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Mallorca 2023 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
StewB
Well-known member
With the day dawning a touch overcast, I switched my plan from heading to the mountains for a visit to Son Real.
I opted for the relative peace and quiet of trail 4. As I reached the start of the trail I disturbed four Hoopoes, a Turtle Dove and two Wrynecks from the fenced area at the junction with trail 2. More wrynecks were calling as I made my way round the reserve, and I was most impressed with the number of purring Turtle Doves - seemingly at almost every part of the reserve.
An Eleanora’s Falcon was cruising over the reserve, and a male Marsh Harrier powered through.
A Moorish Gecko kept me company in the hide - just as well since there was nothing visiting the pool!
A Tawny Pipit was calling as I approached the beach, and Thekla Larks performed well along the beach-side boundary. There were Shags and Audouin’s Gulls on the offshore island. On the walk back up to the Visitor Centre there were more Wrynecks calling, a nice Woodchat, a couple of Crossbills and a Corn Bunting.
A nice way to spend three and a half hours!
Stew
I opted for the relative peace and quiet of trail 4. As I reached the start of the trail I disturbed four Hoopoes, a Turtle Dove and two Wrynecks from the fenced area at the junction with trail 2. More wrynecks were calling as I made my way round the reserve, and I was most impressed with the number of purring Turtle Doves - seemingly at almost every part of the reserve.
An Eleanora’s Falcon was cruising over the reserve, and a male Marsh Harrier powered through.
A Moorish Gecko kept me company in the hide - just as well since there was nothing visiting the pool!
A Tawny Pipit was calling as I approached the beach, and Thekla Larks performed well along the beach-side boundary. There were Shags and Audouin’s Gulls on the offshore island. On the walk back up to the Visitor Centre there were more Wrynecks calling, a nice Woodchat, a couple of Crossbills and a Corn Bunting.
A nice way to spend three and a half hours!
Stew
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SuffolkSteve
Member
No luck with Moltoni’s at the Cuber Dam today so any tips on finding this much dipped target here would be gratefully received - what was of note though and a first for me here, was Pine Martin seen at the dam over a few occasions lasting maybe 5 minutes …. Very pleased with that and really unexpected
StewB
Well-known member
With plans for later in the day, I made an early start and walked the Bocquer Valley. Early on there was low cloud over both ridges, but this soon burned off and the valley was bathed in sun.
There were two Hoopoes near the play equipment on the approach, but after that things were very quiet, other than the incongruous call of a Pheasant.
At the top of the slope to the sea I could hear a Balearic Warbler singing off to the left. Despite the constant singing it took a while to get some brief views. Later as I left, the same or another bird was singing from scrub about 100m further inland. While I was waiting to see the warbler, Blue Rock Thrushes were singing, and one flew over, a Raven was kronking away and a solitary Crag Martin was flying around.
On the walk back, a Booted Eagle was flying around the tops of the ridge on the left. While I was watching it another raptor approached, heading towards the sea. Assuming it was going to be another Booted Eagle, I was surprised to see a Honey Buzzard. The two birds circled together briefly before the Honey Buzzard thought better of it and headed back inland.
Stew
There were two Hoopoes near the play equipment on the approach, but after that things were very quiet, other than the incongruous call of a Pheasant.
At the top of the slope to the sea I could hear a Balearic Warbler singing off to the left. Despite the constant singing it took a while to get some brief views. Later as I left, the same or another bird was singing from scrub about 100m further inland. While I was waiting to see the warbler, Blue Rock Thrushes were singing, and one flew over, a Raven was kronking away and a solitary Crag Martin was flying around.
On the walk back, a Booted Eagle was flying around the tops of the ridge on the left. While I was watching it another raptor approached, heading towards the sea. Assuming it was going to be another Booted Eagle, I was surprised to see a Honey Buzzard. The two birds circled together briefly before the Honey Buzzard thought better of it and headed back inland.
Stew
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ESTEBANNIC
Well-known member
Hi Steve. I saw at least 4 singing males a couple of days ago, along the track that leads up to the Son Creus finca near Banyalbufar. The area, albeit relatively unexplored, seems pretty good for them. Also a few Robins around as they breed up there. Long-tailed Tits can also put on an appearance.
Here's a link of the place. Start from the dropped pin up to where the track curves left before the fork. Listen out for the soft Wren-like churr.
39°40'57.8"N 2°31'57.1"E · Banyalbufar, Balearic Islands, Spain
Good luck!
Steve
StewB
Well-known member
A trip out to the Central Plain from Maria with Mike M this afternoon produced at least three male and at least one female Lesser Kestrels and two Bonelli’s Eagles among the many Common Kestrels and Red Kites.
Stew
Stew
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Phil Akers
Well-known member
I finally managed to escape this afternoon for a little birding. Very busy at home, my 1st half day out for ages.
I decided to play safe and stay fairly close to home.
I started at Son Bosc and found a Tree sparrow fairly quickly at the bus depot. I moved further down the lane and took a right turn, away from my normal route in search of Bee Eaters. The change paid off and I found 8 /12 birds at the far side of a field. I could hear and see them but they were too distant for a photo.
Back to my normal route, heading for the tower at the depuradora. All the regular birds were there: BW Stilt, BH Gulls, Common Terns, Little Grebes, Common and Red Crested Pochards, Marbled Duck, Shelduck, Green Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, and lots of lovely chicks.
Off to the Albufera to finish the afternoon. The Heronry in the canal side was teeming with birds, Little and Cattle Egrets, Night Herons, and Glossy ibis.
At the Sa Roca lagoon there was a good variety of waders big and small, from Little Ringed Plovers, Kentish Plovers to Glossy Ibis. I was especially surprised how many Glossy Ibis there were, at least 20 and they were very active, flying in and out. Some of them were also this years young birds with the patchy white marking around the head. The 3 Stone Curlews were also still present on the field between the new hide and the middle hide. They`ve been around there for a few weeks now.
All in all a very pleasant afternoon, but of course, we are approaching the time of year when
Cheers Phil A.
I decided to play safe and stay fairly close to home.
I started at Son Bosc and found a Tree sparrow fairly quickly at the bus depot. I moved further down the lane and took a right turn, away from my normal route in search of Bee Eaters. The change paid off and I found 8 /12 birds at the far side of a field. I could hear and see them but they were too distant for a photo.
Back to my normal route, heading for the tower at the depuradora. All the regular birds were there: BW Stilt, BH Gulls, Common Terns, Little Grebes, Common and Red Crested Pochards, Marbled Duck, Shelduck, Green Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, and lots of lovely chicks.
Off to the Albufera to finish the afternoon. The Heronry in the canal side was teeming with birds, Little and Cattle Egrets, Night Herons, and Glossy ibis.
At the Sa Roca lagoon there was a good variety of waders big and small, from Little Ringed Plovers, Kentish Plovers to Glossy Ibis. I was especially surprised how many Glossy Ibis there were, at least 20 and they were very active, flying in and out. Some of them were also this years young birds with the patchy white marking around the head. The 3 Stone Curlews were also still present on the field between the new hide and the middle hide. They`ve been around there for a few weeks now.
All in all a very pleasant afternoon, but of course, we are approaching the time of year when
new species are hard to find. I was hoping for Gull Billed Tern or maybe a Caspian Tern, but we live in hope. Cheers Phil A.
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SuffolkSteve
Member
I’ll give this a go - thank you it’s really appreciated Estebannic!
ESTEBANNIC
Well-known member
Also a little further along the track here: 39°41'00.9"N 2°32'06.0"E · Banyalbufar, Balearic Islands, Spain is usually good for them
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Many thanks Steve, two very helpful suggestions.
I haven’t been up that way for a couple of years so I will give it a go myself.
I haven’t seen Long-tailed tit for a very long time either so it’s about time I had another look.
Mike
I haven’t been up that way for a couple of years so I will give it a go myself.
I haven’t seen Long-tailed tit for a very long time either so it’s about time I had another look.
Mike
SuffolkSteve
Member
Hi Mike actually had a single long tailed tit at Son Real earlier this week
SuffolkSteve
Member
Many thanks all for the super advice on Moltoni’s this week everybody - broke the run of dips at Cuber today with two, before even reaching Banyalbufar, both down side track adjoining the dam - one male showing really well … also very close Tawny Pipit in the low lying grass area directly after the main gate
Steve N
Steve N
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Steve
Very glad you saw a Long-tailed tit away from its recognised locations.
I had one in my garden here in the south-east for at least two weeks but many years ago.
I saw it most days but I didn’t know at that time that they were very rare in this area.
My dad pointed it out to me as he has them in his garden in the UK and is thus very familiar with them.
Nice record.
Mike
Very glad you saw a Long-tailed tit away from its recognised locations.
I had one in my garden here in the south-east for at least two weeks but many years ago.
I saw it most days but I didn’t know at that time that they were very rare in this area.
My dad pointed it out to me as he has them in his garden in the UK and is thus very familiar with them.
Nice record.
Mike
SuffolkSteve
Member
I had no idea until you said that it wasn’t expected here
StewB
Well-known member
I’ve been out of action for a day or two after an off-piste fall in the Bocquer Valley (cuts, bruises, twisted ankle). This morning Mrs B drove me up the Ternelles Approaches and left me a few hundred metres short of the security gates. As I walked the last part of the approach, three Black Vultures, a Griffon Vulture and a Red Kite were circling together. In the following 40 minutes there were two more Black and another Griffon over the distant slope.
The walk back down produced some juvenile Firecrests, a Blue Tit (heard only), a couple of Crag Martins and a Raven. A magnificent Two-tailed Pasha was buzzing around a garden tree.
I was really chuffed to find a male Orange-winged Dropwing on the roadside pool where I had them last year, together with a nice selection of other species including Violet Dropwing.
After lunch I went to the Cami Volantina, where I’d been given directions by Rod M. It was heaving with dragonflies, including Violet Dropwings, Broad Scarlets, Keeled Skimmers, Emperors and Lesser Emperors. Fantastic place!
As I was nearby I went on to the Albufereta. I picked up a distant wader flying towards the pools. It didn’t stop and continued over the reserve, past my position on the tower and headed strongly north over the bay. It was a Collared Pratincole - a real surprise at this late date. An Osprey put in an appearance as I was gathering myself to leave!
Stew
The walk back down produced some juvenile Firecrests, a Blue Tit (heard only), a couple of Crag Martins and a Raven. A magnificent Two-tailed Pasha was buzzing around a garden tree.
I was really chuffed to find a male Orange-winged Dropwing on the roadside pool where I had them last year, together with a nice selection of other species including Violet Dropwing.
After lunch I went to the Cami Volantina, where I’d been given directions by Rod M. It was heaving with dragonflies, including Violet Dropwings, Broad Scarlets, Keeled Skimmers, Emperors and Lesser Emperors. Fantastic place!
As I was nearby I went on to the Albufereta. I picked up a distant wader flying towards the pools. It didn’t stop and continued over the reserve, past my position on the tower and headed strongly north over the bay. It was a Collared Pratincole - a real surprise at this late date. An Osprey put in an appearance as I was gathering myself to leave!
Stew
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Wish you well Stew and I'd appreciate a location for Rod M.'s dragonfly site!
Thanks,
Chris
That orange winged dropwing is stunning
StewB
Well-known member
Cheers Chris - I’m back in action, just a few war wounds!
Cami Volantina: if you head for Alcudia on the Puerto Pollenca “by pass”, Cami Volantina is the first right turn about 200m after the last roundabout (before you get to Ca’n Cuarassa). Drive for about 1k (that’s a guess) down the Cami and you’ll see a torent on the right behind a low wall just after a sharp left-hand bend. There’s space to pull off. Unusually for this time of year there’s plenty of water, you can walk about 150m along the road looking down into the stream. It’s a bit clogged with reeds in places, but it was heaving with dragonflies when I was there yesterday.
Stew
