Mallorca 2024 (5 Viewers)

[Matthebirder]

24 June; Son Real update.... just had a close fly past of a Two - tailed Pasha just above the Refuge. Heading very fast towards the sea so I will 'run' back down.....
I still a litre of water as I work to 300ml/hr!
At least I can now buy a proper bottle of wine instead of the house red.

 

[Mike Montier]

I called in at the wetlands, Magaluf today.
I immediately heard a Reed warbler, not quite in full song. It was very close but it just would not show itself.
Merlin also came up with Moustached warbler but I couldn’t hear it well enough with all the din from passing lorries. I’m not sure they have occurred at this site but I will look it up.
Also, Western swamp hen, Booted eagle, Zitting cisticola and a Pallid swift over.
It seems rather over-grown and neglected at the moment so I hope this nice reserve gets some well-deserved attention,
For any Mallorca listers who may still need Long-tailed tit, the torrent at Santa Ponça seems the most reliable site.
I have certainly seen them there a couple of times.
There was a report and photo of 3 birds seen there today.
Also reported were at least two Honey buzzard, seen at different places today.
There are occasional birds summering here, as reported last year.
Some returning waders have also been reported at S’Albufera, together with high numbers of Gull-billed terns, so my recent prediction seemed bang on time. Makes a change.
Mike

 

[Matthebirder]

Further to above from Son Real; no further Two-tailed Pasha. A lot of Mediterranean Flycatchers and several Woodchat Shrikes
Late afternoon at the Depeodora treatment platform; 1 or 2 Gull billed Terns and a Green Sandpiper ( saw 2 few days ago)

 

[Matthebirder]

25 June - mid-day Dragonfly news; a perfect day for dragonflies.
Finally seeing Black Pennants; five or more males at Sa Font sluice; proving to be difficult to approach with the macro lens; the 400mm with 2x has been handy.
Also another Small Red Damselfly just along the main path from the sluice.
Lunch break over and will have another go.

 

[Matthebirder]

25 Jun cont'd
Another Black Pennant seen just between car park and Amarador platform and probably the same two Small Red Damsels near the gate/cattle grid just past the platform. A number of darters to identify still ; probably Red-veined and Common; will need to wait for the computer screen.
Three Bee-eaters by the platform this evening.

 

[Geordie Dave]

Having arrived back yesterday afternoon today was a quiet birding day around Pollenca bay. Starting at Albufereta then on to Can Cuarrasa followed by a walk through the woods at Cala San Vicenc then the track at Cases de Gotmar before a couple of pints at Rosa Blanca. Albufereta was very quiet but around 50 flamingo were nice to see. Sa Barcassa pond was occupied by Common Terns, Black Winged Stilts and Kentish Plover all feeding young. Two Purple Heron flew by together low over the water and there were at least 8 Stone Curlew at the back of the pond. At Can Cuarassa there are 2 or 3 fledging kestrels in a box being fed by both adults. No sign of Spotless Starlings or indeed anything else. On arriving at Cala San Vicenc we found 2 Wryneck almost immediately and heard others calling the woods. One bird was particularly active and vocal and flew between the same three trees over our heads, often quite low, for half an hour before we decided to leave it in peace. A single Raven and a Firecrest were the only other birds of note. On the walk along the track at Cases de Gotmar it was nice to see Mediterranean Flycatchers, Greenfinch and Stone Chats all feeding young. 28° and bright sunshine all day; it is a delight to be back.

 

[Matthebirder]

26 June; a day in the mountains above Pollenca; as no cars were parked in the entrance to Mortitx managed to park the Panda 'safely' by the trail entrance which kind of looks like an official parking space(?). As soon as walked down to the vineyard a couple of very low Black Vultures struggled their way through the tree tops. I was happy to briefly see two Cirl Buntings along the stretch before the wooden gates; Cirl Buntings are very much reduced since my early years when you would see them in good numbers in the north and always in the Boquer terraces.
A Blue Rockthrush was my first this trip!
Most of my time was spent chasing Monarchs ; estimated five; the best area was the rough weedy Euphorbia on the right walking along by the vines on your left. Many Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow and couple of Lang's Short-tailed Blues ; a Norfolk Hawker and a few Lesser Emperor & Emperor seen.
A bottle of red was purchased from the shop before remembering I didn't have a cork-screw!!
On to Lluc Monastery for coffee and cake but first watched a few dozen mixed vultures along the ridge viewed from the top of the car park. Mediterranean Flycatchers everywhere (both sites)
Cork-screw sourced eventually....

 

[Geordie Dave]

I met Mike M this morning for 3 hours wandering the lanes at the beautiful Maria de la Salut area. We met first for coffee at the sports centre cafe and enjoyed the company of the many locals having hearty breakfasts accompanied by a selection of beers, wines and spirits. We always appreciate this start to the day. Immediately on getting out of the car on the lanes we saw a dozen or more kestrels, up to 8 red kites, booted eagles and both black and griffon vultures. Mike took photos of several kestrels 6 of which proved to be Lesser. We heard quail calling without ever being able to see any. After about half an hour and with our “eye in” in terms of size, jizz etc we saw a very large raptor but only with brief views of less than a minute. Long tail and clearly different to anything else we had seen. We were both struck by its long, slow and very deep wing beats; almost, but not quite, vulture size. We lost it from view over a derelict house, not to be seen again. We both agreed it showed golden eagle characteristics but just couldn’t be sure. I haven’t seen the Mallorca eagle for just over a year now and wonder what might have become of it? Leaving Mike I headed to the Depuradora but first I called in at the horse paddocks behind the Son Bosc road. This has proven to be a reliable site for bee eaters and today was no exception with 4 flying and calling over the fields. I saw 2 more on the drive down the Son Bosc road. The Depuradora itself was quiet. Common and Green Sandpipers together with shelducks and many young on the near pond being the only birds of note. After almost 5 hours in the field and with temperatures in the low 30’s it was time to call it a day. You can probably guess what happened next? Back to the local bar and the chance to take on fluids!! Great company, great birding in one of my favourite parts of the island. Thanks Mike, it’s always a pleasure to spend a day out with you.

 

[Matthebirder]

27 June; late morning at top of Boquer Valley. Two male Balearic Warblers duetting on left slope before you drop down to the beach. Seeing them is a different matter....

 

[Hugh Ouston]

A day at Albufera yesterday by bus and bike, always a comfortable way to get around. It was quiet from both the human and bird angles, with the main activity of the latter being raising chicks. Highlights included a gull-billed tern at Cibollar 2,a flamingo right below the hide at Cibollar 1, some Swamphen racing at Sa Roca, a squeal of Water Rail, a quick flash of little bittern (chocolate and caramel) into the reeds below the mound. Just one harrier. Most interesting from the platform up the main canal was a huge creche of flamingo chicks in the distance. I counted about 80. I gather they only bred 2 years ago (2 chicks) and last year (40 chicks) and the increased salinity of the north part of the reserve is why they are doing well (and accounts for their ubiquity).
I have been on the island for 2 weeks but only sporadically birding - more highlights to follow. Here are some photos.

 

[Hugh Ouston]

As promised a few updates (with apologies for lateness)
Albufereta 15/6: the usual terns, flamingos, a family of avocets and of kentish plovers.
Sa Cuirassa 20/6: not much action but good views of linnets and yellow wagtails; didn't check for the spotless ones...
Son Real hide 21/6: plenty of drinking passerines but mostly immatures including crossbill and corn bunting (?identification - see photo). Heat, pine needles and a turtle dove crooning...mediterranean midsummer!
Maria 22/6: the combines were hard at work and being followed by lots of cattle egrets (one of which had dipped itself in something black - see photo) and kestrels. A gang of 8 kites and 2 booted eagles (one pale one dark) managed to rise from the ridge and vanish vertically in 5 minutes. One pair of lesser kestrels. Quite a few marsh harriers (including one pale one - see photo) which is why they are not seen so much in the reed beds just now?
Depuradora 23/6: just some marbled duck. But by the substation on the road got a lovely tawny pipit, and then a wonderful bee-eater ballet over the meadow on the left - 8 or 10 with the dark clouds over the Sierra behind. Mesmerising (but so hard to photograph, though I like the one which has just spotted a bee above it...).
And back in Gotmar, the barn owl every night, and our dancing flycatchers...
So my list continues to traipse along, but with joy and pleasure all the way - always enhanced by reading the forum...

 

[Matthebirder]

I spent around six hours up the Boquer in the end, luckily I had over stocked the fluids just in case; the Balearic Warblers faded away so just one flight view; more frustrating were my attempts to photograph the Striped Graylings in the vicinity of the warblers; quite a few but only active for less than two hours at midday. My first encounter with these and they definitely run once landed! They match the warblers for being very unapproachable too.

Very good accounts Hugh; if you had been 100% birding you would have a very big list; I must have overlooked the Flamingo creche in my dashing about after insects, I will have a look Friday morning as still need some better shots of the Goblet-marked Damsel as they haven't been as common as I had expected. I think I saw your very dark Cattle Egret from Amarador platform a couple of days ago ; it was flying in a small group but distantly; I had to quickly rule out a 'pond heron' type.....

 

[Matthebirder]

28 June ; missed the early edition tonight due to packing for return Sat night, full day around the Albufera; managed to see the Flamingo creche ; from the platform Sa Punta des Vents deck, scope and tripod ideally. I carried on walking to Can Blau bridges and glad I didn't go further as it was a long way from the carpark at English Bridge. No evidence if Goblet-shaped Damselfly in all the various viewing places ; i thought I had identified one on the first day at Albufera; but will withdraw this unless I can find a photo. Two different little bitterns and several squacco.
Last look at the Water treatment works ; Bee-eaters flying around.

 

[Matthebirder]

28 June ; missed the early edition tonight due to packing for return Sat night, full day around the Albufera; managed to see the Flamingo creche ; from the platform Sa Punta des Vents deck, scope and tripod ideally. I carried on walking to Can Blau bridges and glad I didn't go further as it was a long way from the carpark at English Bridge. No evidence if Goblet-shaped Damselfly in all the various viewing places ; i thought I had identified one on the first day at Albufera; but will withdraw this unless I can find a photo. Two different little bitterns and several squacco.
Last look at the Water treatment works ; Bee-eaters flying around.

Correction to name: Goblet-marked Damselfly....

 

[Matthebirder]

Correction to name: Goblet-marked Damselfly....

Forgot to mention the Great Crested Grebe for the keen listers; on some deeper water near the Flamingo creche;

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks for all your comprehensive reports Matthebirder and for keeping us up-to-date with the latest news.
Sounds like you had a great time.
Safe trip home.
All the best.
Mike

 

[Matthebirder]

Thanks Mike; I am spinning it out still today, finally managed to visit the Maristany site: I think the time we called it Tucan Marsh; seem to remember seeing a Red-necked Grebe here in around 1984 which would have been the last time I looked here; have obviously been driving past a real gem in the recent years. More Great Crested Grebes here!!

 

[Matthebirder]

At Maristany still ; a Plain Tiger has just flown through ; was hoping I might find one of these! shame it was too fast for me to get the lens out.....

 

[Matthebirder]

The 'Tiger' is still present but very difficult to 'catch'...

 

[Matthebirder]

Maristany; final score. Managed some flight shots of the Plain Tiger on the edge of the mown grass in front of the houses.

More of a surprise was finding 2 Goblet-marked Damselflies right by where I had parked in the corner near the first house. They were holding territories and interacting with the many Small Red-eyed Damsels
There was also Little Bittern in the same spot.

Well worth holding onto the Panda today having checked out the room at the Pollensa Park this morning.
May have a few more items to add once home and sorted out the photo files;
Otherwise back in September.