Mallorca 2023 (5 Viewers)

[Mike Montier]

Happy New Year to all readers and contributors to this thread.
I look forward to another year of great birds and other interesting articles.
A special thanks to Pep for being the link to local information and for his expert knowledge of this beautiful Island.
Thanks also to Martin Honey for always helping out with moth, butterfly and other insect questions.
The number of other contributors to thank is too long to list here but you are a great bunch of birders and I look forward to meeting up with many of you during the year.
I will post all the news that I can.
Happy birding and good health to you all.
Mike

 

[Merlin]

A Happy New Year to you Mike and all the Majorca contributors.
This thread keeps me going throughout the year and reminds me of all the great times that I have had on Majorca plus to plan future visits.

regards
Merlin

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Have a great one Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

A very Happy New Year Mike to you and Jane and to all the contributors and readers of the Forum. It is an essential daily read, a source of valuable information and helps keep me in touch with the island between visits. After a couple of difficult years it seems like life is beginning to return to normal and over 1600 posts in 2022, almost double the preceding year, is testament to its popularity. I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks when I next return. Here’s to a great 2023, David & Lisa.

 

[honeym]

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone🎆🎇

 

[Alf King]

Happy New Year to you all.

Looking forward to following this thread and getting a vicarious pleasure from all your achievements. Our September visit to the island is a long way off but we do have other birding trips to enjoy in the meantime.

 

[Mike Montier]

The year started with our annual beach party with only a few common species on the list so far.
It was very warm and sunny so I decided to go in for a cooling swim..until I spotted this beauty. It quite put me off.
Any help with the identification would be appreciated.
Mike

 

[TonyCath]

A Happy New Year to everyone we hope to put more faces to names in May.

 

[NealM]

A Happy New Year to everyone who uses this forum.
Many thanks especially to Mike Montier for his sterling work keeping the forum up to snuff.
I was disconsolate that I couldn't get to Mallorca last year.
I'm glad to say I'll be back in Port de Pollensa in April for a week and hopefully it won't be my only visit in '23. But as the Barry Cryer joke goes at 72 years of age I've given up buying green bananas!

 

[Mcnswiss2]

The year started with our annual beach party with only a few common species on the list so far.
It was very warm and sunny so I decided to go in for a cooling swim..until I spotted this beauty. It quite put me off.
Any help with the identification would be appreciated.
Mike

Mauve Stinger Mike…does give you a bit of a sting!

Pelagia noctiluca - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Ian Bell]

Happy New Year to all lovers of birds In Mallorca.
I hope 2023 keeps your Bins and Lenses busy

 

[hughm]

Thanks so much for keeping this forum going, Mike- I am also now 72 and I don't see a visit being on this year- but you never know. At least I am not restricted to school/university holidays anymore! Just popping out to hopefully see the two overwintering Yellow-browed Warblers near Northampton. Hugh.

 

[Mike Montier]

The two Calandra larks are still at Sa Barrala in with a large flock of Skylarks.
I’m hoping to pop beck there to get it on the year list, along with a few more common species.
A couple of Red-breasted mergansers are still around but I haven’t heard of any more Razorbill.
Shearwater numbers will soon be increasing so I will do a seawatch as soon as our guests leave.
The southern grey shrike is probably still at Vilafranca but I will also check that out.
A trip to Son Real beckons and I will be hoping for Hawfinch and I might even get lucky with my annual bogey bird, the Dunnock.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Our bird-weary guests were dragged along to Sa Barrala yet again to be mind-numbingly bored by my Bigyear antics.
There I met the winner of the Bigyear 2022, Carlos-Lopez, and top man Pep who were also in pursuit of the aforesaid Larks.
It was around 4pm and the flocks of larks were nowhere to be see.
I got a glimpse of two larks going into the long grass which I believe were the Calandras but not tickable views.
I will just have to go again.
I had better wait until our guests have gone home though. If we want to remain friends that is.
Mike.

 

[StewB]

A happy new year to everyone who visits the forum, and to Mike who does a brilliant job of keeping things going for us! We’ll be visiting at least twice this year, so I’m hoping to put a few more faces to names.

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

Philip Garnett saw one Calandra lark yesterday afternoon.
The flocks seem to disperse quite early in the year so I hope our visiting birders will get there in time.
I’m happy to meet anyone near the site to take them to the best spot, just let me know.
Mike.

 

[Mike Montier]

The results of the Bigyear 2022 are available on the Facebook page so I’m sure it’s fine to share on here.
Many congratulations to Carlos, his first win since starting the Bigyear way back.
My arch rival Toni came in second and I had a late burst to grab third.
The Brits all did well, considering that most of them only visit the Island and do not live here.
Well done though, to everyone who had a go.
Anyone who fancies joining, Pep is the administrator, or just let me know.
It’s huge fun as it gives me the impetus to see as many species as I can, all over again.
Our guests go home tomorrow so I will be out and about at the weekend, that’s for sure.
Mike

 

[chris chapleo]

Happy New year all - Great to see this thread off the ground again - look forward to seeing the birding year develop in Mallorca and hopefully getting out again before too long!

Interesting looking at the Mallorca year totals - I have annual competition with several birding mates who live in eg Cornwall, Surrey or the Dorset coast (where I also live) to see who can see most species within 10km radius of our homes. Highest total tends to be 205-210 species, which isn't bad...but I wouldn't mind an Audouins gull or a Purple Swamphen, not to mention some Mallorca weather!

 

[Mike Montier]

The weather has been amazing Chris. 20 degrees most days recently and plenty of sunshine.
A week in the UK at Christmas was challenging weather-wise to say the least. We had to walk everywhere because of the lack of trains and horizontal rain and viscous winds made us be very grateful to be back in the sunshine.

We took our guests back to the airport today but as they had a late flight, I suggested having a walk along the prom before they left. I even offered to buy them lunch.
My choice of venue had nothing to do with the fact that Pep had seen a Red-breasted merganser there the day before. Honest..
After only a short time, I got rumbled. My wife noted my high levels of twitchy-ness and enquired what the bird was.
I searched for ages, but a quick text to Pep put me on the right track. It was a long way up the creek. I would never have imagined that it would be there. But it was. Super-close too. Thanks Pep.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Having downloaded my photos, I realise that I saw another Red-breasted merganser, but out at sea, and the photo was taken from far away. So there are two birds present.
Mike