Mallorca 2024 (3 Viewers)

[Mike Montier]

Vultures wander around the Island quite a bit.
They often appear on the central plain and I’ve even seen one in Porto Petro.
With Phil Garnett, we logged 37 mixed vultures at Salobrar do Campos, so I guess they can be seen anywhere.
The best views I’ve ever had were ar Ternelles with StewB.
As you say though, the mountains are their preferred habitat.
Always jaw-dropping to see, they never fail to impress.
Mike

 

[chris chapleo]

apologies , but another request for a bit of info please- is Mortix still 'the' place for Bonellis Eagle in the North of the Island - used to see them there fairly reliably, but when I last went couple of years ago had no joy. Any advice very welcome as its always a treat to see a Bonelli's.

 

[Geordie Dave]

Chris, it seems to have been a good year for Bonellis Eagle; at least it has been for me. I’ve seen singles at Ternelles, Albercutx, Cuber, Maria de la Salut and Salobrar de Campos. The most reliable spot seems to be at Mortix where I’ve seen either singles or adult+ immature on each of 5 or 6 visits this year, most recently in July. My photos are from January. Good luck.

 

[chris chapleo]

Chris, it seems to have been a good year for Bonellis Eagle; at least it has been for me. I’ve seen singles at Ternelles, Albercutx, Cuber, Maria de la Salut and Salobrar de Campos. The most reliable spot seems to be at Mortix where I’ve seen either singles or adult+ immature on each of 5 or 6 visits this year, most recently in July. My photos are from January. Good luck.

thanks Dave - and great shots of an iconic bird

 

[mike puxley]

Note that 3 long-tailed tits were reported South-East of Lluc today on eBird. These seem to be the most northerly, by some margin, ever reported on that platform. Wonder if there has been a change in their distribution and status over the years? Guess that most visiting birders don’t get this species on their holiday list, (me included)!

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Mike
A bit contentious because I have seen Long-tailed tits away from their known habitats.
Torrent de Santa Ponça is where I’ve mostly seen them. There are records from Parc Bit, near the University and recently in Bunyola.
My friend has them in his garden occasionally and he lives in Bunyola.
None have been report from the south of the Island except that I had one wintering in my garden.
It was treated with a lot of suspicion but I do know a Long-tailed tit when I see one.
So did my dad who pointed it out to me.
It stayed most of the winter.
As with nearly all birds, pretty much any species can turn up in unusual habitats, and that must be taken into account.
Just because a species has never been seen in a particular area before, doesn’t mean it isn’t one!
I’ve had a few other examples over the years. Some birders are very set in their ways, ie it can’t be one because they’ve never been seen there before.
I could write a long list but I have largely got over my records being viewed as erroneous.
Caspian terns from my local lighthouse (since been photographed), Common terns in the south, I had ten in my local port, 32 Black kite, they never migrate in big numbers, it was rejected. A couple of years ago over 100 were seen and photographed here.
I could go on.
Let’s try to keep open minds and not get stuck in our ways.
It’s not all birders of course.
My Jackdaw was said to be a Blackbird.
Don’t even mention the Great-spotted cuckoo that flew past my balcony.
We won’t mention migrating Booted eagles either.
I’ve just realised I haven’t got over it at all.
It’s annoying.
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

I’m arriving back in Mallorca on Wednesday 21st August. Staying at my place in Port de Pollenca for 3 weeks. Hoping that the rain storms have passed but left plenty of birds behind. I’ve been looking at my notes from this time last year when I added only 6 to my Big Year. 3 of which I’ve already seen this year leaving only Caspian Tern, Pectoral Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover. The first 2 are possibles but the last one highly unlikely. Delighted to have seen the bird with a missing foot that stayed around Albufera well in to September 2023 giving such excellent views. Looking forward to meeting any birders that are around. I’ll be out most days and with wader passage underway you just never know what might turn up.

 

[chris chapleo]

Can anyone advise on the parking situation at Mortix please ? - went there 0800 today but where I always used to park alongside a big wall on the left (about 250m down the track) , there are now ominous no parking signs with a tow-away picture! I don't know if they follow through on this but as a result parked where I had a view and mostly scanned from near the car, which was a bit frustrating as its a lovely walk

I was also scuppered by heavy low cloud most of the time - despite this there was quite a lot of raptor action, with 10+ Black Vulture, 6 Griffon, 3 Booted Eagle, 2 Red Kite, and a Marsh Harrier. Also several nightingales around. No sign of Bonelli's but had to leave at 10am

Hope to try again in remaining few days but wonder if I can park at the Wine Bodega ( the gate was open) and buy bottle or 2 on my return?
Thank you
Chris

 

[C R White]

A quick update on what I've seen over the last few days, On Tuesday a Eleonora's Falcon was hunting Swallows as they streamed through over Son Real and later another one was over C'an Picafort. On Wednesday a Osprey flew south over C'an Picafort and in the evening 2 flocks of Oystercatchers c20 in each group flew north past C'an Picafort. Have visited the Depruadora De S'illot a few times in the last couple of days, not much of note really just the usual suspects.
This morning I went for the Southern Grey Shrike near Villafranca, thanks to those who have posted directions for this bird. I had the family in tow so knew I couldn't stay long, after an anxious ten minute wait it popped up on one of the Fig trees. Not great a pic as the heat haze was pretty bad. I Checked the Kestrels out one looked OK for a female Lesser but not sure. I scanned the horizon to the North and I was surprised to see 3 Black Vultures thermaling in the distance and I scanned a bit more I was amazed to see around 50 BOP thermaling, they were to distant to identify but was an amazing sight
Chris

 

[Mike Montier]

Crikey Chris (White)
I’m wondering what those raptors could have been. Very rarely do we get large flocks coming through, although I did mention Black kite in a recent post.
I would love to know but I’m very frustrated not to be able to get to Cap de Ses Salines until Tuesday. I have family here until then.
So glad you saw the Shrike.
Chis C. Yes, I always buy a couple of bottles of wine and then ask if I can leave my car there. They always say yes.
Good birding everyone. I have been looking back on old records and I see that I had a marvelous day at the Cap on tomorrow’s date four years ago. I just hope they hold off until Tuesday.
Mike

 

[StewB]

Can anyone advise on the parking situation at Mortix please ? - went there 0800 today but where I always used to park alongside a big wall on the left (about 250m down the track) , there are now ominous no parking signs with a tow-away picture! I don't know if they follow through on this but as a result parked where I had a view and mostly scanned from near the car, which was a bit frustrating as its a lovely walk

I was also scuppered by heavy low cloud most of the time - despite this there was quite a lot of raptor action, with 10+ Black Vulture, 6 Griffon, 3 Booted Eagle, 2 Red Kite, and a Marsh Harrier. Also several nightingales around. No sign of Bonelli's but had to leave at 10am

Hope to try again in remaining few days but wonder if I can park at the Wine Bodega ( the gate was open) and buy bottle or 2 on my return?
Thank you
Chris

There’s just the one legit parking slot by the pedestrian steps on the entrance apron - take it if it’s available! Failing that there’s space for a few cars on the roadside on the left as you drive uphill, a couple of hundred metres or so before the entrance. As Mike says, the winery seem happy to let visitors park if they purchase a bottle or two (never done it myself).

Stew

 

[chris chapleo]

Thanks all for advice on Mortix - appreciated! - last two days bit quieter bird-wise ( family stuff taken over) but enjoyable to watch 2 Eleanoras over Llenaire for a while, plus quick visit to Albufereta tower I had at least 10 Purple Herons ( they seem to be all over the place there) , 5 Stone Curlews, 3 Night Heron, 1 greater flamingo, 1 Greenshank and a few BW Stilts ....water levels seem too high for many waders

Chris

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Hi Chris,(White)
Any chance the large flock were Ravens..I have seen over 70 once there...

 

[chris chapleo]

Out to Son Real early today - at least 10 Hoopoes, 4 Turtle Doves, 2 Stone Curlews , 3 Woodchat Shrikes and Nightingales giving that 'croaking' call all over the place. After dropped in to Marinsany ( apologies if not spelt right - but the marsh behind Lidl) and where best were an obliging Squacco Heron, 3 Green Sand and a Wood Sand. Also a plain Tiger butterfly - assume quite common but I can't recall seeing them before.

Driving out of Pto Pollensa at first light had what could only be a Pine Marten run across the road in front of me - I know they are here as saw one a few years back, but good to see, albeit fleetingly.

Im off to Palma for few days tomorrow - staying well east of the City on the coast - Im not expecting much bird-wise but hope to be proved wrong! ....will keep 'em peeled anyway

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Chris
Plain tiger are not that common, every year is different but I rarely see more than one or two during the year.
Ditto Pine Marten, I have only seen three in twenty years, so definitely newsworthy.
Good luck in Palma.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Chris,the other one, try the Cathedral for breeding Peregrine

 

[Geordie Dave]

Hi Chris
Plain tiger are not that common, every year is different but I rarely see more than one or two during the year.
Ditto Pine Marten, I have only seen three in twenty years, so definitely newsworthy.
Good luck in Palma.
Mike

Mike, speaking of pine marten here’s one in Albufera in January this year; around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. It came very close on the Columbars footpath and generally seemed unconcerned about us. Having left the the path in front of us to go in to the undergrowth it reappeared onto the path again about 50 yards beyond us and continued on its way. The warden at the information centre said they are breeding there. Only my second ever on the the island, the other being early morning at the Boquer Valley.

 

[Jonny Holliday]

Mike, speaking of pine marten here’s one in Albufera in January this year; around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. It came very close on the Columbars footpath and generally seemed unconcerned about us. Having left the the path in front of us to go in to the undergrowth it reappeared onto the path again about 50 yards beyond us and continued on its way. The warden at the information centre said they are breeding there. Only my second ever on the the island, the other being early morning at the Boquer Valley.

Visited about a dozen times and i had no idea there were Pine Martin on the island!!! another target for next years trip!

 

[Ian Pollença]

Ref: Pine Martin
Twice last year and once this year I nearly ran over Pine Martin always at early dawn driving south out of Pollença. They have this strange bounding walk/run. And got a great view of one in front of the hide at Son Real 3 weeks ago at midday.

 

[C R White]

Hi Chris,(White)
Any chance the large flock were Ravens..I have seen over 70 once there...

They could of been Raven, they were very distant and only had bins and camera