Mallorca 2024 (11 Viewers)

[Kendalbirder]

Llenaire: 07.00 - 09.00
61 Cattle Egret in with the jangling sheep,
Single juv Woodchat, 2 showy Wryneck with one in good voice.
Couple of sub singing Nightingale, and a single Willow Warbler.
4 Firecrest and a juv Crossbill were in pines on the way back into the port.

 

[Mike Montier]

I’ve always said I’m too emotional to be a birder. When birds are around, I just can’t sleep, so I was up at 5am and on site by 6.
As soon as I alighted from the car, I was greeted by the ominous sound of those flaming mosquitoes. They were brutal, and despite blasting myself with every chemical known to man, they just wouldn’t leave me alone.
Having been away, I didn’t know what time it got light so I may have been a bit too keen.
It did mean that I got to hear 2 Nightjars churring at the Cap, followed at 07.10 by my first migrant raptor of the autumn, a Marsh harrier flew out to sea.
The magic of migration never fails to thrill.
2 Woodchats kept me company and a female Wheatear appeared and disappeared just as quickly.
There was absolutely nothing on the sea. It must be the first time that I have never seen a single shearwater.
2 Common swift flew over as did around 60 Barn swallows, all going East.
I then saw another Marsh harrier but got a shock when just behind it, I saw a huge flock of birds.
With my heart thumping, I quickly realised that they were Ravens, about 60 of them.
We are on red alert for storms today so I thought a few raptors would skidaddle before the rains came but it was not to be.
It was a fine morning though and good to be back here.
I did hear a strange bird calling which I didn’t recognize. I scanned everywhere but I couldn’t locate it.
After a few hours, I finally realised that the focus wheel on my binoculars had developed a squeak.
We live and learn.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

There seems to be some doubt about the reported Broad-billed sandpiper.
The waders are very distant and with heat haze, it can be quite difficult to be sure.
I remember discussing a juvenile Little stint, funnily enough with Phil, the finder of this bird, at Albufera a few years back. The bird had a bold lateral crown stripe and such a bird is at Bassa de Can Guidet, seen this morning by Pep and Pau.
Philip is a first-class birder and he is very rarely wrong so I’m loathe to suggest he made an error.
I have learnt a great deal from Phil. He has taught me to really study every bird, all the plumage details, bare part colouration and behavior.
Being a lot more hysterical than Phil, I tend to make lightening quick decisions which are often wrong.
It’s an extraordinary hobby. Having been a birder for over 60 years, I still have so much to learn.
Photo of a Broad-billed, seen in Mallorca a while back.
Mike

 

[StewB]

With my weather app forecasting storms around lunchtime I decided to spend the morning locally at sites where I could stay near the car.

I started at Cami Volantina, hoping to get my dragonfly list for this trip off to a good start. Sadly, yesterday’s storm had wreaked havoc. Much of the tall reeds along the stream have been flattened and the stream itself had clearly become a torrent during the deluge. All of the weeds in and along the stream have been stripped away leaving a lifeless brown water course. A rather forlorn looking Red-eared Slider was paddling around, but I didn’t see a single dragonfly.

I moved on to Maristany. Much better! The large pool, with its moonscape appearance, was carpeted with Little Egrets. I counted 217, but there were clearly more in some of the obscured parts of the pools. A single Greater Flamingo and the escaped Coscoroba Swan added a touch of the exotic, and wildfowl included Mallards, Gadwalls, Shoveller, a single Pochard and a Marbled Teal. There were several Common Sandpipers, 6+ Grey Herons and 2 Purple Herons. A dozen or so Lesser Emperors, two Scarlet Dragonflies and a female Red-veined Darter made up the dragonfly contingent, while a Plain Tiger butterfly played hard-to-get photography-wise.

My final stop was a return to the Sa Barcassa viewing screen. After yesterday’s success it seems to have become a wader-free zone, the only additional birds were six Corn Buntings on a dead bush off to the west and an Eleanora’s Falcon circling overhead and drifting west.

With the arrival of the rain I headed back for lunch!

Stew

 

[StewB]

With no rain in today’s forecast I headed to the Albufera this morning. On the walk in there were at least 8 Night Herons in the canal-side bushes, and several heard-but-not-seen birds included Water Rail, Kingfisher and Wren.

There were two Marbled Ducks at Sa Roca, as well as 20+ Teal (spooked by a Marsh Harrier - as were 6+ Snipe), two Purple Gallinules, and two Glossy Ibises. There were four Crested Coots on the channel on the walk round to the Gran Canal bridge, and Nightingale was another heard only bird.

There were 26 Flamingos from Es Cibollar I hide, five Great White Egrets in the distance and an Osprey on one of the poles. Es Cibollar II had much more in the way of waders. There were two Little Stints, two Dunlin, two Curlew Sandpipers, 3+ Greenshank and a Ruff.

Encouraged by this success I walked down to the Es Columbars hide. A hare (Iberian Hare?) was on the path to the hide. From the hide the waders included four Black-tailed Godwits, at least 20 spotted Redshanks and four Greenshanks. A Cormorant was drying-out on a post.

After the walk back to the car I drove round to the Depuradora. A stop at the Bus Garage revealed that the resident sparrows seem to have dispersed already, so no Tree Sparrow unfortunately. At the Dep there were a couple of Green Sandpipers and two or three Common Sandpipers. Four Bee Eaters were feeding from the dead bushes at the back of the pool below the viewing platform, and single Swift and Sand Martins joined the Swallows over the water. I believe it was Geordie Dave who reported the poor state of the water in the pools, and things remain pretty poor. With the exception of one of the middle pools, the water is a strange brownish colour and smells rather horrible. A few Coots and three Pochard were on the “clean” pool, but there was nothing at all on the other pools and not a single Dabchick was to be seen, which given that the Dep is usually Dabchick-central says a lot about the water condition.

Dragonflies today remained disappointing, with only single Black-tailed Skimmer and Red-veined Darters, although Lesser Emperors were much in evidence. I managed to identify a few Butterflies including Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Southern Common Blue and Meadow Brown.

Stew

 

[Kendalbirder]

Enjoyable afternoon walk this afternoon, starting past Llenaire, then along the back lane and finishing at Can Cuarassa.
4 Bee-eater flew inland just before the Llenaire Hotel got the ball rolling and a Red Kite was drifting round.
Along the back lane 32 Cattle Egret were in a small field with some sheep. A female type Golden Oriole was a bit of a surprise as it moved through some bushes by c'an valonti, with an Adult Woodchat nearby. A Swift moved through here and 2 willow Warbler along the road.
Can Cuarassa produced 14 Stone Curlew, 2 Green Sand and 2 Kingfisher were on the 'new' pool.
A Wheatear, juv Woodchat and a single Whinchat were along the track and 2 Marsh Harrier, Eleanoras Falcon and a Red Kite in the air.
Med Spotted Fly's and Kestrels seem to be everywhere.
Two tailed pasha, Plain Tiger and a Hummingbird hawk moth were also seen.
The life of a Majorcan sheep must be crap! No food, no water, little shade, and constant jangling of bells must drive them nuts!!!

 

[StewB]

This morning Mrs B dropped me at Son Real before she headed for a morning at Can Picafort. I wandered along trail 4, with four Hoopoes, calling Stone Curlews and elusive Nightingales in evidence before I reached the hide. At the hide there were Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Corn Buntings and a Linnet coming to drink. Four Turtle Doves were in the trees next to the hide and eventually one (a juvenile) came down to drink. There were crossbills in the trees as I left the hide, and nearby an adult Woodchat and a Red-legged Partridge were along a field edge.

As I emerged from the trees a Balearic Warbler called briefly. I managed to get a few glimpses as it crept through the scrub.

There were half a dozen Thekla Larks near the beach, and on the offshore rocks there were three shags and 17+ Audouin’s Gulls. One of the Audouin’s was ringed with a white ring bearing the code CUVX. Initial googling suggests that it’s from a Spanish project, but more follow-up needed!

As I walked along the beach to meet Mrs B for lunch in Can Picafort there were three Wheatears and a nice juvenile Woodchat. Butterflies included a Swallowtail and a Clouded Yellow.

Stew

 

[Geordie Dave]

Today has been a day I will never forget in my 6 years of coming to Mallorca. It began by me picking up Peter S and us heading to Maria de la Salut to meet Mike M and Phil G at our usual parking spot on the plains. It was 9am when we met and things were fairly quiet to begin with. There were dozens of kestrels around, some of which turned out to be lesser. We lost count of the number of red kites and reckoned that over the following 5 hours we had 40-50 sightings with a maximum of 8 in the air together at any time. Between about 10am and 11.30am the real action unfolded with up to 15 raptors together in the sky at any time. Even with 4 pairs of eyes between us we found it difficult to keep track of what was on view as one species after another came through. We were constantly finding new birds and directing each other on to them. A mad hour ensued with eagles, vultures and a collection of harriers all on view against a continuous backdrop of dozens of kites and kestrels. Things quietened down around 2pm and after 5 hours in the sun, at 32°, we retired to the sports bar for a cold beer and the chance to compare notes. Our tally for the morning was:- kestrel dozens, lesser kestrel 3-4 definite male, 8 griffon vultures together, 4 black vultures at the same time, dark and pale morph booted eagles ( counted as 1 species), 4 Bonellis eagles in view at the same time, 1 golden eagle being harassed by kites, too many red kites to be sure of numbers but often 8-10 in view together, numerous marsh harriers, 1 definite hen harrier ringtail with a second bird close by that we couldn’t be sure of, 2 montagus harriers 1 of which was a male in the air together at the same time as 10-15 other raptors, 1 Eleonoras falcon. In total well over 100 birds and 12 raptor species in one morning. Mike M has lived in the island for 17 years, Phil G has been visiting 6 times a year for 25 years. Neither has had more than 9 species in a day before. Today we saw 12. A truly remarkable morning, fabulous weather, great craic, great company and a canny cana to finish with. What a day!!

 

[Merlin]

Today has been a day I will never forget in my 6 years of coming to Mallorca. It began by me picking up Peter S and us heading to Maria de la Salut to meet Mike M and Phil G at our usual parking spot on the plains. It was 9am when we met and things were fairly quiet to begin with. There were dozens of kestrels around, some of which turned out to be lesser. We lost count of the number of red kites and reckoned that over the following 5 hours we had 40-50 sightings with a maximum of 8 in the air together at any time. Between about 10am and 11.30am the real action unfolded with up to 15 raptors together in the sky at any time. Even with 4 pairs of eyes between us we found it difficult to keep track of what was on view as one species after another came through. We were constantly finding new birds and directing each other on to them. A mad hour ensued with eagles, vultures and a collection of harriers all on view against a continuous backdrop of dozens of kites and kestrels. Things quietened down around 2pm and after 5 hours in the sun, at 32°, we retired to the sports bar for a cold beer and the chance to compare notes. Our tally for the morning was:- kestrel dozens, lesser kestrel 3-4 definite male, 8 griffon vultures together, 4 black vultures at the same time, dark and pale morph booted eagles ( counted as 1 species), 4 Bonellis eagles in view at the same time, 1 golden eagle being harassed by kites, too many red kites to be sure of numbers but often 8-10 in view together, numerous marsh harriers, 1 definite hen harrier ringtail with a second bird close by that we couldn’t be sure of, 2 montagus harriers 1 of which was a male in the air together at the same time as 10-15 other raptors, 1 Eleonoras falcon. In total well over 100 birds and 12 raptor species in one morning. Mike M has lived in the island for 17 years, Phil G has been visiting 6 times a year for 25 years. Neither has had more than 9 species in a day before. Today we saw 12. A truly remarkable morning, fabulous weather, great craic, great company and a canny cana to finish with. What a day!!

Hi Dave

This just reminds me of a typical day out that I have on Staffordshire Moorland, but sometimes I get a Sparrowhawk as well!

regards
Merlin

 

[Mike Montier]

and to think I’m returning to the UK.
Dear, dear.
Thank you all for the best raptor day out ever.
Absolutely brilliant.
Mike

 

[StewB]

Today Geordie Dave and I met up for a morning kicking around some local sites. We started at Can Cuarassa, walking around the pools before heading off down the main track. The first pool had Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper, while the second pool had 21 Stone Curlews on the newly created bank at the back of the pool. There were two more Common Sandpipers there too. The open pond behind the track held Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and Red-veined Darter dragonflies and several Small Red-eyed Damselflies.

The track was rather quiet until we reached the first houses. Another Kingfisher flew across the field, at least three Thekla Larks were around the gardens and field next to the first house and three Spotless Starlings paid a brief visit to the roof of Pins 16.

Next we went to the Sa Barcassa Screen. Water levels are very high, so not much wader habitat was on view. Nevertheless, there were four Green and one Common Sandpiper on a small muddy lump on the shore, a Ringed Plover was on an island and 50+ Cattle Egrets were along the back shore.

We walked around the corner in search of the Ravens that we could hear calling, and although we never saw the Ravens we had a Yellow Wagail, a Willow Warbler and a Tree Sparrow in a bare bush with a few House Sparrows. As we watched a Purple Heron fly over the back of Sa Barcassa, a Booted Eagle was soaring behind it.

From the Albufereta viewing tower we had a flock of 15 Glossy Ibises flying around. They tried unsuccessfully to settle, although we later saw them cramped together on a small island in the Sa Barcassa pool. Also from the tower an Osprey was on the nesting platform.

Dave indulged my need to check out how the stream at Cami Volantina was doing after it was decimated by Tuesday’s storm. Whilst it still looks a mess, the water has cleared considerably (enough to spot a large Atlantic Blue crab on the bottom). Dragonflies were in evidence, with male and female Emperors, 10+ Lesser Emperors, Violet Dropwings, Keeled Skimmers and Red-veined Darters all very active. There were 20+ Blue-tailed Damselflies too.

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

I thought that both the Hen harrier and the Meadow pipit were quite early and that seems the case.
All four of us saw the birds so there is no doubt.
First autumn records for Meadow pipit seem to be around mid October but I haven’t researched every year. It does seem though, that is a very early record. I will look up past years to check.
Hen harrier has been seen in September but usually a week or so later.
Maybe the storms had something to do with these appearances.
It is extremely hot and humid at the moment but birds are on the move. Several groups of Bee-eaters have been seen or heard.
It’s amazing how such vibrant birds can so often be heard, not seen.
I can’t make the Cap this weekend but I hope to go a few days next week.
Mike

 

[HemsleyOne]

Quiet at S’Albufereta this morning but I did have a juv Montagues Harrier from the 2nd platform west of the tower. Water levels too high for any waders.

 

[Mike Montier]

Passatge 5, on the road down to Cap de Ses Salines, can be very productive at this time of the year, and as Jason had a great time there yesterday, I just had to go.
I couldn’t get there early so I arrived at a very tardy 11.30.
I thought it would be a good time for raptors but poor for passerines, but it was the opposite.
I was immediately greeted by a Wheatear, and a Common redstart was nearby.
A Whinchat popped up and a Willow warbler was in a nearby tree.
I scanned the large fig tree and sure enough, there was a Golden oriole partly obscured. Again, it’s a surprisingly difficult bird to see, especially in fig trees with so many yellow leaves.
A Bonelli’s eagle flew high over and Bee-eaters called.
Balearic warblers were everywhere and one looked good for striata.
I am meeting Philip Garnett there this Wednesday and I will definitely be there at dawn.
I hope for more migrants so it will be interesting to see what we find.
Mike

 

[StewB]

After being rained-off yesterday, today I started at Es Blanquer, the arable plain west of Maria de La Salut. Although not as spectacular as Dave, Mike et al had last week, it was still really worthwhile. Corn Buntings were jangling as I arrived, Thekla Larks were everywhere and two Turtle Doves were dashing around over the fields. There were lots of Kestrels, and eventually I got satisfactory views of a male Lesser Kestrel which was dropping onto prey from the wires over the field. Red Kites were difficult to count, but at one stage there was a “kettle” of eight birds and a scan revealed at least six more. Black Vultures were a fairly constant presence, with around six birds involved. There were certainly three Booted Eagles, but I suspect that there were more. An Eleanora’s Falcon put in an appearance, unsettling the Kestrels for a few minutes. A highlight for me was a ringtail Montague’s Harrier which was quartering the fields north of the Muro to Maria road. As I was leaving, two Wheatears were on a roadside field and the Montague’s Harrier was a little closer.

S’Amarador was a little disappointing, the best being a Plain Tiger butterfly, two Hoopoes and a Whinchat.

At Sa Font, dragonflies were hard to find with a brisk breeze blowing along the channels. Just one Violet Dropwing was on view, and a single Goblet-marked Damselfly. I was really chuffed to find a copulating pair of Small Red Damselflies, with another male in attendance nearby. I made my usual unsuccessful attempt to find Common Waxbill.

At the Cami des Polls, dragonflies again proved difficult to find, but I was very happy to find two more mating pairs and two single male Small Red Damselflies - by far the best haul of this species I’ve had on the island.

Stew

 

[Matthebirder]

Good news you are seeing the Dragonflies Stew; especially the Small Reds..; are the Tenelles tanks still productive? Also are you seeing any Pashas?
Have a quick week coming up soon; so will continue the 2024 list.
As always I'm interested in gulls; if you happen to find any regular gatherings of YLGs (or Black-backs) at close range I would be keen to hear.
Thank you
Matthew

 

[StewB]

Good news you are seeing the Dragonflies Stew; especially the Small Reds..; are the Tenelles tanks still productive? Also are you seeing any Pashas?
Have a quick week coming up soon; so will continue the 2024 list.
As always I'm interested in gulls; if you happen to find any regular gatherings of YLGs (or Black-backs) at close range I would be keen to hear.
Thank you
Matthew

Thanks Matthew. I haven’t made it to the Ternelles tanks yet - was planned for Sunday, but rain intervened! Will get there in the next few days. Butterflies haven’t been plentiful, and sadly no Pashas. I’m really pleased about the Small Reds, I’ve really struggled with them in the past. Haven’t seen any gull gatherings other than Audouin’s on the Puerto Pollenca breakwaters and on the offshore rocks at Son Real.

Stew

 

[ggshrike]

Today has been a day I will never forget in my 6 years of coming to Mallorca. It began by me picking up Peter S and us heading to Maria de la Salut to meet Mike M and Phil G at our usual parking spot on the plains. It was 9am when we met and things were fairly quiet to begin with. There were dozens of kestrels around, some of which turned out to be lesser. We lost count of the number of red kites and reckoned that over the following 5 hours we had 40-50 sightings with a maximum of 8 in the air together at any time. Between about 10am and 11.30am the real action unfolded with up to 15 raptors together in the sky at any time. Even with 4 pairs of eyes between us we found it difficult to keep track of what was on view as one species after another came through. We were constantly finding new birds and directing each other on to them. A mad hour ensued with eagles, vultures and a collection of harriers all on view against a continuous backdrop of dozens of kites and kestrels. Things quietened down around 2pm and after 5 hours in the sun, at 32°, we retired to the sports bar for a cold beer and the chance to compare notes. Our tally for the morning was:- kestrel dozens, lesser kestrel 3-4 definite male, 8 griffon vultures together, 4 black vultures at the same time, dark and pale morph booted eagles ( counted as 1 species), 4 Bonellis eagles in view at the same time, 1 golden eagle being harassed by kites, too many red kites to be sure of numbers but often 8-10 in view together, numerous marsh harriers, 1 definite hen harrier ringtail with a second bird close by that we couldn’t be sure of, 2 montagus harriers 1 of which was a male in the air together at the same time as 10-15 other raptors, 1 Eleonoras falcon. In total well over 100 birds and 12 raptor species in one morning. Mike M has lived in the island for 17 years, Phil G has been visiting 6 times a year for 25 years. Neither has had more than 9 species in a day before. Today we saw 12. A truly remarkable morning, fabulous weather, great craic, great company and a canny cana to finish with. What a day!!

Wow - what a day! Thought there was only an escapee golden eagle on the island (which I'd seen years ago) and assumed was now a deceased eagle!

 

[StewB]

This morning I set out for a pre-breakfast walk along the Bocquer Valley. In the event, there was so much going on that it turned into a pre-lunch walk.

As I reached the avenue of trees outside the Mar Senses hotel I could hear a Robin calling. It took a while to pin it down in some dense foliage - presumably an early arrival for Winter. Further along the avenue there were two Hoopoes on the grassy area.

Arriving at the beginning of the walk up to the first gate it was clear that there had been an arrival of birds. Pied Flycatchers we’re everywhere, a fine male Redstart appeared and there were two or three bright juvenile Willow Warblers. A German birder showed me a photo of a Hippolais warbler that he had taken a few minutes before I appeared. Clearly a Hippo, he hadn’t got an image of the wings, but it was either Icterine or Melodious. I put in some time looking, but sadly it didn’t reappear.

A Griffon Vulture drifted behind the eastern ridge, not to be seen again. In the valley after the second gate the passerines dwindled, with just the occasional Pied Flycatcher and Redstart to be found. A Wryneck was calling from across the valley, and further along two Crag Martins were against the Western slope.

Eleanora’s Falcons appeared above the Western ridge, initially just two birds, but when two Black Vultures appeared there were suddenly five Eleanora’s mobbing them. Two different Booted Eagles were over the valley and a Peregrine dashed along the ridge heading inland.

To the right of the path as we approached the slope down to the sea a Balearic Warbler was calling. It took a while to nail it, but there turned out to be two birds bumbling around in the scrub. With a bit of patience we got some nice, if brief, views.

Setting out for the return walk, a fine adult Egyptian Vulture came over the Eastern ridge and drifted around over the valley for a few minutes before heading off over the Western ridge.

Two Blue Rock Thrushes were messing around in the fig trees below the finca as we left, but there had been a clear-out of birds, with not a single Pied Flycatcher to be seen.

I stopped to look at a Hoopoe as I was leaving the avenue of trees when I noticed a couple of phyloscs. Closer inspection revealed at least 10 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Willow Warblers feeding actively in the trees.

A couple of Geranium Bronze butterflies were having a dust-up as I went back past the Mar Senses hotel.

Stew

 

[Paul & Margaret]

and to think I’m returning to the UK.
Dear, dear.
Thank you all for the best raptor day out ever.
Absolutely brilliant.
Mike