Mallorca 2024 (13 Viewers)

[Paul & Margaret]

For those of us who have not met you can you name the three birders in the picture?

Regards

Paul

 

[scarbroblade]

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

Hello
UK birder spending 10 days at Puerto Pollenca (3 days in). I'm not sure what numbers are normal but felt it was a good fall of Pied Flycatchers at Albufereta this morning. There were at least 19 in the pine belt near the tower lookout, and 5+ by the next observation point just to the north. At least two migrant Spotted Flycatchers (well streaked, v long primary projections).
Another Yorkshire birder, Ian Court, had seen a flock of 20 Bee-Eaters go over before I arrived and 19 Night Herons early morning near the hide.

Nick Addey
Scarborough UK

 

[Mike Montier]

Nice totals Nick.
The photo is from left to right; Phil Garnett from Bolton, Geordie David from, er..Newcastle and Peter Shaw who lives in north Mallorca.
I took the photo so I’m not in it.
They are good lads, great company and quite handy at finding birds.
I’m meeting Philip in the morning at passatge 5 and then going to the Cap.
If it’s not too hot, we might make Salobrar afterwards.
All the best.
Mike

 

[scarbroblade]

Hello
UK birder spending 10 days at Puerto Pollenca (3 days in). I'm not sure what numbers are normal but felt it was a good fall of Pied Flycatchers at Albufereta this morning. There were at least 19 in the pine belt near the tower lookout, and 5+ by the next observation point just to the north. At least two migrant Spotted Flycatchers (well streaked, v long primary projections).
Another Yorkshire birder, Ian Court, had seen a flock of 20 Bee-Eaters go over before I arrived and 19 Night Herons early morning near the hide.

Nick Addey
Scarborough UK

More Pied Flys today; 12 in Boquer valley (plus Redstart, 2 Nightingales, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Spot Flys, ad Egyptian Vulture, 3 Black Vultures, 4 Eleonoras). Largest concentration of migrants was on my way back at Parc deis Pins; 7 Pied Fly, Spot Fly, Redstart, 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Robins, Hoopoe.

Nick

 

[StewB]

I arrived at Mortitx at around 8.30 this morning. There were Blue Tits, Firecrests and Hoopoe on the walk down to the vineyard. A Wryneck popped up onto the vineyard fence and then promptly disappeared. Another bird was calling nearby. I saw a Blue Rock Thrush and a couple of Crag Martins on the walk out, and a Honey Buzzard flew along the distant mountain face.

It was good to meet HemsleyOne again. We spent around an hour and a half on the slope up to the woods looking back for raptors. We saw two or three Griffons, a couple of Black Vultures and a Booted Eagle, before we picked up a soaring Bonelli’s Eagle (probably a juvenile). About 20 Crag Martins were off the high crags. After seeing a few more Black Vultures, Darren picked up some Griffons some distance away to the north. Eventually there were 19 vultures in the air together - mostly Griffons, but including a few Blacks. The birds were coming down to a spot which was out of view for us. As the birds descended yet more were arriving, clearly there was a carcass of some kind attracting them.

After Darren left I stayed for a while longer, adding Red Kite to the morning’s list. I decided to walk up towards the Refugi, where earlier Darren had seen several Pied Flycatchers. As I was trying to photograph a Pied Fly I was startled by a Pine Marten which shot across the track next to me. There were more Pied Flys in the woods, as well as a few Phylloscs (Willow Warblers I think). A Crossbill was singing in the pine tops but remained unseen. As I walked back down the slope two adult Bonelli’s Eagles came out from the crags to the north and flew down the valley.

Water levels in the small reservoir were very high and a breeze was blowing across the water, which may explain why the only dragonflies present were two male Emperors. 15+ House Martins were dipping to the water to drink.

Back at the vineyard there were two Whinchats in and on the vines, as well as Chaffinches, Serins, Mediterranean and Pied Flycatchers. A Cirl bunting flew out and into the olive trees to the east. Two Wrynecks were calling near the vineyard gate, one of which obligingly did a lengthy fly around.

On my way back to Puerto Pollenca I made a swift visit to the roadside irrigation tanks on the Cami de Ternelles. There were two male Orange-winged Dropwings on the first (double) pool, and one on the second pool. Both held two Violet Dropwings, two Broad Scarlets and a Lesser Emperor.

After my return, Mrs B and I went for posh tea and cake on the terrace at the Hotel Llanniere. There were several Lang’s Short-tailed Blue butterflies on the bushes below the terrace, and a Booted Eagle was flying around over the fields towards the sea.

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

Another marvelous day at this great time of the year.
I got to passatge 5 just after 7am and watched the sun come up.
A Yellow wagtail started the day’s proceedings, quickly followed by a fly-over Tree pipit.
3 Rock sparrows flew in but left almost immediately.
2 Groups of Bee-eaters were heard but not seen.
A Short-toed lark flew south just as Philip arrived at 8am.
I was anxious to relocate the Rock sparrows as he really wanted to see them, and much to my relief, they returned to the tree-tops. Nice.
Redstarts and Pied flycatchers then were on show and a couple of Wheatears flew around.
Phil found a Tawny pipit which are always good to see.
A few young Woodchats hung around.
We made for the Cap, logging 10 Turtle doves on the way down.
Much to my surprise, a Common buzzard circled round and even more surprisingly, it flew out to sea towards Cabrera. A Black kite showed briefly.
Two local Peregrines flew menacingly past, looking hungry.
As it went quiet for a long time, we made for Salobrar de Campos.
A few Barn swallows and a couple of Sand martins greeted us and there were plenty of greater flamingoes to brighten up the scenery.
We soon logged Curlew, Greenshank and other common waders. Walking further down, we were treated to a nice selection of scarcer birds.
3 Black-tailed godwits were showing well and a sought-after Bar-tailed godwit kept in their company.
There were 13 Ruff in all and a few Curlew sandpipers.
We located a Black-necked grebe and Phil picked out a distant Oystercatcher.
63 species in all rounded off an excellent day. Always good to be out in the field.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Walking down from hotel fontsanta at Salobrar de Campos, there is a gate on the left hand side, when you reach the marsh proper, which looks down a path, as the last photo shows.
It’s always worth a look. There were many waders present today, as there often are.
Today there were Wood sandpipers, Greenshank, Ruff, Kentish plovers, Black-winged stilts, Flamingoes and other assorted species.
I’m having a lot of camera woes at the moment. I have four old models, all of which are held together with bits of tape, Araldite and super-glue.
Three are now broken so I’m left with the oldest one of the lot.
It’s a bit weedy so I’m sorry for the poor quality of late.
One day, I will hopefully get something decent.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A few Montagu’s harriers being reported today around the Central Plains.
They will most likely be leaving from Cap de Ses Salines.
Mike

 

[foresttwitcher]

Love the unique sunrise photo.

 

[ChrisMc1957]

Hi Everyone,

We have visited a number of National Parks in the Alcudia and Tramontana mountains areas of Majorca over two trips last year. However, we are visiting for 10 days Cala d'Or in a weeks time and wondered if anyone had any advice on places to visit in the Cala d'Or area of Majorca for bird watching/wildlife. Happy to take taxis, buses or hire a car if required. We plan on hiring a car to visit Parc Natural de s'Albufera near Alcudia one day (an amazing nature reserve), but wondered if there was anything on our doorstep for a few hours or half day visits?

Thanks
Chris

PS Mike Montier sent me to this thread after starting my own thread earlier, only joined tonight so still finding my way around, there's a lot to read

 

[StewB]

This morning I went to Cala Sant Vicence and did the Fisherman’s Walk. A brisk breeze was keeping things low, and a brief shower didn’t help. Two Crossbills flew into the trees as I arrived, but that was about it for the wooded area. A Balearic Warbler called as I started the main upward drag, and eventually gave some reasonable views as it grubbed around in the scrub, and another was calling nearby. As I approached the hairpin after the small quarry, an Eleanora’s Falcon flew over. Shortly after, what was presumably the same bird was pursuing a Crag Martin out over the sea in an acrobatic but ultimately unsuccessful chase. There were three more Crag Martins around the seaward rocks.

I settled down to watch the sea in the hope that there might be shearwaters, but sadly no. However, another Eleanora’s joined the first bird, and a third was over the peaks towards the Bocquer Valley. A Blue Rock Thrush was on the rocks below. What was probably a Pied Flycatcher flew in off the sea, and shortly after, it was followed by a calling Tree Pipit.

On the walk back there was a Pied Flycatcher in the bushes below the quarry, and a rather more obliging Balearic Warbler was calling there, and eventually showed quite well. A couple of female Red-veined Darters were along the path in an otherwise uneventful return to the car.

Stew

 

[scarbroblade]

Nightjar roosting in a pine between quarry and military base Puerto Pollenca this morning.

 

[ChrisMc1957]

Nightjar roosting in a pine between quarry and military base Puerto Pollenca this morning.View attachment 1601472

Nice capture

 

[derban]

This morning found me back on the island (hooray!), at Passatge No. 5 shortly after sunrise. Except the sun was not in evidence, instead a chill north-easterly wind was blowing across open country. Although there was not the abundance of bird life Mike and Phil recently experienced, there was certainly enough to keep me interested. First five purple heron crossed heading south west before I could get my camera out, then raven, goldfinch and marsh harrier showed up, soon followed by MikeM and Jane. Other highlights included 2 male and 2 female northern wheatear as well as spotted and pied flycatcher and an Eleonora's falcon disappearing behind us in the pines. We decided to move on to the Cape for some raptor migration and the hope it would be a bit more sheltered from the wind. The migration did not appear to any extent - there were two or three flocks swallows and house martins, then Mike made out black kite heading south that I only caught the briefest glimpse of. We then spotted a raptor circling and heading south, but we were initially uncertain whether it was common or honey buzzard. It seemed rather stocky for common, but the plumage pattern indicated honey buzzard, which our photos confirmed. However, comparing the somewhat distant photos with reference works, it does seem rather stocky for a honey buzzard, and it does have a sixth finger, but it could only be a common honey buzzard, couldn't it? Thank you to Michael and Jane for the splendid company, a morning that will stay in the memory!

 

[StewB]

After overnight rain, this morning remained overcast. I decided to walk up to the finca at the start of the Bocquer Valley in the hope of some migrants. There were three Robins in the avenue of trees next to the Mar Senses hotel, with three nice bright Willow Warblers. On the track up to the first gate at the Bocquer, two Firecrests were feeding actively right next to the path and Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, two Robins and two more Willow Warblers were in trackside trees. On the stony fields below the finca there were 4+ Wheatears, 5+ Redstarts, a Raven and several Serins.

I decided to return via Postage Stamp Wood, a site I haven’t visited for quite a while. It was hard work and produced only two Robins, two Firecrests and a Pied Flycatcher.

Back at the trees by the Mar Senses there were still at least two Robins, three Pied Flycatchers and 8+ Pylloscs including at least two ChiffChaffs.

After having lunch while watching an active Mediterranean Flycatcher on our rented apartment’s clothes line, I dropped Mrs B in Alcudia and headed to Maristany. There were now 17 Greater Flamingos, two of which were bearing white rings. I was able to read one and part of the second, so some more details to follow up!

Also at Maristany I saw at least 5 Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, two or three Little Ringed Plovers and three Greenshanks. I counted 205 Little Egrets and 21 Grey Herons. 5+ Purple Gallinules were at the back of the pools. A Male Marsh Harrier spooked most of the birds, including three Glossy Ibises. Shortly afterwards, a juvenile Peregrine made a rather spectacular raid, but after twisting and turning low over the pools it came up empty-handed.

A Wheatear flew across the pools, and the resident Coscoroba Swan put in an appearance.

Stew

 

[James Jobling]

Derban,
With the aid of my newly acquired ID Handbook of European Birds, 1, pp. 224-228, I would agree that your buzzard was Pernis apivorus, the European Honey Buzzard.

 

[StewB]

This morning I stayed local and started at the Sa Barcassa viewing screen. A Great White Egret was on the shore, Common Sandpiper and Greenshank were on the islands and c25 Cattle Egrets were perched together on a frame over a garden area. Three Willow Warblers and a Corn Bunting were on the dead bushes to the East.

As I walked down the approach road to the Albufereta I caught sight of a Caspian Tern over the main pools. It went missing for a few minutes, before reappearing when I was watching from the tower. After a short while it flew over towards Sa Barcassa, but didn’t reappear this time.

There was a single Stone Curlew on the field on the left just before the trees, and from the tower there were five Greater Flamingos, two Purple Herons and another Great White Egret. An Osprey was perched on the nesting platform, and later was hunting over the pools.

I went on to the Cami Volantina to look for dragonflies. I checked both the north and south ends, but disappointingly there was very little on show. Quite a few Blue-tailed Damselflies were present, a single Keeled Skimmer and two Lesser Emperors were the sum of Odonata seen. There were 3+ Red-eared Sliders, two Willow Warblers, a Hoopoe and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth to make up the numbers.

Stew

 

[scarbroblade]

Caspian Tern this afternoon at Albufera Marsh from hide nr power station.

 

[Jonny Holliday]

This morning found me back on the island (hooray!), at Passatge No. 5 shortly after sunrise. Except the sun was not in evidence, instead a chill north-easterly wind was blowing across open country. Although there was not the abundance of bird life Mike and Phil recently experienced, there was certainly enough to keep me interested. First five purple heron crossed heading south west before I could get my camera out, then raven, goldfinch and marsh harrier showed up, soon followed by MikeM and Jane. Other highlights included 2 male and 2 female northern wheatear as well as spotted and pied flycatcher and an Eleonora's falcon disappearing behind us in the pines. We decided to move on to the Cape for some raptor migration and the hope it would be a bit more sheltered from the wind. The migration did not appear to any extent - there were two or three flocks swallows and house martins, then Mike made out black kite heading south that I only caught the briefest glimpse of. We then spotted a raptor circling and heading south, but we were initially uncertain whether it was common or honey buzzard. It seemed rather stocky for common, but the plumage pattern indicated honey buzzard, which our photos confirmed. However, comparing the somewhat distant photos with reference works, it does seem rather stocky for a honey buzzard, and it does have a sixth finger, but it could only be a common honey buzzard, couldn't it? Thank you to Michael and Jane for the splendid company, a morning that will stay in the memory!

View attachment 1601475 View attachment 1601476 View attachment 1601477 View attachment 1601478 View attachment 1601479 View attachment 1601480

A Lovely Honey Buzzard!

 

[StewB]

Today Mike M strayed from his Southerly abode, and we had a really good day at the Albufera.

There were at least 18 Night Herons in the bushes across the Gran Canal as we walked in, and a juvenile Squacco was near the Cattle Egret colony. The Caspian Tern (presumably yesterday’s bird) flew over, heading in the direction of Es Columbars, but sadly was not seen again.

At the “new” Sa Roca hide our attention was grabbed by a smallish wader, which resolved itself as a Pectoral Sandpiper - an excellent find and which almost resulted in a high-five! Other waders present were a Wood Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, four Greenshanks and at least three Green Sandpipers. Glossy Ibises and Purple Gallinules Made up the numbers.

A Cormorant and a Pochard were of interest at the Ses Pardes hide, but a ringtail Montague’s Harrier circling over and drifting south was particularly pleasing.

A Little Bittern was skulking in the reeds on the northern side of the Gran Canal Bridge, but another bird was fishing in the open in the small canal by the turning to Es Cibollar. Astonishingly, another juvenile Squacco was fishing in the open on the other side, just a few metres away!

The Es Cibollar hides produced lots of Black-winged Stilts (127 from Es Cibollar I), 37 Flamingos, 40+ Kentish Plovers, 2 Ruff and a Ringed Plover. 59 Flamingos could be seen looking south from the Es Columbars track.

On our return walk we called again at Sa Roca, hoping to see a male Bluethroat that was photographed earlier by Ryan Wood, but we had used up all our luck already and didn’t see it, although it was nice to see a Kingfisher which streaked across the pool.

Stew