Mallorca 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

Raptors displaying is one of the highlights of the year. You should see what those Bonelli’s eagles get up to. “Spellbinding” is the perfect word, although “mesmerising” would do it too.

I couldn’t get the image of that wretched Kittiwake out of my head so I shuffled a few things about and went for it at Cap de Ses Salines, just for a short time though.
I needn’t have bothered, it was dead, just three Shags on show. Getting there early is a must.
At passage 5, there were lots of squabbling Red kites, at least five, also having a bit of a ding-dong.
Also, Rock sparrows, Chiff-chaff, lots of Corn buntings, Song and Mistle thrush and Linnets.
Quite a few groups of common starling flying around too.

Looks like Pep and Co. are having a whale of a time at Orient. I hope he posts his day on here, it sounded terrific with sightings of Yellowhammer (a rarity), Fieldfare and Hawfinch.
If I make it up there and score, I will reach 200 species for the year which is always my target. I can’t win the Bigyear but it’s always nice to be in with a shout.
Mike

 

[derban]

Very fine kites there Mike!

 

[StewB]

Hi Stew.For future reference,where about Is the screen ? I've visited the Reserve often but can't say I've came across It.

The screen overlooks the southeast corner of Sa Barcassa (the pool you see from the hide). As you drive towards Alcudia from Puerto Pollenca you pass the “normal” entrance for the Albufereta. Carrer Salvador Dali is the next right turn (easy to miss behind a tall building). Take the right turn, drive to the the bottom of the road and the screen is on the right.

It’s best in the morning when the sun is behind you.

Stew

 

[Josep Manchado]

I have been visiting the wonderful Vall d'Orient 2 days, and it is one of the most surprising places on the island (on the winter), you have the feeling anything can appear in any moment.
By now the most interesting we have seen are 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Fieldfare, 5 o 6 Hawfinchs, more than 20 Redwings, many Siskins, and lot of other common little birds.
As I said, if 3 years ago it was one Bluetail, 2 years ago it was a common bullfinch, and last year it was the Pine bunting...
What may we found this winter?

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A trip to the North East along the coastal road to Far de Capdepera.
Several Red Kites and Booted Eagles on the way, as well as a nice Osprey.
The lighthouse area was quite quiet,apart from Blue Rockthrush, Audouins Gulls, and Yellow legged Gulls. No sign of shearwaters nor Razorbills.
Decided to stop at the Depuradora in the afternoon and, as StewB reported, a very strange feeling concerning the removal of the bushes there.
Green and Common Sandpipers, Water pipits, Cetti Warblers and Crag Martins showed well but no sign of the Bluethroats. A kestral was seen capturing its prey, a possible young chiffchaff.
The weather was fine, some 15 to 18C…still waiting for that special bird.
On theway back we had a fine murmuration of Starlings over S’Albufera.

 

[Mike Montier]

Interesting to read in the Mallorca Daily Bulletin that there has been an influx of Penguins into Mallorca.
They are Razorbills of course.
Not sure where newspapers get their information from but it does show the inaccuracies that occur.
Just makes you wonder how many other errors are published.
Probably a daily occurrence but I won’t go there.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A visit to the farm areas around the Coves at Campanet.
The fields were alive with Black Redstarts, Goldfinches, Serins, House Sparrows, Mistle and Song Thrushes. Great sounds.
5 Red Kites, 2 Booted Eagles, 2 Ravens, and a Black Vulture were also seen.
On the way back called into Maristany. 30 Common Pochard, Little Grebes, and several hundred Crag Martins seen.
Decided to look for the Pintails at S’Albuferata as StewB indicated above. Sure enough at the “Blind” 6 Pintails seen, as well as numerous Shoverlers, Several Gadwalls and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Inaddition looks like a Black necked grebe decided to join the party.
A great dayout in a rather cold and wet day.

 

[Mike Montier]

Also some Mediterranean gulls have been seen at Maristany Mike.
Sounds like a great day out too, despite the weather.
Some lovely videos posted on WhatsApp of Fieldfare and Redwing bathing at Comuna de Bunyola.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

I checked the gulls..no med gulls....sigh

 

[Mcnswiss2]

My friends final day so we went to local sites including La Victoria, Formentor(Mirador), Boquer Valley, Alcudia and S’Albuferata.
Birds seen included Marsh Harriers, Red Kites, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Sandwich Tern, Ravens, Pintails, Grey Plover, Greenshank, BlackWinged Stilts. Blue Rock Thrushes, Crag Martins, Stonechats, Sardinian and Balearic Warblers seen or heard.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

I took my friend to the airport and stopped off at Garden City, a few minutes from the airport. One of my favourite coastal walks while waiting for visitors to arrive or depart.
Birds seen included Audouins and Yellow legged Gulls, Little Egrets,Sandwich terns, Shags and Cormorants, Turnstones, Sanderlings and a single Whimbrel.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Leaving the airport to return to the North, I visited the Vulture Foundation As it was open on the first Saturday of the month( and most Fridays).
Its a nice way to get up close to these wonderful birds.

 

[Mike Montier]

Still good numbers of Razorbill being seen in various coves and ports around the Island..
Mike

 

[sferguk]

Hi everyone me again...... just wanted to give you a heads up that my Mallorcan Birding video is now half way processed so have released a little trailer for it... sound up and enjoy. Final product shouldn't be far behind ...hopefully. (Not sure how else to share it here so have just linked it to my Twitter account hope it works for you all)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1596906703018422273

 

[Mike Montier]

Fabulous Shaun.

The only news today is of Mediterranean gulls being seen, along with Razorbills and I believe Pep saw a Dartford warbler.

I’m restricted to local birding but it was great to be back walking around my local Parc of Mondragó.
An Osprey fishing was a delight, a few Red kite and a Goldcrest.
It’s a beautiful walk and is especially good for orchids in season.
I did see one Monarch butterfly today despite there having been such torrential rains recently. One of the restaurants can now only be reached by boat.
Mike

 

[Phil Akers]

Had a great day out yesterday with Mike Swiss. We began at the tower at Albercux hoping to find Alpine Accentor, but not to be. But we did however find 7 Blue Rock Thrushes, one of which appeared to be a young bird and we also had a Balearic Warbler. It was really cold up there and there wasn't much else around, so we headed back down to sea level to look for Spotless Starling.

We made for Can Cuarassa where they have been seen fairly regularly around the large villas there. We found a small flock of about 15 starlings which were quite active, flying around and perching occasionally on the roof of one particularly house. We managed to get a photo of one quite soon. We hung around for a while, hoping for another photo opportunity, but not to be.

We then went to the other side of the Albufereta, to the blind at the Carrer Son Salvador Dali. There were plenty of birds around and one particular island had Black Winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Pintail Duck, Mallard and a Bar Tailed Godwit. There were also around 30 Flamingos. We managed to get a couple photos of the Pintail and the Bar Tailed but they were very distant.

Next stop was the Albufera. At the Sa Roca hides there were plenty of Teal, a couple of Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Swamp Hen, BH and YL gulls, Black Winged Stilt. But disappointingly, other than a Common Sandpiper, no small waders. At the Ses Pardes hide there were a few Widgeon which was nice to see. We disturbed a Kingfisher at the small pond on the right as we walked toward the canal bridge. At the 2 Es Cibollar hides there were a couple of Spotted Redshank, lots of Lapwings, Avocets, a few Flamingos, Shovelers, several Marsh Harriers, Cormorants, Greenshank.

The Depuradora at Son Bosc was our next port of call. I think it`s a shame that the Parc have removed all the trees and shrubs which surrounded the viewing tower. It now has a stark and open appearance and I`m sure that it has had an effect on the birds. When we arrived, there were very few birds to be seen, which now seems to have become the norm. However, there have been quite a few Blue Throats around on my previous 2 visits, but not today unfortunately.

We fished our day at S`Amarador. We were surprised not to see Red Crested Pochard which are usually to be found there. But the Mute Swan was still there, she seems to have taken up residency there. Other than that, there were only Coots and Moorhens. By this time, the rain which had so far held off began to fall. So, we called it a day. We didn't have many photo opportunities, but we certainly had plenty of habitat variation and it was great finding a Spotless Starling.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Thanks again Phil.it was a blast.
I took a tip from Mike Magic Montier to check out 2 red breasted Mergansers at the Port in Alcudia.
No such luck..a few Audouins gulls, Yellow legged Gulls, Sandwich terns and Cormorant.
I head down the coast with a chance to see them.

 

[Phil Akers]

Just thought I`d catch up with a few recent photos, that for one reason or another, I just haven't got around to posting.

Plain Tiger... Son Real coastal... Nov. 13
Bar Tailed Godwit... Albufera, des Ras hide... Nov. 14
Lesser Black Backed Gull... Cala Ratjada, Harbour. Nov. 16
Spoonbill... Albufera, des Cibollar hide, Nov. 21
Greylag Goose... Albufera, sa Roca hide, Nov. 21
Glossy Ibis... Albufera, sa Roca hide, Nov. 21
Grey Plover... Son Real coastal... Nov. 29

 

[Mcnswiss2]

No sign of the Red breasted Meganzers at City Garden.
Several Turnstones, Audouins Gulls, Cormorants seen.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A short walk up to the locked gates of Ternelle Valley today.
The fields were full of singing song thrushes, blackcaps, serins, and black redstarts.
At least 3 Blue Rock Thrushes, Kestrel, Red Kite, Booted Eagles, Ravens and Griffon Vultures were also seen.
Met several hikers who were disappointed that access to the valley is still not allowed despite the route being listed as a public walk.
Two Monach butterflies were still there!