Mallorca 2024 (8 Viewers)

[derban]

Back again after two months away and where was I this morning? Salobrar de Campos of course, just after sunrise, the expected warming sunshine not really materialising at about 8 or 9°C. But there was life there – the piping of the waders and chatter of flamingos and shelduck, lower water levels meant there were also kentish plovers and little stint about and I was also pleased to spot a Cetti's warbler and not just hear it. Also saw my first ruff of the season. However the hirundines flashing past from all angles also didn't show up – probably missed that for this year, or maybe it was just too early in the day. There was only one barn swallow looking for breakfast. I also met two friendly chaps from southern Germany. When I asked if they had found anything interesting, they modestly said yes, well there had been two collared pratincoles resting just over there, but they had flown off moments ago. Wish I hadn't asked. But it was wonderful to be back.

 

[Mike Montier]

Despite my reluctance to go seawatching again for a while, I found myself back at my local lighthouse tonight.
I would really like to know how many Balearic shearwaters there are in our waters. I saw somewhere an estimate of 3,000 pairs so maybe that’s the current thinking.
I arrived tonight at the time that I went home last time..if that makes sense..as I felt that many more would pass through. I didn’t have clickers tonight but I found myself counting in my head anyway. At least 1,500 went by making a total of over 4,500, but that’s assuming my last visit was a typical day. My guess is that there must be a minimum of 6,000 birds altogether.
That may not be totally accurate as every day is different. The only way is to count for the whole afternoon and evening but that’s beyond my tolerance levels.
I guess it would be a good idea to have a shift system whereby one birder counted from say 3pm for a couple of hours, followed by another for the evening and another for the last shift until dark.
I would love to know.
Nothing else came by. I always live in hope that something spicy will float into vision but it very rarely does.
Jason was stunned to find a male Collared flycatcher on Dragonera, a right mega, especially in spring.
Also a Dotterel was found near Maria de la Salut although I’m not sure who the finder was.
Mike

 

[derban]

I have just spent a pleasurable few hours photographing flying creatures in our garden, then trying to identify them. My knowledge of butterflies was in a state of perfect and comprehensive ignorance but now thanks to Mike Swiss's links to info material I have been able to recognise the ones I spotted – wall brown, Bath white, common blue and small white. Thank you Mike! And now if they were to sit still longer ... (BTW, I know the bee is not a butterfly!)

 

[Mcnswiss2]

I also use the app for id

 

[derban]

I also use the app for id
View attachment 1571418

Cheers Mike, that‘s really helpful!

 

[Scridifer]

I have just spent a pleasurable few hours photographing flying creatures in our garden, then trying to identify them. My knowledge of butterflies was in a state of perfect and comprehensive ignorance but now thanks to Mike Swiss's links to info material I have been able to recognise the ones I spotted – wall brown, Bath white, common blue and small white. Thank you Mike! And now if they were to sit still longer ... (BTW, I know the bee is not a butterfly!)

View attachment 1571283View attachment 1571284View attachment 1571282View attachment 1571281 View attachment 1571285

The blue is Southern Blue P. celina which has been split from P. icarus.

Chris

 

[BielBernat]

Despite my reluctance to go seawatching again for a while, I found myself back at my local lighthouse tonight.
I would really like to know how many Balearic shearwaters there are in our waters. I saw somewhere an estimate of 3,000 pairs so maybe that’s the current thinking.
I arrived tonight at the time that I went home last time..if that makes sense..as I felt that many more would pass through. I didn’t have clickers tonight but I found myself counting in my head anyway. At least 1,500 went by making a total of over 4,500, but that’s assuming my last visit was a typical day. My guess is that there must be a minimum of 6,000 birds altogether.
That may not be totally accurate as every day is different. The only way is to count for the whole afternoon and evening but that’s beyond my tolerance levels.
I guess it would be a good idea to have a shift system whereby one birder counted from say 3pm for a couple of hours, followed by another for the evening and another for the last shift until dark.
I would love to know.
Nothing else came by. I always live in hope that something spicy will float into vision but it very rarely does.
Jason was stunned to find a male Collared flycatcher on Dragonera, a right mega, especially in spring.
Also a Dotterel was found near Maria de la Salut although I’m not sure who the finder was.
Mike

Saturday was a great migration day!!
The Collared Pratincoles (Glareola pratincola) stille around the north, we found 1 at Albufereta at morning.
And Pau Castell found a nice group of 5 Slender-billed Gulls (Chroicocephalus geneii) at Albufera, Cibollar 1. A nice group with 2 birds with a very pink belly!
And Finally Toni Soler found the Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus) at Maria de La Salut.
Toni had a great day with these 3 species!! I could only enjoy two of them...
At least, yesterday I found 1 Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) at my garden in Calvia.

Regards

Biel Bernat

 

[derban]

This morning at the Cape: I arrived very early hoping to photograph a stunning sunrise, or at least a sunrise, but the golden orb didn't put in an appearance till about 9.30 as a white blob to be seen through the mist. And it was in the wrong place. Not where I expected at all. (I know, there's an app...) Ah well. But the birding was nice if a little strange. MikeM and I saw various species making their way not landwards but apparently out at sea, including swifts, swallows, a hoopoe skimming the waves, possibly heading for Cabrera(?). We also saw an osprey flying back and forth two or three times and the star turn, four oystercatchers heading along the coast and out to sea eastwards. The further cast included Scopoli's and Balearic shearwaters and the range of customary passerines. And passing the time with Mike chatting among other things about our language partners, the quirks of Mallorquin football vocabulary and bird rarities in the Arizona desert, the morning flew by. Thanks Mike.

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks for a great morning David, just as you describe it.
The mosquitoes were a nuisance and big itchy spots are now appearing all over the exposed bits.
Well done for spotting the Oystercatchers, I would have missed them without you.
Mike

 

[pereto]

Hola a tod@s,
Yesterday at the Central Plain 1 Black kite, 25 Red kites and a few Short-toed larks. Saturday at Formentor, 1 beautiful male Northern wheatear and 2 Balearic warblers. Finally, Friday 5th at Mortitx, the usual Black and Griffon vultures and the 2 Bonelli's eagles in close views.

We go to Dragonera tomorrow, in case anyone wishes to join the trip. The last time I went in March we had 15 Balearic warblers, 7 of them seen (of which 5 in a very good distance for photos) and the rest heard. Also 7 Scopoli's shearwaters.
If anyone wants to join in tomorrow, drop me a pm at [email protected].

Saludos.
 Pere

 

[Cornwall Birding Tours]

Will do Mike! i think i will be able to walk out to the old bus depot and on to the Depudora platform, and i have used the bus along to the north before so will be doing that also. are the little saltpans half way along main road to Albufera still attracting birds do you know ?

Surprisingly a good old walk to the Salinas from Can Picafort. Worth going up through the woods from the roundabout then crossing over opposite the bus depot.
You can walk to Son Real along the front from Can pinafore too. We got a taxi to the Salbufera only about 8 euros then walked back to Can pinafort

 

[Jonny Holliday]

Many thanks - yes i have walked in the woods between Can Picafort and the bus depot before - there was also an old quarry on the junction to main road but not sure thats still there?,....

jonny

 

[Mike Montier]

It’s a fabulous time of the year to be out walking.
The first passage migrants are appearing and wild flowers are looking spectacular.
The lush grasses are at their best and many breeding birds are in full song.
Tonight in my local park, Stone curlew were very noisy as were Hoopoe and Wryneck.
Thekla lark we’re giving their “sweetie sue” call and Cirl buntings were calling too. Nightingales will be around any day now, joined by Common redstart and Pied flycatchers.
Woodchats are just arriving too and soon just about everywhere will be covered with spotted flycatchers, both local Balearic birds and striata too.
I’m going to s’Albufera tomorrow and I’m hoping for Little bittern, Great Reed warbler, Gull-billed terns, Whiskered terns, Collared pratincole, Purple heron and Squacco heron.
Even a few of those will do, I’m on my lowest ever Bigyear total.
I will of course report on here.
I get so excited about a day out that I can’t sleep so I usually get up and leave ridiculously early.
Still, it’s the best time to be out and as a result, I have seen many wonderful sunrises.
Mike

 

[stevethehydra]

I'm reading this with interest as I'm going to be in Mallorca at the end of May!

It won't completely be a "birding holiday" as only 2/5 of us are really into it, but as we'll be in Alcudia it looks like Albufera and Albufereta will be easily doable.

One question - where is Maristany? From the mentions in this thread it sounds like it's also in the Alcudia area, but when I google "Maristany Mallorca" all that comes up is stuff about hotels, and putting it into Google Maps only gets results for businesses in Barcelona...

 

[Jonny Holliday]

I'm reading this with interest as I'm going to be in Mallorca at the end of May!

It won't completely be a "birding holiday" as only 2/5 of us are really into it, but as we'll be in Alcudia it looks like Albufera and Albufereta will be easily doable.

One question - where is Maristany? From the mentions in this thread it sounds like it's also in the Alcudia area, but when I google "Maristany Mallorca" all that comes up is stuff about hotels, and putting it into Google Maps only gets results for businesses in Barcelona...

Also called Toucan Marsh i think, Maristany is right behind the Lidl supermarket on the roundabout in Alcudia. A nice easy site for an hour or 2 visit in the morning or evening.

 

[stevethehydra]

Thanks! Just looked on Google Maps again and I see a road not far away called "Carrer Mar i Estany".

 

[Mike Montier]

Oh what a beautiful day.
21 degrees of sunshine, a nice gentle and cooling breeze, loads of great birds and excellent company.
The s’Albufera marsh never fails to deliver.
We arrived quite early at the depuradora where the approach road had many hundreds of freshly arrived Barn swallows on the overhead cables.
From the platform we saw a lot of activity. Marsh harriers seemed to be everywhere, various egret species came and went, lots of hirundines filled the sky and both Common and a Pallid swift were present.
Then there appeared a large group of terns, quickly identified as Whiskered, 21 in all.
Common tern were around too.
Purple and Grey heron flew over and a Sand Martin was picked out.
On the way back to the car, a Nightingale sang and we bumped into Phil A who soon joined us at the main reserve.
As usual, Night herons lined the approach canal and lots of egrets and Glossy ibis were at the roost near where the path turns left by the bridge before the reception.
At Sa Roca, a fine Squacco heron strutted about, unusually close at times.
At Sa Roca II, a Collared pratincole was quickly located, followed by another. They seemed to be engaged in some mating ritual, with one bird jumping madly into the air, whilst the other made a scrape which (she?) nestled into and looked on. It was a fascinating show.
We moved on and stood near the mound, listening to the Great Reed warbler, advertising his wares.
At Cibolla one and two, there were loads of birds but nothing new. Some Greater flamingoes up close and personal, loads of Avocets, Little ringed plover and Black-headed gulls.
As we walked back past the bridge, I saw one swallow that looked different and sure enough, it turned revealing its true identity, a Red-rumped swallow. That was a very nice way to end the day.
It was just one of those great days where everything seemed just right.
Thanks for your great company Phil
Mike

 

[rachk116]

Hi all.

We are back again on the 14th for a week for our annual pilgrimage. Have been reading the forum with interest and it is definitely whetting my appetite.

We are staying at the southern end of Puerto Pollensa this year for a change and have been looking at what is within walking distance. We know the usual PP sites, like the Boquer and La Gola, but were looking further south to mix it up a bit. We know the main platform at Albufereta too.

On Google maps, there is an area just south of the Can Cuarassa track that looks like a wetland area. I guess, from the labelling on the map, that it is part of Albufereta but are there hides/screens here to look at the pools? Or is it private? It looks from the map as if there are tracks around it. Is it worth a visit?

Thanks in advance,
Rach

 

[Geordie Dave]

Hi all.

We are back again on the 14th for a week for our annual pilgrimage. Have been reading the forum with interest and it is definitely whetting my appetite.

We are staying at the southern end of Puerto Pollensa this year for a change and have been looking at what is within walking distance. We know the usual PP sites, like the Boquer and La Gola, but were looking further south to mix it up a bit. We know the main platform at Albufereta too.

On Google maps, there is an area just south of the Can Cuarassa track that looks like a wetland area. I guess, from the labelling on the map, that it is part of Albufereta but are there hides/screens here to look at the pools? Or is it private? It looks from the map as if there are tracks around it. Is it worth a visit?

Thanks in advance,
Rach

View attachment 1572193

Rachk there is a small wetland area with a couple of pools and 3 screens, there are no hides. The track is accessed on the second 90° bend as you go in from the sea. Water levels vary and in the summer it can completely dry. out. The track creates a circular walk and it only takes 20 minutes or so to go round. I’ve seen kingfisher, Osprey, booted eagle, kestrel, marsh harrier and the usual fan tailed, Cetti’s and Sardinian warblers there. As with Mallorca generally anything can and does turn up at this time of year. Good luck.

 

[rachk116]

Rachk there is a small wetland area with a couple of pools and 3 screens, there are no hides. The track is accessed on the second 90° bend as you go in from the sea. Water levels vary and in the summer it can completely dry. out. The track creates a circular walk and it only takes 20 minutes or so to go round. I’ve seen kingfisher, Osprey, booted eagle, kestrel, marsh harrier and the usual fan tailed, Cetti’s and Sardinian warblers there. As with Mallorca generally anything can and does turn up at this time of year. Good luck.

Brilliant, thank you. Definitely worth a look then.