Mallorca 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Montier]

We met Mike Swiss and Susan for what has now become an annual outing at Porto Colom, where we meet, walk, see very few birds, have lunch, a nice chat and then go home.
It’s a lot of fun but we just dont seem to have any luck seeing the much publicised specialities like Dartford warbler.
We did see and hear Balearic warbler, plenty of Song thrush, Robins, Kestrel and huge numbers of Black redstarts and Stonechats. They seem to be everywhere.
We had a lunch at a local bar which has to be among the best value on the Island. For meat eaters, the botifarón (blood sausage)baguette is far and away the best I have ever eaten..and by far the cheapest too.
On the sea there were at least 30+ Balearic shearwaters but without telescope, it would be difficult to claim any Yelkouan shearwater. We did not see any Gannet or the hoped for Great skua.
Not wishing to be beaten by the curse of Porto Colom, we made for the dizzy heights of San Salvador as two Alpine accentors had been seen there. No luck but it’s still a very special place. Mike briefly saw a group of 4 or 5 possible Bramblings flying by and I just got onto them in time. I have to agree they looked good for that species but sadly not good enough to tick.
Chaffinch, Chiff-chaff, Great tit and Blackcap were added to the list.
It was a great day out as usual and lots of fun.
The lack of bird photos reflects the day really but lots of wild flowers and almond blossom almost makes up for it.
Both places are worth visiting for the views alone, they are very special to us.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

I spent most of the day in the fields around Sa Barrala.
I thought that the flocks of Larks, Pipits and Buntings deserved more attention.
Sadly, it seems like most of the birds have moved on, just a few stragglers remain.
I saw 40 species including a lovely Black kite, which I have seen on every visit, and lots of Marsh harrier, Kestrel and Red kite.
No real surprises today but it was a very good walk now that the biting north winds have dropped.
I moved on to the salt pans. Again, nothing new, just bigger numbers of Dunlin, Little stint, Greenshank and Avocet.
I scanned the Golden plover roost yet again but no sign of anything unusual..
What makes it such a pleasure is the blue sky, sunshine, wild flowers and now that the blossom is appearing, it all helps to create a pretty picture.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

After the influence of Mike, I needed to see some birds..A few hours spent around Lluc today helped.
The weather was a little balmy, however the skies were clear and it was a very pleasent drive up to the monastery at this time of the year (not too many cyclists).
Several distant views of Griffon Vultures (7 or 8) and Black Vultures(3) were seen. In addition Red Kites, Kestrels, Peregrine and Ravens were noted.
The Monastery is one of my favourite places for Blue tits, and it did not let me down.
The Restaurant in the Monastery was open for Coffee and Almond cake.
This site should be on every visitors agenda!

 

[Phil Akers]

Had a good day out yesterday with Susan and Mike Swiss and my friend John Crane.
We started off in the fields west of Maria de la Salut, it was a little chilly but blue sky and sunshine. We were hoping, rather optimistically, to find common Crane ( my friend`s namesake) but no luck. But we did find some nice birds. A large flock of Golden Plover flew over, about 130 birds, a lovely site to see. We found a Peregrine Falcon perched on the top of an electricity pylon, probably female, it looked rather large. Among others we also had, Red Kite, Red Legged Partridge, Corn Bunting, Raven, White Wagtail and Common Kestrel.
Next stop was the Depuradora behind the Albufera. When we arrived there we met a prominent local birder, Jordi ? I think his name was. He said he'd found a Gargany and was going to report it as it was a very uncommon find for this time of year. As it happens , Phil Garnett found a Gargany at the Sa Roca hide, Albufera, along with myself and Mike Montier on the 30th December 2021. Surely this has to be the same bird? Anyway we spent an hour and a half or so on the viewing platform . There were lots of Shoveller and Teal in the distant right hand pond. On the pond in front we saw, Water Pipit, Green and Common Sandpipers, Shelduck, lots of Little Grebes and Coots, Chiffchaffs and Cettis Warbler.
Mike and Susan decided to go to the tower at Samarador next. So we said our goodbyes and John and I went on to the Albufera.
Walking up the lane toward the visitor centre we lots of Night Herons in their usual roosting places in the bushes lining the far bank of the canal. We also saw Marbled Duck and Gadwall on the canal. We tried the new Sa Roca hide next, lots of Teal, Lapwing, Black Winged Stilts, no small waders. On to the 2 Cibollar hides on the other side of the canal. Walking down the lane to the hides I spotted a Kingfisher flying across the canal, I had to wait for 9 months to find one last year! At the hides, plenty of Cormorants about 20 Avocet, Water Pipit, Little Egrets. again no small waders.
Very few decent Photo opportunities but a most enjoyable day.

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Excellent report Phil.
Quiet at S’Amarador.
Birds seen included Cattle Egrets, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Marsh Harriers and Kestrels and a nice Great Crested Grebe. A possible Black Kite flew over but no chance of a photo.
Thanks for the organisation and wonderful cake!

 

[Mike Montier]

My first serious seawatch this year at my local lighthouse tonight.
54 Balearic shearwaters went south, including one definite and one probable, Yelkouan shearwater.
The Yelkouan look more black and white, especially the rear third of the bird, but the outstanding feature is the jizz, they fly differently and appear smaller and rounder winged. Tonight’s bird was at the rear of 9 Balearics and then proceeded to overtake the whole lot! A definite pointer.
A Gannet flew by followed by two terns. I had the choice of really looking at them or getting photos. I know I sound like a broken record at times, but it is a real dilemma. The best way of ever having a record accepted is by taking photos and tonight I chose the latter option. The result is, as is often the case, lots of unrecognisable photos. I guess they were Sandwich terns, the only realistic possibility in January. Certainly one was but the other tern looked different with a much shorter bill and a lot bulkier. I will never know of course, but that’s part of the curse of seawatching.
It was a good start though and will be the first of many visits from now on. The numbers will build up, it’s very exciting to count every time and to see the changes. That’s the beauty of seawatching, you just never know what’s coming round the corner next.
Mike

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A pleasent afternoon trip to Son Real.
Many families enjoying the holiday weekend.
From the hide, Robin,Blackcap,Serin,Greenfinch,Sardinian Warbler,Song Thrush, Great tit,Chiffchaff,Goldfinch and Blackbird seen. The star was the appearance of the Hawfinch.
Walking down to the beach Thekla Larks,Water pipits,Red Legged Partridge, and many Song Thrushes,Robins,Crossbills, Kestrels and Sardinian Warblers were seen. At least 6 Balearic Warblers were seen or heard.
On the beach amongst the holiday makers were Audouin Gulls,Kentish Plovers,Thekla Larks,Yellow Legged Gulls,and Shags. Two Turnstones were also seen.
A great way to spend a Sunny Saturday afternoon.

 

[Mike Montier]

I took a friend to the airport very early this morning and couldn’t resist calling in at the salt pans on the way home.
Lots of Golden plover but they all got put up by a passing Osprey giving me a chance to count them. Approximately 200 were flying but not many returned to the same area. They all looked very normal to me, that one different bird is proving mighty elusive. It’s just a question of luck I suppose.
Further down the road to Es Trenc, there was a good selection of waders and lots of birdwatchers so I believe it must have been the winter census in progress.
I even snuck in at passage 5 for a while. It’s just one of those places that fills me with joy, I don’t know why, it’s got a certain magic.
There was lots of activity, especially in the air, so I will return soon to spend some more time there.
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

I left the house in the north east at 2.30 am yesterday for the 3 hours drive to Manchester for an early flight to Palma which was about 60% full. Palma airport was deserted, security and health checks very quick and I was in Port de Pollenca by 12.30pm. A lazy day today, staying local, starting at Maristany which has 100+ common pochard, lots of little grebe and Shoveller. On to Albufereta with 70+ flamingo on the main ponds, several great white egret, gadwall, both red and black kite, marsh harrier, 2 ospreys together and booted eagle. The garden of the finca between the 2 hides had a group of about 12 serin and a few black redstarts. Sa Barcassa pond was very quiet other than 200+ coot. I walked around the mound and found 2 red kites sat in the newly ploughed field. Closer inspection produced dozens of passerines, linnets, meadow pipits, corn buntings, sky larks, black redstarts and at least a 10 white wagtail. Can Cuarassa was disappointingly quiet. Made it back to the Port for a well earned pint. 57 species gets the year off to a decent start.

 

[Geordie Dave]

The extension to the pond at Sa Barcassa at Albufereta is looking good. It now almost reaches Carrer den Salvador Dali. It makes a trip to the screen hide worthwhile. Early this afternoon there were plenty of Kentish plover and a dunlin close up.

 

[StewB]

I left the house in the north east at 2.30 am yesterday for the 3 hours drive to Manchester for an early flight to Palma which was about 60% full. Palma airport was deserted, security and health checks very quick and I was in Port de Pollenca by 12.30pm. A lazy day today, staying local, starting at Maristany which has 100+ common pochard, lots of little grebe and Shoveller. On to Albufereta with 70+ flamingo on the main ponds, several great white egret, gadwall, both red and black kite, marsh harrier, 2 ospreys together and booted eagle. The garden of the finca between the 2 hides had a group of about 12 serin and a few black redstarts. Sa Barcassa pond was very quiet other than 200+ coot. I walked around the mound and found 2 red kites sat in the newly ploughed field. Closer inspection produced dozens of passerines, linnets, meadow pipits, corn buntings, sky larks, black redstarts and at least a 10 white wagtail. Can Cuarassa was disappointingly quiet. Made it back to the Port for a well earned pint. 57 species gets the year off to a decent start.

Really glad you’ve made it back over there Dave!

 

[Mcnswiss2]

A Sunday afternoon local walk up Puig de Sant Marti.
This is one of my favourite sites for Dunnock and Wren, however today it was not to be.
Its an easy walk and opportunities for birds are there and the views at top are tremendous.
Birds seen today included Peregrine ( also calling so maybe a nesting pair?), Ravens, Kestrel, Sardinian Warblers, Crossbills, Great tits, Flamingoes and Great White Egrets (in S’Albuferata), Robins, and Crag Martins.

 

[Geordie Dave]

I headed south with Mike Swiss on a lovely, blue sky, sunny, January day. After a cool start we enjoyed temperatures of 15-16° for the rest of the day. First stop was Salobrar de Campos on the Es Trenc road. It was very quiet for waders but we did see plenty of little stint, 3 ruff, Kentish plover and a few avocet. We were surprised just how quiet the area was and saw only 2 cars in almost 2 hours on the Es Trenc road which is normally very busy. After coffee at the salt works we went to Eddies Track and apart from a group of 15-20 golden plover in flight a redshank, a number of greenshank and 2 stunning Male marsh harriers in flight there was little else of note. Next stop was Sa Barala and the polo pitches. Mike kept saying “Mike Montier always sees black kite here but we’ll see nothing”. The pitches were deserted apart from a few meadow pipits and white wagtails. We decided to stay and have our sandwiches and enjoy the sunshine despite the lack of birds. Deep in conversation about nothing in particular a black kite appeared in front of us heading in our direction and seemingly in slow motion flew directly over our heads not more than 30 feet above us. Needless to say all we had were cheese sandwiches to capture the moment, both of us having left our cameras in the car!!
We then moved on to the central plains at Mari de la Salut and enjoyed an hour or so walking the lanes. Booted eagle, red kites and marsh harrier were the highlights and we did disturb around 500 starlings from an olive grove. We then made a quick stop at the Depuradora on the way home where we saw several hundred shoveller, grey wagtail and marbled duck. We finished on 61 species on the day. Needing to take on fluid we retired to Rosa Blanca for a well earned couple of pints. Good company, good craic as always on a beautiful winter day when Mallorca looked at its finest. Thanks Mike.

 

[Alf King]

You folks are clearly having a great time out there. Please excuse this enquiry if it is on the wrong thread.

My wife and I are coming out to Mallorca, staying in Peurto Pollensa (sp?) in June. I know this isn't exactly an optimum time for birding but other factors are at play. We have visited and birded the island many times from 1980 up until 2008 but this will be our first trip for 14 years, so things are likely to have changed considerably. Can anyone point me to a comprehensive resource of information about the current best sites on the island, please?

Have visited many times in the past I have copies of most of the books, including an original Eddie Watkinson and even an older Ornitholidays guide. Obviously these are now well out of date but still make for pleasurable reading and reminiscence. I have spent many a happy hour up Boquer searching for Marmora's (as we then believed them to be), plodded around S'Abufereta, been shouted at by a farmer on S'Albufera before it was a reserve, sought out Audouin's at Porto Colom when that was the best site to find them and getting thoroughly lost in the streets of Petra. Happy days, which I do hope to recreate.

On the other hand Son Real and Maristany are unknown to me. Any help and advice that anyone can offer will be gratefully received. I will have a car, by the way.

 

[Josep Manchado]

You folks are clearly having a great time out there. Please excuse this enquiry if it is on the wrong thread.

My wife and I are coming out to Mallorca, staying in Peurto Pollensa (sp?) in June. I know this isn't exactly an optimum time for birding but other factors are at play. We have visited and birded the island many times from 1980 up until 2008 but this will be our first trip for 14 years, so things are likely to have changed considerably. Can anyone point me to a comprehensive resource of information about the current best sites on the island, please?

Have visited many times in the past I have copies of most of the books, including an original Eddie Watkinson and even an older Ornitholidays guide. Obviously these are now well out of date but still make for pleasurable reading and reminiscence. I have spent many a happy hour up Boquer searching for Marmora's (as we then believed them to be), plodded around S'Abufereta, been shouted at by a farmer on S'Albufera before it was a reserve, sought out Audouin's at Porto Colom when that was the best site to find them and getting thoroughly lost in the streets of Petra. Happy days, which I do hope to recreate.

On the other hand Son Real and Maristany are unknown to me. Any help and advice that anyone can offer will be gratefully received. I will have a car, by the way.

Hi Alf, I know i am interested side with these books, but anyway i will answer you, We havethe more comprehensive and complete books now in the market, made by locals birders with many information an a very accurate translation to english, made also by english birders. These 2 books are:

• Birding Tourist's Guide Majorca
• Birds of / Vögel von MALLORCA.

The Birds/Vogels has the last full complet list of all the birds seen at Mallorca until last year. You can buy them at www.birdingmajorca.com

 

[Alf King]

Hi Pep,

Thanks for this information - I don't know how I failed to find this web site the first time.

I have ordered the Tourist's Guide and the map from the site. Now I just hope that UK customs don't try to charge me a silly tax to have them delivered.

All the best.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Alf
It’s great to hear from you. Your name pops up here and there and from time to time. Philip Garnett only mentioned you the other day.
I only wish I had been around in those days.
I have read all the old literature with green eyes, wishing I could have met some of the characters from those early days. I hope we get to meet one day. I will just sit and listen to your stories from that time. I bet you’ve got a few. I would love to hear about rarities and discovering new places.
I find the old literature still very relevant. Hearl is still good. A few changes have taken place but it’s still fun to leaf through and compare to today’s experiences.
The books Pep suggests are the best, no doubt, and there are some new sites listed on the map.
Maristany I believe was called Toucan marsh by the Brits. Postage stamp Wood is still there but smaller.
I tend to use local names for places now though.
The bird life has partly changed as it has done everywhere, but some new species have been discovered both on migration and over-wintering here.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
All the best,
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

I met Kevin Hughes this morning to spend a day exploring Son Real reserve. We had 2 hours in the hide at the drinking pool and were rewarded with serins, blackcap, goldfinches,hoopoe, 2 different Hawfinches (based on bill colour) and a wren which I’ve not seen here before. We continued on through the woods and down to the coast where we saw turnstones, shags, audouins gull and many thekla larks. Heading along the beach in the direction of Son Baulo we cut back into the area of low scrub hoping for some elusive warblers. We saw plenty of Sardinian warblers before we heard at least 4 Balearic warblers. After a patient search we then found one perched in clear sight and managed some photos, unfortunately we were looking into the sun at this point. In the same area we also had brief views of what we thought was a Dartford warbler, in an area they are known to frequent. Retraced our steps and had another hour in the hide before leaving just before dark. A very enjoyable 8 hours. Good craic Kevin, thanks for your company.
Tomorrow Albufera awaits!!

 

[derban]

A great day out today at Albufera today - with many thanks to MikeM for asking me along, MikeSwiss, Geordie Dave, Phil Akers and Kevin for great chat, fun, hospitality and not least an introduction to full-on birding with a bunch of Brits. Never a dull moment. Oh, and the birds. Well I was well pleased with my haul, thirty-two species in all, 19 ticks to add to my modest list for the year, beautiful sunshine and a glorious location with hardly any visitors except us. Is there a causal connection? Some of my highlights were night heron, ringed and little ringed plover, snipe, purple gallinule, gadwall, glossy ibis, meadow and water pipit, lapwing, shoveler, red-knobbed and common coot, great crested grebe, avocet and marbled duck (thanks Mike!). See you again soon, I hope!

 

[Geordie Dave]

Shag with a back pack seen at the canal mouth at Albufera. Does anyone know what this means; a satellite tracking device??