• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Son Bou - BirdForum Opus


Stub.png This article is incomplete.
This article is missing one or more sections. You can help the BirdForum Opus by expanding it.
Stub.png


Balearic Islands, Spain

Overview

Although very close to extensive tourist development, Son Bou on the south coast of Menorca, is important for both breeding birds and as a resting and feeding area for migrants.

The island's largest reedbed is here as well as marshes, dunes and a sandy beach.

Birds

Notable Species

Breeding species include Cetti's Warbler, Moustached Warbler and Great Reed Warbler in the reeds and Marsh Harrier is common.

Migrants include various larks, pipits and wheatears on the dunes and hirundines over the open water.

Gulls, terns and waders can be found on the nearby beach and an island offshore may have Mediterranean Shag.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Cory's Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Mediterranean Shag, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Egyptian Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Common Kestrel, Kentish Plover, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern, European Bee-eater, Tawny Pipit, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Woodchat Shrike

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

Be aware that the western end of the beach at Son Bou is a naturist beach.

Areas of Interest

Further along this path there is a small headland, good for small migrants, and the route to the car park can then be retraced or a circular route can be made.

To do this follow the track inland across a field, turn right and walk towards the head of the marsh where Egyptian Vulture and Booted Eagle may be seen. Follow the path along the inland side of the marsh and back to the car park.

Access and Facilities

To find Son Bou leave the C721, the main Ciutadella-Mahon road at Alaior and head south following signs for Son Bou and continue until the beach car park. A path to the west from the car park leads through marshes on one side and dunes on the other.

Son Bou is a popular tourist resort and has plenty of accommodation providing the ideal base to investigate this area. However, Son Bou is easily reached from all other tourist areas on the island.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

Son Bou


Content and images originally posted by Steve

Reviews

stu's review

I have visited the 'Marsh' seven times and always seen a great variety of birds including,Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Purple Heron, Cattle and Little Egrett, lots of Warblers (Fan Tailed, Cettis, Sardinian etc) and Beeaters.In the early morning you can sometimes see a variety of small waders on the shoreline. If you then walk along the coast to Santo Tomas you can see Blue Rock Thrush,Crested and Thekla Larks,Stonechats,Winchats,Hoopoes and the occasional Red Kite.

Pros

  • Easy access
  • beautiful location

Cons

  • Nearby growing developments
Back
Top