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Mallorca 2024 (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mike Montier
- Start date
Mike Montier
Well-known member
A few Oystercatchers have been seen. Looking back on this time last year, I saw a few on the move, so it’s a good time to catch up with this fairly scarce species.
Also, a few years ago on this date, I saw a huge number of raptors in Llombards, no doubt on their way to the Cap.
I’m going there in the morning, hoping to log the first migrant raptor leaving the Island for Africa.
The recent couple of Black kite at passatge 5 may not have been migrants as I very often see one or two at this site at various times throughout the year.
Being at the lighthouse leaves no doubt that the birds are genuine migrants.
I can’t think of many better birding sights that to witness kites, buzzards, falcons, eagles and harriers departing overhead. It’s just so exciting to see raptors approaching from afar, appearing as small black dots, and to then see all revealed as the birds come within identifiable distance.
It’s magic.
I doubt there will be much happening tomorrow, it’s far too early, but I’m impatient and besides, I can’t think of many other places I’d rather be.
Mike
Also, a few years ago on this date, I saw a huge number of raptors in Llombards, no doubt on their way to the Cap.
I’m going there in the morning, hoping to log the first migrant raptor leaving the Island for Africa.
The recent couple of Black kite at passatge 5 may not have been migrants as I very often see one or two at this site at various times throughout the year.
Being at the lighthouse leaves no doubt that the birds are genuine migrants.
I can’t think of many better birding sights that to witness kites, buzzards, falcons, eagles and harriers departing overhead. It’s just so exciting to see raptors approaching from afar, appearing as small black dots, and to then see all revealed as the birds come within identifiable distance.
It’s magic.
I doubt there will be much happening tomorrow, it’s far too early, but I’m impatient and besides, I can’t think of many other places I’d rather be.
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I just got news of 44 Oystercatchers seen at s’Albufera, an unprecedented number…although I do remember a British birder sending in a photo of around 50 in flight.
Mike
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
and a lot of movement today including common waders, Whiskered and Gull-billed tern and some young flamingoes, possibly having bred again at s’Albufera.
I’m waiting to meet up with a local to get confirmation.
Maybe I will see something at the Cap tomorrow after all.
Mike
I’m waiting to meet up with a local to get confirmation.
Maybe I will see something at the Cap tomorrow after all.
Mike
derban
Well-known member
Fingers crossed for the Cape, Mike!
I agree with peregrine on this one.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I got to the Cap nice and early and was surprised Mrs Montier wanted to come too.
I brought a chair and she read a book.
Five Turtle doves were along the approach road and I paused at passatge 5 in the hopes of seeing Rock sparrow. A group of sparrows hurriedly left the scene upon my arrival so I will never know.
There were quite a few Scopoli’s shearwaters loafing around on the water which was unusually calm. I counted 49.
Due to the increasing heat and the paucity of birds, we moved up to the famous wall, so named by my good self as I used to write for the Daly Bulletin and one article had the headline “The Wall of Fame” which is all I could think of at the time.
The name has stuck, El Muro de la Fama”, so if I get remembered for nothing else, it will be this spot.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours there, often seeing nothing at all.
Not so today, two Bonelli’s eagles were immediately on view, as were four Common kestrel and two Eleonora’s falcons.
Four kestrels began to dive-bomb the Eagle but it looked unperturbed. It simply closed its wings, and plunged downwards, thus avoiding the pesky little falcons.
Bonelli’s eagles are fantastically agile in the air, a wonderful sight when they get frisky.
Two Stone curlews flew past in a hurry and five or six Woodchats of varying age kept close company.
Mike
I brought a chair and she read a book.
Five Turtle doves were along the approach road and I paused at passatge 5 in the hopes of seeing Rock sparrow. A group of sparrows hurriedly left the scene upon my arrival so I will never know.
There were quite a few Scopoli’s shearwaters loafing around on the water which was unusually calm. I counted 49.
Due to the increasing heat and the paucity of birds, we moved up to the famous wall, so named by my good self as I used to write for the Daly Bulletin and one article had the headline “The Wall of Fame” which is all I could think of at the time.
The name has stuck, El Muro de la Fama”, so if I get remembered for nothing else, it will be this spot.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours there, often seeing nothing at all.
Not so today, two Bonelli’s eagles were immediately on view, as were four Common kestrel and two Eleonora’s falcons.
Four kestrels began to dive-bomb the Eagle but it looked unperturbed. It simply closed its wings, and plunged downwards, thus avoiding the pesky little falcons.
Bonelli’s eagles are fantastically agile in the air, a wonderful sight when they get frisky.
Two Stone curlews flew past in a hurry and five or six Woodchats of varying age kept close company.
Mike
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Mike Montier
Well-known member
Driving down the narrow road to Es Trenc beach in August is challenging to say the least.
So we went really early.
There were still a few maniacs at that time though, it seems impossible to avoid them. People go to the beach at all times.
I stopped on the approach road and I could see good numbers of waders, notably;
Dunlin, Curlew sandpiper, Little stint plus the usual hundreds of Avocet, Black-winged stilt and Greater flamingo.
It’s a beautiful sight early in the morning.
We even went to the beach for old times sake. We took the kids there most days in the 1980’s.
Not much has changed except the entrance fee, a whopping 8 euros.
Still, it was nice to sit there for a while and remember swimming with the kids in the waves.
After this time of reflection, we then had to run the gauntlet by going back up the road, whilst the whole of Mallorca was coming down.
Not for the feint hearted.
My car bears the battle scars to tell the story.
Next time I’m buying a tractor.
Mike
So we went really early.
There were still a few maniacs at that time though, it seems impossible to avoid them. People go to the beach at all times.
I stopped on the approach road and I could see good numbers of waders, notably;
Dunlin, Curlew sandpiper, Little stint plus the usual hundreds of Avocet, Black-winged stilt and Greater flamingo.
It’s a beautiful sight early in the morning.
We even went to the beach for old times sake. We took the kids there most days in the 1980’s.
Not much has changed except the entrance fee, a whopping 8 euros.
Still, it was nice to sit there for a while and remember swimming with the kids in the waves.
After this time of reflection, we then had to run the gauntlet by going back up the road, whilst the whole of Mallorca was coming down.
Not for the feint hearted.
My car bears the battle scars to tell the story.
Next time I’m buying a tractor.
Mike
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Mike Montier
Well-known member
My goodness, the Iberian grey shrike, lanius meridionalis, has returned to Vilafranca for the 5th year in succession.
I guess is quite early back too.
Thanks to Jason for reporting it, along with a second year male Montagu’s harrier, a Lesser kestrel and the usual huge numbers of Corn bunting, House sparrows and Greenfinch.
It’s one of my favourite places and it has turned up a fair share of great birds over the years.
I’m meeting a visiting birder tomorrow to go to the salt pans so I will report then.
It’s always a pleasure to meet up with birders from around the world, we all have our stories to share.
If only all those squabbling people around the globe would take up birding. It cuts across all boundaries and brings people together in mutual passion for nature.
When I visited Florida, I received many offers of being picked up and taken birding for the day, with all their experience and local knowledge given for free.
How fantastic is that then?
Mike
I guess is quite early back too.
Thanks to Jason for reporting it, along with a second year male Montagu’s harrier, a Lesser kestrel and the usual huge numbers of Corn bunting, House sparrows and Greenfinch.
It’s one of my favourite places and it has turned up a fair share of great birds over the years.
I’m meeting a visiting birder tomorrow to go to the salt pans so I will report then.
It’s always a pleasure to meet up with birders from around the world, we all have our stories to share.
If only all those squabbling people around the globe would take up birding. It cuts across all boundaries and brings people together in mutual passion for nature.
When I visited Florida, I received many offers of being picked up and taken birding for the day, with all their experience and local knowledge given for free.
How fantastic is that then?
Mike
Hi Mike, I posted the pics of the flock of Oystercatchers on here a couple of years ago. I was staying in C'an Picafort and the birds were seen from the hotel balcony flying north across Alcudia bay. I saw large flocks of Oystercatchers most evenings always heading north, not sure if they were migrating or just heading to their night time roost?
I'm flying out to Mallorca this Saturday for 2 weeks staying at the same hotel so will keep you posted if I see any flocks moving through.
Chris.
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Thank you Chris.
I’ve still got your photo on file. Looks like around 50, certainly the largest flock that I remember.
Good luck this time too.
Keep in touch. All news will go onto this thread.
Mike
I’ve still got your photo on file. Looks like around 50, certainly the largest flock that I remember.
Good luck this time too.
Keep in touch. All news will go onto this thread.
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
I duly met up with a visitor and we slogged down the Camino de Sa Barrala in the midday sun.
Only mad dogs and Englishmen comes to mind.
It was very entertaining and educational and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole morning.
It would have been a paradise for wader buffs, bit of a nightmare for me.
I think I got most of them right but a few tricky ones are still puzzling me.
Anyone is very welcome to comment.
It’s all fun and getting things wrong doesn’t bother me anymore.
One came up as a Baird’s sandpiper on Merlin but I have learnt to question some of the results. Especially that one, but Baird’s has occurred here.
There were many Dunlin, Wood sandpipers, Little stint, a possible Temminck’s stint, Curlew sandpiper and Greenshank.
A possible Slender-billed gull was around and the flamingoes in flight were a constant delight.
A Gull-billed tern flew over but raptors were virtually absent.
Mike
Only mad dogs and Englishmen comes to mind.
It was very entertaining and educational and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole morning.
It would have been a paradise for wader buffs, bit of a nightmare for me.
I think I got most of them right but a few tricky ones are still puzzling me.
Anyone is very welcome to comment.
It’s all fun and getting things wrong doesn’t bother me anymore.
One came up as a Baird’s sandpiper on Merlin but I have learnt to question some of the results. Especially that one, but Baird’s has occurred here.
There were many Dunlin, Wood sandpipers, Little stint, a possible Temminck’s stint, Curlew sandpiper and Greenshank.
A possible Slender-billed gull was around and the flamingoes in flight were a constant delight.
A Gull-billed tern flew over but raptors were virtually absent.
Mike
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Mike Montier
Well-known member
I’ve got lots more photos but I’m still going through them.
derban
Well-known member
If all is well here, we will be back in about three weeks, so fingers crossed that some of those waders will still be there.
chris chapleo
Well-known member
As ever been checking the thread with interest - thank you all( especially Mike ) as it keeps me connected - I will be back in Northern Mallorca for 10 days from Monday 12th, so very much looking forward to that. Will mostly bird from Pollenca area & in mountains , but do fancy a visit somewhere else (central plain area maybe?) - if anyone else fancies meeting up that would be good but Im sure I'll run into a few of you in any event !
Mike Montier
Well-known member
A Kingfisher has returned to my local village of Porto Petro, a very smart summer plumage Grey plover appeared at Albufera together with an Oystercatcher and the Iberian shrike at Vilafranca is posing for photos with a lovely pink wash.
Mike
Mike
Mike Montier
Well-known member
Hi Chris
Kevin and I are going to the plains of Vilafranca (Pla de Lanzell) on Sunday to see the shrike and hopefully a Montagu’s harrier or two.
Maybe some other raptors will pass through.
Not sure of your travel arrangements but I just thought I’d let you know.
Good birding.
Mike
Kevin and I are going to the plains of Vilafranca (Pla de Lanzell) on Sunday to see the shrike and hopefully a Montagu’s harrier or two.
Maybe some other raptors will pass through.
Not sure of your travel arrangements but I just thought I’d let you know.
Good birding.
Mike
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Mike Montier
Well-known member
A really excellent morning at Vilafranca de Bonany with Kevin.
I have never known the mist to be so thick, so much so that I had to stop the car for a while.
It was so bad I couldn’t even see the turn off to the depuradora.
I eventually made it to our favourite spot but I had to wait a while, not only for the mist to clear, but as it was 06.30, it was still dark.
Eventually, in the gloom, I could just make out the shrike and what a beauty it is.
Incredible that this is its fifth year in succession of entertaining us birders who trickle by most days to see this lovely shrike, still sporting a pinkish wash to the breast.
There were lots of Barn swallows, heaps of Short-toed larks and a fair smattering of raptors in the air. Red kite, Kestrel and Booted eagle, both light and dark morph. Also a very rufous looking example.
We wandered down to the depuradora and saw Starlings, Corn bunting, Linnets, Hoopoe, Stonechat, Goldfinches, Cattle egrets and others which I failed to write in my notebook.
We exchanged stories until it got too hot.
As I waved Kevin away, I saw three kestrels, one looking good for a Lesser kestrel but I turned away and headed for home.
I just didn’t have the heart to make it certain as it was one of the species we were hoping for.
Thanks Kevin for a great morning, it was a lot of fun.
Mike@
I have never known the mist to be so thick, so much so that I had to stop the car for a while.
It was so bad I couldn’t even see the turn off to the depuradora.
I eventually made it to our favourite spot but I had to wait a while, not only for the mist to clear, but as it was 06.30, it was still dark.
Eventually, in the gloom, I could just make out the shrike and what a beauty it is.
Incredible that this is its fifth year in succession of entertaining us birders who trickle by most days to see this lovely shrike, still sporting a pinkish wash to the breast.
There were lots of Barn swallows, heaps of Short-toed larks and a fair smattering of raptors in the air. Red kite, Kestrel and Booted eagle, both light and dark morph. Also a very rufous looking example.
We wandered down to the depuradora and saw Starlings, Corn bunting, Linnets, Hoopoe, Stonechat, Goldfinches, Cattle egrets and others which I failed to write in my notebook.
We exchanged stories until it got too hot.
As I waved Kevin away, I saw three kestrels, one looking good for a Lesser kestrel but I turned away and headed for home.
I just didn’t have the heart to make it certain as it was one of the species we were hoping for.
Thanks Kevin for a great morning, it was a lot of fun.
Mike@
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chris chapleo
Well-known member
Thanks Mike - glad you did well. I only arrive tomorrow 12th but will update on the forum one I start getting out among the wildlife !
