Mallorca 2025 (8 Viewers)

[Mcnswiss2]

A quick trip to Bocquer Valley and the Mirador at Formentor.
Birding was quiet; interesting to see so many Ravens (at least 12).
Other birds seen included Sardinian Warblers, Linnets, distant views of Booted Eagles and Blue Rock Thrush, Crossbills, Goldfinches etc.

Best birds for me were 2 Wrens singing at the enterance to Bocquer Valley.
No sign of Alpine Accentor at both sites.
The Mirador was surprisingly busy. I blame the Cupra car adverts for their Formentor Car!
The road up to the Albercuix Tower is dreadful..full of pot holes and subsidence. Better to park and walk.


I had a quick view of a raptor with dark wings and a white rump.
No time for photos. Any thoughts? Not the place I would associate with Harriers - Very puzzling!

 

[Mcnswiss2]

I wonder if it was a Harris Hawk..I have seen tame ones on the island..and I think they were used at the airport to keep birds away?

 

[Mike Montier]

I’ve seen quite a few Harris’s hawks in Mallorca so it could well have been.
The blazing white rump is usually very obvious.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Thanks Mike.
Peter S. and myself had a day away from family.
Today was sunny with temperatures up to 20C!!
Visited screen at Albuferata, Orange Bridge at Albufera, and ventured into Albufera park.
Over 50 species seen including over 200 Cormorants, 150 Flamingos, 100 Shelducks, 50 Golden Plovers, etc.
Stars included Kingfishers, 3 Spoonbills, 5 Stone Curlews, Wigeons, etc.
Little Bittern was disturbed but no chance of photo.
Great day out

 

[Ian Bell]

Are the Kingfishers resident ? In all my years visiting the Island and spending plenty time In suitable habitat I've never came across one.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Hi Ian,
Good question!
This is extract from the Annual Report from 2019.

I cannot believe how many Kingfishers I have seen this year..at least 12!
Normally I struggle to see one by Spring.

 

[Mike Montier]

Despite our recent bad form, Mike and I were out and about again today.
We met at the sports bar, Maria de La Salut.
Most days out begin with coffee and pa amb oli.
It was exceptional as usual.
Funny how things change with age. I was almost always on site before sunrise so we must be getting soft.
The Plains looked magnificent and will go on looking greener up until the scorching heat of summer burns the countryside to a crisp.
Raptors are always in the sky at Maria. A pair of squabbling kestrels greeted us, Red kites seemed to be everywhere as did Booted eagles.
No sign of any Cranes nor Vultures sadly.
Then we travelled to a screen hide overlooking Albufereta where there were some flamingoes, Lapwing and then Mike spotted a Purple heron, much to my surprise as this species is a summer visitor. Very nice it was too.
Mike promised me a Kingfisher and he didn’t let me down as one flashed past, flying very low. Lovely.
We then retired to Mikes apartment for home-made soup and toast. Very good it was too, thank you Susan.
As we sat on the balcony, Mike found me two more year ticks, Crossbill and Firecrest.
Thank you both for another great day.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Photo of a Booted eagle from today.
These small eagles are in the news in the UK as there is one spending time in the south-west.
I can’t believe there is doubt about this species arriving in Britain, we watch hundreds arriving and leaving every spring and autumn.
“They don’t like crossing water” is the reason, still lingering in parts of the birding community. I thought that doubt had been put to bed.
One memorable day, almost 400 went out to sea in long lines. A day etched in my mind. I will never forget it. Pep and Martin were there but I can’t remember who else.
Not a single bird returned.
It’s a long way to Africa.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Remember Saturdays when you were young..no school or no work.
However now one of the worse birding days..too many people about...
Decided to go for a mornings walk by coast of La Victoria before people turned up and before the Saturday football.


Usual coastal birds, Yellow legged Gulls, Black headed and Audouins Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Shags and Cormorants.
Then 6 lightly coloured Shearwaters appeared..I am sure they are Yelkouan Shearwaters.

Several have been seen earlier this week.
Perhaps Saturdays are better than I thought!

 

[derban]

Carnage at the Saltpans – I have just got around to having a closer look at some photos I took along Es Trenc road on Thursday evening. I went to find the golden plovers, and sure enought there they were in the usual spot, on the mudflats just after the salt works, at least 100. On closer inspection of the photos, I saw that a small number of birds were standing apart from the flock, one was clearly injured, there were at least four dead bodies and two birds seemingly standing watch. It seemed strange to me that there had obviously been some predator at large, but which predator kills more than it needs and leaves several dead bodies lying on the ground (apart from humans)?

 

[Maties Rebassa]

Remember Saturdays when you were young..no school or no work.
However now one of the worse birding days..too many people about...
Decided to go for a mornings walk by coast of La Victoria before people turned up and before the Saturday football.
View attachment 1624883
View attachment 1624882
Usual coastal birds, Yellow legged Gulls, Black headed and Audouins Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Shags and Cormorants.
Then 6 lightly coloured Shearwaters appeared..I am sure they are Yelkouan Shearwaters.
View attachment 1624880
Several have been seen earlier this week.
Perhaps Saturdays are better than I thought!

Hi!
To me, these shearwaters are all balearic, except maybe the last one that is not possible to identify whith this photo (so could well be a yelkouan). But you are right, now is a good moment to search for yelkouan shearwaters, they are usually seen from January onwards.
Best wishes,
Maties

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Decided to visit Son Real Region despite being a family day.
First stop at the screen at Albufereta; very quiet with 6 Flamingos, a Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Lapwings etc.

Next a quick stop at the Orange Bridge at the outskirts of Albufera.
Again very low numbers of birds; Sandwich Terns, Kingfishers, Flamingos were the best



The carpark at Son Real was busy as expected on a Sunday.
However, the hide was empty. After some time, several birds came to drink including Great tits, Greenfinch, House Sparrows,Robins, Crossbills etc.
A Hawfinch was heard but it never came down to the pond.
Last visit was to the Son Baulo area by the coast where Yellow legged and Audouin Gulls, Shags, Cormorants, Turnstones, etc were seen.
Just leaving when I noted a single Flamingo flying over the sea, when it dropped down and began swimming in the water. I have never seen that before!



Some 50 species seen or heard.
Not bad for a January Sunday morning.

 

[Mike Montier]

My regular seawatch at Portopetro tonight produced 45 Balearic shearwaters, 2 Yelkouan shearwaters.
I got there early and the first two birds to go south were both Yelkouan, really close in.
It took a while for the Balearics to appear.
One adult gannet went by followed by an immature bird which I always look at closely in the vain hope that one day a Brown booby will miraculously appear.
There has only ever been one.
Scopoli’s shearwaters normally begin showing in early February but in recent years a couple have been seen in late January.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

The last two days have involved short walks up Ternelles Road (to the entrance gate), Cancurrassa Road and around Albufereta.

Very quiet along the Ternelles.Distant views of 2 Black and a single Griffon Vulture, several Red Kites and three Booted Eagles.
Some 25 species seen.
Highlight was 5 Monach Butterflies.
Cancurrassa Road was quite productive with nearly 30 species including Booted Eagle, Green Sandpipers, Hoopoe, etc
A reed bunting was spotted; but no sign of Spotless Starlings.

The last visit was around Albufereta with Peter S.
Some 40 species seen including 50 Flamingoes, Lapwing, Great White and Little Egrets, Osprey, Greenshank, Hoopoe, and the daily Kingfisher!
The star was the male Hen Harrier! Stonking bird. No photos though..sigh!
So many Hoopoes today.

Weather may be changing...rain and wind may bring in something special..However today it was already Special!

 

[derban]

One swallow does not a summer make – but how about 29th January? I went for an afternoon stroll at the Salobrar, which I have been neglecting of late, and alongside an array of the more expected birds, there was an indisputable barn swallow, soaring in the wind, presumably arrived here with the strong winds. I assume this is early for Mallorca but I would love to hear from other contributors on here if this really is unusually early. Whatever the case may be, it certainly made my day!

 

[Mike Montier]

In 2023 the first barn swallow was seen on 23rd January so it’s not unheard of at this time of the year, just scarce, so well done David.
The first House martins were also seen today by Peter S, in Campanet.
Indeed, strong winds do throw up some odd records so there may be more to follow.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Well done Peter and Derban.
On ebird, barn swallows have been reported at Maristany 2 days ago, Muro 1 day ago, and at Garden City 1 day ago.
I think it was also reported at Can Guidet recently.
Scops Owls have also been reported in Pollenca!
By chance I was at Garden City, however the wind was strong and few birds seen. Little Egret, Various Gulls, Turnstones, Shags and Cormorants, Meadow pipits and Stonechats were the most numerous.
No sign of the Whimbrel but I know its there!

 

[Hugh Ouston]

After missing two proposed trips last year (and finishing pretty low in the race), it was fantastic to be back on the island of dreams yesterday. An early flight meant a good afternoons's birding round PP and a 42 species first day. Nothing out of the ordinary, on a wander along the Can Cuirassa lanes (water pipit, booted eagle, red kite), where I met a Spanish gent who referred to a Cetti's we heard as 'rossignol bastardo' - an apt and unforgettable name, and then Albufereta, where a good smattering of flamingos looked best from Sa Barcassa with the January afternoon sun shining on them. The tall tower was swaying gently in the wind, but all the harriers were marsh and all the herons grey. One great white egret.
This morning La Gola produced a glimpsed kingfisher (how can something so bright vanish so quickly?) and an obliging greenshank, with the best black redstarts on the street pavement. Then to Maristany with great anticipation. I parked up as the heavens opened, and found that when photographing pochard from the car, in a rainstorm, the camera just focuses on the bouncing raindrops. Chiffchaff corner was beguiling when the sun came out. Lots of ducks and dabchicks. One LBB gull flew over. The Coscoroba swan in the distance was an old friend. I picked up a black-necked grebe on the far side - a lifer for me, in fact - confirmed when I met (at last) the legendary mcnswiss, which made my day - thanks for all the technotips, Mike and here's to a good day next Tuesday.
Depuradora next - full of shoveler as ever, with shelduck and lapwing to add to the year list (isn't it great to begin again so everything is exciting!). Then a detour to Son Baulo (where I'd never been) and for once I got a target species with 4 turnstone a little way along - though it seems odd to be stalking them when my mother in law feeds turnstone out of her kitchen window by Aberdeen beach...
Final stop was Amardor, which was bright and beautiful but quiet - kestrel, cattle egrets round the horses' legs - then the Canal des Polls - stone curlew, lots more Stonechats hawking fro the reed tops - no waxbills, no harriers, just a golden reedy evening. So much more to see, and I'll download some photos next time.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Great to meet you Hugh.
After leaving you I headed for Bocquer Valley.

Very quiet. No Wryneck or Alpine Accentors, Peregrines nor Vultures.
Few birds seen including Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martins, Firecrest, Kestrel, Sardinian Warblers, Meadow pipits.

Most interesting part of the visit was the fight between Yellow Legged Gulls and Booted Eagle.

Storm expected tomorrow.

 

[Mike Montier]

2 Black-tailed godwits from colombars hide, s’Albufera, thanks to Pau.
Also a Wood sandpiper.
Some Common swift have been seen flying over the palace in Palma.
I have always seen common swift sometime in February every year but these are very early.
It’s always a great thrill when I see my first ones of the year.
It’s a sign of things to come.
Mike