Mallorca 2024 (3 Viewers)

[derban]

Regarding you photos..are you taking them in RAW which are too large for this blog.

Hi Mike, yes I do photograph in RAW but I convert to JPEG when I post as well as shrinking the size of the files. Some pictures loaded easily - my birds from yesterday - but I couldn't upload images of the moth. Very puzzling. And thanks for the ID!

 

[StewB]

Cheers Stew..hope yor wait is not so long!
I also use Sunbirds Dragonflyid app ( paid)
You can select even Balearic region.
I love the illustrations by Richard Lewington
View attachment 1583544

That app looks really good!

 

[Mcnswiss2]

I downloaded onto my ipad but now available on Google phones

 

[southernsteve]

Hi all, back on the island for a two week family holiday, with plenty of birding no doubt fitted in. Had a walk round Es Carnatge yesterday, nothing exciting to report, plenty of Sardinian Warbler, a couple of Greenfinch plus Linnet, Stonechat, Serin. Some Shag out on the island and a few Audouin's Gull and Yellow-legged Gull along the beach plus a few Swift flying about. Not sure about the butterfly, I believe its probably a Common Blue, just looked a bit on the small side.
This morning it looks like someones pet has escaped, there's a very green small bird flying about, similar co;our to a Ring-necked Parakeet but a lot smaller.

 

[StewB]

Mrs B and I arrived during the night and hung about Palma Airport until the hire car desk opened at 7 am. Once up at Puerto Pollenca Mrs B decided that she needed to sleep, and I decided that I needed to go birding. A visit to the Albufereta got me back into the swing of things. Nothing spectacular, but a total of over 50 flamingos was a good start, and a Great Crested Grebe on the main lagoon was noteworthy. I spent a really pleasant half an hour or so in the Sa Barcassa Hide with Christian Jenkins - nice to meet you Christian. We watched an Avocet boss a Flamingo around (too close to its chicks), and when something spooked the pool, 15 or so Stone Curlews appeared in the air as if from nowhere.

On my way back to Puerto Pollenca I checked out the Cami Volantina for dragonflies. Again, nothing unexpected, but it was good to catch up with Violet Dropwings, Broad Scarlet, Black and Keeled Skimmers and Lesser Emperor. At the Llenaire end of Cami Volantina there was more of the same, with the addition of a male Emperor.

It’s good to be back!

Stew

 

[Christian Jenkins]

Out early this morning and over to Son Real in the hope of seeing Balearic Warbler. In six visits to the island, I’ve not seen one, so no pressure!
I needn’t have worried, as by 9:00am I’d had super views of one! Lifer in the bag and much relief! I was lucky to get great views too, and what a stunner he was!
I followed Track 2 the beach, and enjoyed a soundtrack of purring Turtle Doves and Wryneck. Sadly, I didn’t see a Wryneck, but had brief views of Turtle Dove, as well as good numbers of Woodchat and other common birds. I was also pleased to see Tawny pipit on the beach.
Later on, I headed over to Albufereta, where I met StewB (great to meet you!), as he mentioned in his post above. We spent a cracking half an hour sharing the hide, with 15 Stone Curlew in flight being the highlight (and probably doubling the number of Stone Curlew I’ve ever seen in my life!).
I’m sat with a nice beer now, listening to Nightjars in the distance again, reflecting on a fabulous day on this wonderful island!

 

[StewB]

We’ve been joined by my birding friend Chris and his partner for a few days, so Chris and I spent today at the Albufera, calling in at the Albufereta on our way back to Puerto Pollenca.

A brief call en route at the Sa Barcassa screen produced much the same as my visit yesterday, with the addition of a lovely Little Stint, and a Stone Curlew on the rough ground to the east of the screen.

There were no great surprises at the Albufera, but we did manage a few views of Moustached Warbler, and three stunning Squacco Herons from the new Sa Roca hide (we had earlier seen one in the heronry). There were lots of Glossy Ibises, a few Night Herons, Purple Herons and a Grey Heron. There were at least three Eleanora’s Falcons hawking over the reserve. Among the Flamingoes from Es Cibollar I was one bearing a white darvik ring “KAJA” - a bit of research required!

Dragonflies included Black and Keeled Skimmers, Norfolk Hawkers, Broad Scarlets and Violet Dropwing.

Stew

 

[southernsteve]

Managed a days birding today and headed up to Albufereta, Albufera, Son Real and Son Bosc. It was never going to be great trying to cram in so much, but needs must. The only bird of any real note at Albufereta was a small wader from the hide, which I think is a Dunlin, but hopefully someone could clarify from the poor photo. Albufera was extremely quiet as far as people were concerned, it felt like I had the whole place to myself. Again bird wise nothing of any real note, managed to see a couple of Nightingale without having to spend ages staring into bushes and a couple of Purple Heron. The Night Heron roost produced just one juvenile on the walk in, and a hidden adult on the way back. On to Son Real, and again I had the place to myself, but by this time the heat was starting to get to me, so I opted to spend some time in the hide. Had a few Crossbill come down to drink along with the usual suspects, plus a Pheasant, which was an island lifer for me. A couple of Ned Flycatcher made up the numbers, but otherwise it was an afternoon of Blackbirds and House Sparrows. Finally Son Bosc, and very quick look yielded another Nightingale but little else. On the drive up this morning I did catch an Elenora's Falcon, and a couple of Red Kite, but otherwise birds of prey were few and far between.

 

[mike puxley]

Managed a days birding today and headed up to Albufereta, Albufera, Son Real and Son Bosc. It was never going to be great trying to cram in so much, but needs must. The only bird of any real note at Albufereta was a small wader from the hide, which I think is a Dunlin, but hopefully someone could clarify from the poor photo. Albufera was extremely quiet as far as people were concerned, it felt like I had the whole place to myself. Again bird wise nothing of any real note, managed to see a couple of Nightingale without having to spend ages staring into bushes and a couple of Purple Heron. The Night Heron roost produced just one juvenile on the walk in, and a hidden adult on the way back. On to Son Real, and again I had the place to myself, but by this time the heat was starting to get to me, so I opted to spend some time in the hide. Had a few Crossbill come down to drink along with the usual suspects, plus a Pheasant, which was an island lifer for me. A couple of Ned Flycatcher made up the numbers, but otherwise it was an afternoon of Blackbirds and House Sparrows. Finally Son Bosc, and very quick look yielded another Nightingale but little else. On the drive up this morning I did catch an Elenora's Falcon, and a couple of Red Kite, but otherwise birds of prey were few and far between.

Sum plum Little Stint for me.

 

[Matthebirder]

Looks like you have some hot African air coming; good time for some Vagrant Emperor movement; I will be joining the 'team' from 16th in the north. Thank you for all the updates and StewB your reports have been excellent - keep up the good work!

Matt

 

[southernsteve]

Sum plum Little Stint for me.

Thnks Mike, they get me every time over here, so used to seeing them with Dunlin and the like at home where the size comparison is easily seen.

 

[StewB]

Chris and I spent a long morning at Mortitx, arriving just before 9am and leaving just after 1.30. We heard a couple of wrynecks near the vineyard on the way out, but the most exciting event was finding three Monarchs just after the gate at the end of the vineyard. After a while a couple paired up and were in cop when they flew out of sight (very discreet). On our return we saw at least six more individuals all the way along the track almost to the entrance - fantastic!

The small reservoir provided some dragonfly interest, with Emperors (including an ovipositing female), Violet Dropwing, Black-tailed and Keeled Skimmers, Small Red-eyed Damselflies and a pair of Goblet-marked Damselflies. A Viperine Snake seemed to be waiting to ambush prey of some sort.

Eleanora’s Falcons were on view from the start, with up to six in the air at all times, usually very high up, but occasionally showing well at lower altitude. We had to wait until 10.50 for vultures, but then again after that there were always some in view. We had several groups of up to seven birds, and lots of smaller groups / individual birds. Hard to know totals, but in terms of sightings there were 16 Griffon and 18 Black vultures although that undoubtedly includes multiple sightings of some individuals. There were several high crag martins and a couple which came down to the reservoir to drink on the wing. We heard, but frustratingly couldn’t see at least three Blue Rock Thrushes.

On the walk back we had a singing Cirl Buntings and a couple of Firecrests.

As we were driving past on the return, we visited the first roadside tank on the Ternelles Approach and found an Orange-winged Dropwing holding territory.

Stew

 

[honeym]

Try again with the insects. Here is the original text:

By the way and changing the subject, can someone please give me an ID for this moth I saw in my garden yesterday? Many thanks in advance; tips on literature re moths/butterflies/dragonflies will also be very welcome. I already have StewB's butterflies and dragonflies and MikeSwiss's link to Wikipedia but a bit of further reading can only help to diminish my almost total ignorance of the insect world!

And I have had the devil's own job uploading this image. Are there any specifications I should be sticking to?

View attachment 1583496

hi this is Paysandia archon a South American species, accidentally introduced to various parts of Europe,.

 

[honeym]

hi this is Paysandia archon a South American species, accidentally introduced to various parts of Europe,.

There's not much on the moths (I've been working on the moth fauna for years) but there is a book on the moths of Spain, which covers a lot of the Balearic specie,as there's also a small guide to the butterflies. produced locally. I'd give you the details but I'm stuck in hospital here.

 

[TonyCath]

I see that a Trumpeter finch has been found on the Island of Cabrera.
It looks like it was found by Jason, and also seen by Maties.
I hope I got that right.
Meanwhile, I have been on another Island. The magnificent Island of Iona, off the Scottish coast, to scatter the ashes of my mother-in-law.
If there is a more beautiful place on the planet, I haven’t seen it. It is simply stunning.
So peaceful and magical.
It was a very moving day, made even better by the bird life.
I snuck away when I heard a Corncrake calling. I ran into the pub garden and there it was, sitting on a wall.
So difficult to see, let alone photograph, but I managed a couple of shots.
I’m sure my mother-in-law wouldn’t have minded.
Mike

Sorry to hijack the forum Mike but we managed three viewings of the Corncrake on Iona this week birds calling in lots of places.

 

[StewB]

This morning Mrs B dropped Chris and me off at Son Real and she and Carey headed for sand sea and shopping in Can Picafort.

There were no surprises at Son Real, but as always there was plenty to enjoy. Half an hour or so in the hide on trail 4 had plenty of birds coming to drink - Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Corn Buntings and Crossbills in the main. Behind the hide a Wryneck was giving it large with calling. We managed a few glimpses as it moved from tree to tree. A Turtle Dove on the track was a precursor to several more heard further along, and calling Hoopoes occasionally showed themselves. A constant background of Nightingale song was delicious!

Nearer the beach a Woodchat was perched high on a small tree. A total of three quite large Hermann’s Tortoises were along the path edges.

At the beach a Tawny Pipit was displaying, and eventually we saw four or five Thekla Larks with one bird in beautiful song. A few Shags were on the offshore islands and four or five Audouin’s Gulls were patrolling the shoreline.

We added two more Woodchats, another Wryneck and a couple of Firecrests before we walked along the beach to join our better halves in Can Picafort for a late lunch.

If you’re interested, this a link to our walk: Relive 'Son Real'

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi TonyCath
Really pleased you saw the Corncrake, one of the few places I know about where the birds can be reliably seen.
Corncrake was the first bird on my British list when I started listing.
It was in the Lake District one late April. I had no idea at the time, how lucky I had been.
I hadn’t seen one since that bird until Iona this year, more than 50 years ago!
I will be back on Mallorca on Sunday and out birding Monday.
My yearlist is pitiful.
Enjoy those birds!
Mike

 

[southernsteve]

Spent this morning at Cap Blanc in search of Blue Rock Thrush and I wasn't disappointed. As soon as I arrived I found a pair up on a couple of old telegraph poles, plus a couple more on the cliff and possibly another single male by the main path to the lighthouse. I spent ages trying to get a decent photo then one by the cliff decided to pose nicely for me and kept coming back for more. Other birds seen were Thekla's Lark, Tawney Pipit, Hoopoe, Peregrine, Yellow-legged Gull, Shag, Serin, Linnet, Greenfinch, Med Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler and I heard at least one Turtle Dove but couldn't locate it and a Nightingale.

 

[derban]

There's not much on the moths (I've been working on the moth fauna for years) but there is a book on the moths of Spain, which covers a lot of the Balearic specie,as there's also a small guide to the butterflies. produced locally. I'd give you the details but I'm stuck in hospital here.

Sorry to hear that honeym. Get well soon! And thanks for the info of course!

 

[derban]

When my wife said yesterday morning, "How about a trip to the plains near Maria? You could do some birding and I could paint...", it would have been rude to say no. And I am very glad I didn't. As soon as we got out of the car, I saw a distant bird on the power lines. My scope revealed it was a roller, a rare sighting for me! It didn't wait for me to get the camera from the car boot though. And over the next two hours, I was continuously entertained by a succession of raptors including black kite, booted eagle, 4 Eleonora's falcon, black vulture and more red kite than you could shake a stick at! Despite the oppressive heat a lovely morning. The picture turned out well too!