bird with them.
I also managed to grab a bit of footage that you can see here: