Mallorca 2022 (6 Viewers)

[Adey Baker]

Arrived this morning at Cala Millor to weather more suitable for seawatching in the autumn in the UK, though the sun came out later. A walk along the prom produced few species but included very obliging Hoopoe and Audouin's Gull, which was wearing ring BY6C. Also, some distant shearwaters could have been Scopoli's - just small shapes so Cory's is equally likely. Zoomed right up on camera screen so could be dark feathering or shadowing in pale areas

 

[Mike Montier]

A good start!
I’m told that Cory’s have never been recorded, only Scopoli’s occur.
I have many photos of Cory’s lookalikes but they were not, the reflection of the sea darkens the underwing apparently.
Later in the evenings, there is an outside chance of Storm petrel.
Good luck and do let us know.
Mike

 

[Adey Baker]

I'll see if I can drag my wife out for an evening stroll...

 

[Adey Baker]

The two close encounters. Both came too close to photograph without showing much concern about all the people around!

 

[Mike Montier]

It’s been a great day for migration.
A few Honey buzzard through, many common migrants like Wheatear, Whitethroat, Redstart, Whinchat, Willow warbler and Big numbers of Common swift.
Reports of Montagu’s harrier too.
Jason found a White-winged tern at Salobrar, Maties reported 4 Little tern at s’Albufera and Toni saw a Roller on the road to Sineu.
Lots of waders around too.

The expansion of Spotless starling seems to be continuing with my usual sightings at Botanicus, near Ses Salines and I’ve even seen some in the next village from my home town.
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

After a busy day on Wednesday with airport runs to drop my wife off and to collect my brother it was good to get out again yesterday. We stayed locally in the Port de Pollenca concentrating on the Llenaire back roads, Cami Volatina and Albufereta. Highlights were 20+ bee eaters near Llenaire Hotel, my first of the year, a singing nightingale, 4 ruff at the screen at Carrer d’en Salvador Dali and 2 barn owls in Gotmar. There was a honey buzzard overhead in Gotmar (not my photo) which is hopefully the first of many. Albufereta itself was very quiet with no sign of the 150+ flamingo that have been around for several months. As always we had thekla lark, fan tailed warbler and corn bunting for company on a sunny but windy day. I’m off to the central plains today.

 

[Adey Baker]

We had an included tour to the 'Rocky Coast' today and had Black Vulture and Booted Eagle en route, though I'm not certain where we were for either of them - wasn't keeping an eye on road signs. Also, first butterflies - one fly-by white sp and every other one was a Painted Lady

 

[derban]

Greetings from Menorca, hopefully near enough to Mallorca to be able to post here. The wife and I are on a brief holiday here, and this has brought out negotiating skills to the extent that I got a day‘s birding at S'Albufera des Grau and Cap de Faváritx. Two beautiful spots with purple heron, Great crested and little grebe, more common coot and yellow-legged gull than you could shake a stick at, crested pochard, red kite, booted eagle, marsh harrier, a dozen tattered ravens heading west, ringed and Kentish plover, little stint, white and yellow wagtail and several nightingales singing their hearts out, to name but a few. Wonderful places. All this and the air heavy with the scent of blooming gorse followed by a decent lunch at the Bar es Grau. No birding tomorrow, I fear!

 

[Scridifer]

Greetings from Menorca, hopefully near enough to Mallorca to be able to post here. The wife and I are on a brief holiday here, and this has brought out negotiating skills to the extent that I got a day‘s birding at S'Albufera des Grau and Cap de Faváritx. Two beautiful spots with purple heron, Great crested and little grebe, more common coot and yellow-legged gull than you could shake a stick at, crested pochard, red kite, booted eagle, marsh harrier, a dozen tattered ravens heading west, ringed and Kentish plover, little stint, white and yellow wagtail and several nightingales singing their hearts out, to name but a few. Wonderful places. All this and the air heavy with the scent of blooming gorse followed by a decent lunch at the Bar es Grau. No birding tomorrow, I fear!

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Will be following you with interest as we are there ourselves in a couple of weeks time!

Chris

 

[Geordie Dave]

I met Phil A yesterday morning and together with my brother Mick we headed to the central plains for a walk around the lanes near Maria de Salut. There was a marked absence of kestrel anywhere. We heard several quail and saw plenty of thekla larks, fan tailed warblers and corn buntings. The highlight was seeing my first Eleonoras falcon of the year fairly low over the fields. We moved on to the Depuradora but not before we’d had a cana at the local sports centre. We were treated to a constant fly past by a whiskered tern over the nearest pond but apart from that there was little to report. We did however have several bee eaters on the Son Bosc road as we arrived. It was time to move on again to Albufera. We could only find 4 night heron in the usual roosting spot in the canal but saw plenty of glossy ibis, cattle and little egret. Sa Roca hide had a single great white egret and the hide next to it a collared pratincole and lots of ringed and little ringed plover often side by side and giving excellent size comparisons. We heard a great reed warbler very close by the bridge next to Ses Pardes hide and other than a brief fly by sighting we found it impossible to locate. With the afternoon slipping away we made final stops at the 2 Cibollar hides where pairs of avocets were tending chicks. We did see a single little stint in beautiful rufous colours, a ruff and a redshank. It was time to make our way back to the car. On the way from the visitor centre to the front gate a golden eagle appeared fairly low overhead affording good views and photo opportunities. What a way to end the day . It was time to retire to Rosa Blanca for a couple of pints and a bite to eat. Thanks lads.

 

[Adey Baker]

We had a walk from Cala Millor to Punta de n'Amer this morning. Definitely an interesting location for anyone staying in this resort. There's a touch of 'Wells Woods/Holkham Meals' about it as there is a lot of dense vegetation for small birds to disappear into! A good knowledge of calls comes in very handy and a few certainly had me scratching my head. The first area near to the resort has quite a bit of roped-off land to protect the dunes but there are plenty of pathways farther along and some open spots as well as the denser vegetation. Lots of wildflowers in bloom as well including Pyramidal Orchids. Not many butterflies taking advantage, though with just Wall, Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady besides a few fly-by whites.
Sardinian Warblers were the only definite Sylvias that we encountered and there were plenty around. New bird for me was Thekla Lark with photos showing definite convex bill. Hoopoes were 'hooping,' a Turtle Dove was 'purring' and several Nightingales were in full song. A distant Wheatear flew even farther away but seemed to be good candidate for Black-eared and an overhead 'Yellow' Wagtail called but only landed out of sight.
Other birds included Linnet, Greenfinch, Stonechat, several Cetti's Warblers, Chiffchaff, House Martin, Swallow, Swift and several 'Spotted' Flycatchers - not sure how easy it is to claim a Mediterranean Flycatcher?

 

[honeym]

All this and the air heavy with the scent of blooming gorse followed by a decent lunch at the Bar es Grau. No birding tomorrow, I fear!

I'm not sure there's any gorse on Menorca? At least according to Herbari Virtual.

 

[Adey Baker]

I'm not sure there's any gorse on Menorca? At least according to Herbari Virtual.

Probably Broom (Genista) - lots of it in bloom here in Mallorca

 

[honeym]

Probably Broom (Genista) - lots of it in bloom here in Mallorca

Possibly as there are six species in the Balearic Islands, or perhaps Calicotome spinosa.

 

[Mike Montier]

Another big day of migration yesterday with lots of common passerines passing through the Island, Redstarts, Whitethroat, Pied flycatchers and Whinchat.
Mirella saw a Golden oriole on her usual patch near Cala d’Or.
More Montagu’s harriers were counted, some Eleonora’s falcons and a handful of Honey buzzard.
Best of all, Red-footed falcons were seen, on Menorca I think, but the good news is, they are on their way.
I am staying up north for three nights, giving four days for some birding. I hope to bump into some visiting birders but I will focus on the tower for the mornings.
We have family with us at the moment, here for a wedding, so a few days break will be very welcome indeed. I’ve hardly got out of the kitchen, those growing grandchildren have acquired roaring appetites.
See some of you later in the week then, I reckon migration could be at its peak…he says hopefully.
Mike

 

[TonyCath]

Well its almost three years since we last visited Mallorca, fingers crossed we will be in Port de Pollenca tomorrow afternoon and birding by late afternoon

Thank you to all contributors for keeping us updated for the last three years.

S'Albufera and the surrounding area, Ca'n Cuarrassa, Albufereta, Bocquer and of course La Gola all sadly missed but we will be heading to them all and hopefully meet some of you on the way during the week.

We also have pies on the agenda😁

Finally football, as an Oldham fan I would like to forget this season😭

 

[Geordie Dave]

Been out to Cala San Vicenc this morning and a stroll up the fisherman’s walk. Firecrests, several crossbills, wren and calling wryneck in the woods. At least 3 Balearic warblers calling at the same time in the scrub. 2 male and 1 female blue rock thrush, 2 ravens, pale booted eagle, 2 red kites and a single dark Eleonoras falcon were all on show on a lovely sunny morning. Nice to see the local families with young children out enjoying themselves. I’m off to the pub now for a couple of pints to get me in the mood before watching my beloved Newcastle United take on Man City. Wish us luck!!

 

[derban]

Possibly as there are six species in the Balearic Islands, or perhaps Calicotome spinosa.

It was certainly spinosa, honeym, I still have the scars to prove it!

 

[derban]

Been out to Cala San Vicenc this morning and a stroll up the fisherman’s walk. Firecrests, several crossbills, wren and calling wryneck in the woods. At least 3 Balearic warblers calling at the same time in the scrub. 2 male and 1 female blue rock thrush, 2 ravens, pale booted eagle, 2 red kites and a single dark Eleonoras falcon were all on show on a lovely sunny morning. Nice to see the local families with young children out enjoying themselves. I’m off to the pub now for a couple of pints to get me in the mood before watching my beloved Newcastle United take on Man City. Wish us luck!!

Howaay!

 

[Mike Montier]

The wedding wasn’t so bad with displaying Booted eagles above, three Red kites, Peregrine and loads of Common swift. On the way down from the castle, I spotted no less than three Common redstart from the car so goodness knows how many there were altogether. At the evening reception I watched hawking Nightjar and later two Barn owl floated silently past. As to what the bride wore, I’ve absolutely no idea.
I managed to sneak away from the family this afternoon as they all fell asleep following a gigantic seafood paella at lunchtime.
The sea was dead calm but it was far too early in the evening for passing shearwaters going south. Instead, a few Scopoli’s and Balearic shearwaters loafed about. Photographing them is near impossible, these ones being about as good as it gets without going out on a boat.
On my return home, there were quite a few Spotted flycatchers catching insects in our road. Yes, yes, I know, sub-species, I keep getting reminded that they are no longer Spotted flycatchers. They are to me though.
No other news today, I can only assume it was very quiet.
Mike