Mallorca 2022 (2 Viewers)

[Mcnswiss2]

After the severe disappointment with the Plovers, headed off today to Son Real.
Stopped on the way to view the outskirts of S’Albufera from Playa de Moro.
Birds seen there included Sandwich terns,Little Egrets(12), Audouins Gulls, Avocets(20), Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Wigeon, Marbled Duck.
Beautiful day for a walk in Son Real. At the hide it was very quiet for the first half hour and suddenly there was a rush of sightings for 15 minutes.
Birds seen from the hide included:Great tit, Sardinian Warbler, Siskin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Crossbill, Robin, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Black Redstart, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Firecrest and Cetti Warbler.
The stars for me were Meadow pipit (I have never seen one there) and the Hawfinch that showed for some 10 minutes.
A grand day. Never disappoints.

 

[NealM]

Another photo from today by Phil Ackers.
My head hurts.

I'm assuming this is the possible American Golden Plover. Having whiled away an hour or so while listening to the Ashes test match in the early hours of the morning, it would appear this is Grey Plover IMHO. Checked a couple of bird guides and starting from bill it looks to heavy in the photo for the Yank.
I also checked the Birdguides gallery, which is a useful site, where if you don't know about it, birders upload their photos, and Grey Plover again would be appear to be the conclusion comparing the two.
A belated Happy New Year to one and all especially the lucky ones who are on Mallorca keeping those of us in the UK emtertained.
Neal
Www.birdguides.com/gallery I'm sure there are others I don't know about

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Neal
Happy New Year to you too.
Yes, it’s a Grey plover, I uploaded the wrong photo, hence the confusion.
Well done for your excellent detective work though, it’s what I did too and I learnt a lot. I will know what to look for next time I go, later today probably.
I have never seen either American golden plover or Pacific golden plover before but you never know, there is one knocking around the area and I think it will stay for a while yet so there is time.
There are a lot of sites where the plovers are seen though, but I do visit them all so I may just get lucky.
A nice sunny day here but still cold, a great day for walking.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A short walk around S’Albuferata today.
A lot of work has been done to make the tower and hide more accessible, as well as creating new islands that should be very productive soon.
Thanks to those involved.
Birds seen today included:
Over 80 Flamingos, Little, Great White and Cattle Egrets, Grey Herons, Wigeon, Shoverlers, Shelduck, Water Rails, Marsh Harriers, and Common Sandpipers. A Graylag goose flew past the new hide and landed in a farmers field attracted by other captive geese.
Egyptian Grasshoppers and Red Admiral butterflies enjoying the sunshine.
A great way to spend Saturday morning.

 

[Mike Montier]

I went to a lecture on Birds and Birding this morning at 8am, delivered by my wife who felt I had been pushing my luck recently.
I must agree. It’s all down to the possible American golden plover as I have been chasing it every day recently. The final straw was that I suggested going to the plover roost in Colonia Sant Jordi on the way to visit our friends this evening.
So, I stayed home this morning, cleaned the windows, did the ironing and completed a list of other outstanding jobs.
I even made lunch but just as I put the plates down to tuck in, the mobile went off.
It was Mirella in the next town to me. She was sitting on a dry-stone wall watching a Jackdaw, a first for just about everyone.
Oh dear.
I was out the door in a flash not waiting for any further advice on my birding activities.
I got there pretty quickly and there it was, sitting in a field, in the sun and what a pretty picture it was.
Soon Pep and Carlos turned up, Pep still in plaster and in pain.
We all enjoyed this entertaining corvid for ages as it searched the newly ploughed field for food.
Then I realised I had to go home.
On the way back, I booked a table for tomorrow lunch time at our favourite restaurant. Good move.
My own lunch was still on the table when I gingerly opened the front door, covered in clingfilm.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I believe there may be a Greater Scaup at the depuradora, Albufera.
More news later via Pep who was there this morning.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

During lockdown, I reported a small corvid flying past my balcony.
My leg got pulled quite a bit with suggestions that it was probably a Blackbird.
It just goes to show what can turn up at any time, any place.
Mike

 

[Josep Manchado]

What a great day with the message from Mirella about a Jackdaw close to his home, i was at the Depuradora of s'Albufera, with a suspicious Tufted duck (maybe it is an hybrid between tufted and scaup), when i crossed the island to go there and try to see a first for me in Balearics. Afortunatelly it was still there with a group of catle egrets.
I repeat, what a great day, despite my sore arm.

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks Pep, it was a great day and good to see you rolling up at the Jackdaw site. I must say, I didn’t know Carlos could drive that fast!
Just to finish my story, my wife got ready early so that we could go to the plover roost this evening after all.
At Colonia it was cold with a biting wind and there were no plovers. I dashed to the salt pans where there have been hundreds recently. Absolutely nothing.
I don’t know where they were roosting but certainly not where they usually are.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

As I was driving to the plover roost last evening, I said to Jane how good dawn and dusk were for winter birds.
As if to demonstrate the statement, Jason photographed a group of 96 Red kite over Cas Concos going to roost last night.
The most I’ve ever seen together is 21 so it was surely the highest ever count.
It must have been a fabulous sight.
Not sure about other birders, but I find large numbers of birds so enthralling, like 50+ Grey herons I saw in the autumn, all flying in a “V” formation together. Fabulous.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A few hours on a very windy Sunday afternoon around S’Albufera.
Very quiet as the birds were hunkering down,however some 40 spps seen.
The main stars were Night Herons, Marbled Ducks, Purple Swamp Hen, Marsh Harriers, Red Knobbed Coot, Meadow and Water Pipits. A single Great Crested Grebe was also seen.

 

[hughm]

What was covered in clingfilm Mike- you, the door or your lunch? Sorry- it's the old teacher in me coming out. Thanks for keeping us Mallorcaphiles up to date. Hugh Matthews- Northampton

 

[Mike Montier]

Haha! Another amazing coincidence Hugh.
I was just re-reading my post as you wrote and I had exactly the same thought, in fact I nearly changed it.
It’s very confusing.
It could, in fact, be any one of those three but it was my lunch. I will be more circumspect next time.
I have taught English here would you believe!
No sign of the Jackdaw today, I went to try to relocate it. Still cold and drizzly here, not at all like the normal “calms of January “ experienced in most years.
The Red-breasted merganser was showing again recently.
I had to drive very near there on my way to take Jane to the cinema but I resisted the temptation. I’m still back-pedaling on the birding front. Instead, we “enjoyed” West Side Story.
That’s two and a half hours of my life I will never get back.
Mike

 

[Ruud3105]

It's good to see there appears to be such a lively birding community (and english speaking) over there on Mallorca, and some great spots so far this year Mike! When time allows I might need to visit Mallorca one day (never been - but so close by)!

I will continue to follow your updates!

All the best from Lliçà de Vall, Barcelona
Ruud

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Just jump on the boat Ruud!
A nice day for walks…but quite quiet on the bird front.
Campanet was the first stop..I like the fields, the mountains in the background and the Cafe at the Coves.
Birds seen included Booted Eagles, Raven, Kestrels, Serins, Black Redstarts, Goldfinches, Crag Martins, Robins, Stonechats, and Cattle Egrets.
Boquer Valley was the next short visit. Booted Eagles, Ravens, Blue Rock Thrushes, Griffon Vultures were also seen.
A very pleasent day.

 

[Mike Montier]

I look forward to saying hello one day Ruud, after all, you are not far away!

A nice day out Mike, I look forward to birding with you tomorrow. The pressure is on to find some year ticks, including Dartford warbler I hope.

I popped in Salobrar as part of my daily routine. Just a few very distant golden plovers but vastly more waders. Lots of Little stint and Dunlin. Black-winged stilts, Curlew, Avocet and Ruff. I didn’t have enough time but I’m sure there must be one or two Temminck’s stints in there too.

I’m going to Sa Barrala for the day Thursday, walking the whole area. There have been so many great birds there, not just recently, but over the years too. I have often sung it’s praises and predicted great birds so I’m going to put my money where my mouth is. Here’s hoping.

Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I’m not sure if there has ever been a thread “best birds seen whilst driving” but I’ve had a few.
I can add Common buzzard from a couple of days ago. I just got a glimpse of it near Cologne in the south, but I have learnt not to screw my neck round to get a better view, the car tends to wander a bit. Luckily, I have a built-in warning system, she usually sits next to me.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I forgot, I also went looking for the Jackdaw again today but no sign of it.
It was previously feeding in a field at the side of a private house. It had just been ploughed (the field, not the house Hugh!) and many Cattle egrets were feeding with it.
They have all gone.
The owner of the house is maybe wondering why many people are taking an interest in his property. He certainly didn’t look at all happy with my presence.
Mike

 

[derban]

I finally got out and about today and went down to the Salobrar for a slice of the action there. It was 0°C when I arrived just as the sun was rising, but once again it was delightful to see the marshland warming and waking up. I was entirely alone and enjoyed the peace and the range of birds there. Of course many were the usual suspects - flamingoes, shelduck, mallard and so on, but nevertheless, great egret, little egret, grey heron, cormorant, greenshank, grey plover, marsh harrier, black-headed gull, meadow pipit, black-winged stilt and a flypast of a flock of dunlin, not to mention a circling osprey made me very happy to be here again.

 

[Ruud3105]

Who knows, I hope to be able to jump over sometime this year. I am sure the misses would like it, just leave her at the beach and go birding!