Mallorca 2023 (17 Viewers)

[Geordie Dave]

Thanks for this very useful info Dave. Right, Honey Buzzard is off my hit list; I obviously didn't do my homework 😀 . So I now need to replace it with something more realistic. A Long-eared Owl would be fantastic but maybe a touch ambitious as would be a Nightjar. I considered a Montoni's Warbler but confusion with it's 'cousins' could be a potential issue for me. Hhhmm, think I'll sleep on it.

I watched nightjar and heard several more at S’Iliot/Son Bosc area near Depuradora just a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen them there the last 4 years. There have been reports of several Moltonis at Cuber and after a blank trip 3 weeks ago I was lucky enough to see 1 between the quarry and the refuge the following week.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Ian
Nightjars perform every night in Mondragó but I believe visiting birders have a site up north.
Long-eared owls used to be easy too around Parc Mondragó but as I have recently said, lots of building works and a new hotel have driven them away.
I’m sure there is a well known location around Pollença. I will ask around.

Hi Richard
The lady in question was from Andalucía which I understand is the home of gazpacho.
Her measurements were as imprecise as I expected them to be but she has six grandchildren and makes whopping amounts.
The tomatoes are the most important ingredient. She uses pear-shaped tomatoes and they must be super-ripe. They are available in every supermarket here. I used about one kilo.
Then a peeled and de-seeded cucumber, although I only used half. I have always used green peppers but she insists that is where I’m going wrong.
One clove of garlic with the green vein removed (that is the malodorous part), a couple of slugs of white wine vinegar and a slice of stale bread, a few glugs of extra-virgen olive oil and that’s about it.
I blitzed it all in a blender and then put it through a sieve which removes all the seeds and leaves a glorious silky-smooth soup.
Salt and pepper to taste but they are really important.
I serve it with some very finely chopped green pepper, egg and quality ham, all in small dishes at the side, which can be put in the soup, or eaten with it.
Everything must be as cold as possible.
That’s it I think.
Good luck if you make it.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

Recipes always make me laugh. I once asked how to make an omelette at a party in France and it started a huge argument with people shouting at each other that they were wrong.
It will be the same with gazpacho, paella and any other regional dish you care to mention.
Good job this is a birding forum and not a cooking one, otherwise it would all kick off.
Mike

 

[StewB]

Thanks for this very useful info Dave. Right, Honey Buzzard is off my hit list; I obviously didn't do my homework 😀 . So I now need to replace it with something more realistic. A Long-eared Owl would be fantastic but maybe a touch ambitious as would be a Nightjar. I considered a Montoni's Warbler but confusion with it's 'cousins' could be a potential issue for me. Hhhmm, think I'll sleep on it.

As Dave says later, son Bosc / S’Illot is reliable for nightjars (as are the mosquitos - long sleeves and copious insect repellent essential). Cuber is the Moltoni’s site nearest to the northern birding areas, although a contributor posted a site further south recently that looks really excellent. My understanding is that Moltoni’s is the summer resident and other Subalpines are passage birds, so ID shouldn’t be a problem. It’s worth checking out the call as this is often the best way to pick the birds up, and Moltoni’s call is diagnostic.

Stew

 

[Ian Pollença]

As Dave says later, son Bosc / S’Illot is reliable for nightjars (as are the mosquitos - long sleeves and copious insect repellent essential). Cuber is the Moltoni’s site nearest to the northern birding areas, although a contributor posted a site further south recently that looks really excellent. My understanding is that Moltoni’s is the summer resident and other Subalpines are passage birds, so ID shouldn’t be a problem. It’s worth checking out the call as this is often the best way to pick the birds up, and Moltoni’s call is diagnostic.

Stew

Thanks for this Stew. Think I'll put the Moltoni's Warbler on my reserve bird hit list. In the meantime I shall learn his song just in case.

 

[Ian Pollença]

I watched nightjar and heard several more at S’Iliot/Son Bosc area near Depuradora just a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen them there the last 4 years. There have been reports of several Moltonis at Cuber and after a blank trip 3 weeks ago I was lucky enough to see 1 between the quarry and the refuge the following week.

Thanks Dave. I think I'll replace the Honey Buzzard with a Nightjar even though I'm not expecting to see one.

 

[Mike Montier]

It was my annual outing with Ian (Ben Nevis) today and what a brilliant day it was.
Hopes were not too high as we are still in the summer lull, but we were very happily wrong about that.
Firstly, it was great to see Ian again, and secondly, we were entertained constantly by a steady flow of cracking birds.
Having picked Ian up in Pollença, we made for Maristany. We saw Great crested grebes with young, Yellow-legged gull, Red-crested pochard Common tern, and just as I was setting my scope up, a Little bittern flashed past. I didn’t see it which was a shame as it was one of my two most wanted birds for the year list.
We then went to the horse paddock at Son Bosc. There to greet us were 5 or 6 dazzling Bee-eaters flying past calling and occasionally sitting on the overhead wires.
A pale morph Booted eagle drifted low over the fields giving great views.
More than happy, we went to Son Real in the hope of finding Ian’s most wanted bird, the Turtle dove.
From the hide, we had a constant flow of birds coming to drink and bathe.
It’s that time of the year though, where most of the birds were juvenile which some say is challenging but they give me a headache.
Ian saw and photographed a juvenile Nightingale. What a beauty.
There were young Crossbill, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House sparrow, Serin and Linnet.
I heard Turtle dove calling which put Ian on high alert. Sure enough, he excitedly called out that two doves had flown into a nearby tree.
Turtle doves!
Ian was thrilled and I was very happy for him. These days, it’s almost as good as seeing a new bird for myself. He was certainly sporting a big smile.
Just as we stepped out of the hide, a Two-tailed pasha glided by.
What a perfect ending to a super morning.
Thanks Ian.
Look after those Highland birds.
Mike

 

[Mike Montier]

A few more

 

[Owene]

Well done on the pasha. I have seen one but only in flight and despite desperate attempts didn’t get close to a photo.

 

[Mike Montier]

Red-crested pochard, not grebe!
Thanks Ian
Mike

 

[Ian Pollença]

Recipes always make me laugh. I once asked how to make an omelette at a party in France and it started a huge argument with people shouting at each other that they were wrong.
It will be the same with gazpacho, paella and any other regional dish you care to mention.
Good job this is a birding forum and not a cooking one, otherwise it would all kick off.
Mike

It was my annual outing with Ian (Ben Nevis) today and what a brilliant day it was.
Hopes were not too high as we are still in the summer lull, but we were very happily wrong about that.
Firstly, it was great to see Ian again, and secondly, we were entertained constantly by a steady flow of cracking birds.
Having picked Ian up in Pollença, we made for Maristany. We saw Great crested grebes with young, Yellow-legged gull, Red-crested pochard Common tern, and just as I was setting my scope up, a Little bittern flashed past. I didn’t see it which was a shame as it was one of my two most wanted birds for the year list.
We then went to the horse paddock at Son Bosc. There to greet us were 5 or 6 dazzling Bee-eaters flying past calling and occasionally sitting on the overhead wires.
A pale morph Booted eagle drifted low over the fields giving great views.
More than happy, we went to Son Real in the hope of finding Ian’s most wanted bird, the Turtle dove.
From the hide, we had a constant flow of birds coming to drink and bathe.
It’s that time of the year though, where most of the birds were juvenile which some say is challenging but they give me a headache.
Ian saw and photographed a juvenile Nightingale. What a beauty.
There were young Crossbill, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House sparrow, Serin and Linnet.
I heard Turtle dove calling which put Ian on high alert. Sure enough, he excitedly called out that two doves had flown into a nearby tree.
Turtle doves!
Ian was thrilled and I was very happy for him. These days, it’s almost as good as seeing a new bird for myself. He was certainly sporting a big smile.
Just as we stepped out of the hide, a Two-tailed pasha glided by.
What a perfect ending to a super morning.
Thanks Ian.
Look after those Highland birds.
Mike

Great report Mike and always good to see the photos too. So, unfortunately you missed the Little Bittern which is one of the two you want on your year list. I'm intrigued about the other. Care to share?

 

[Mike Montier]

A bit embarrassing but it’s a Tawny pipit.
I must have been very near to one at Son Real today but we didn’t have time to walk to the coast.
I walked the cliffs of Porto Colom where they are a dead cert but drew a blank.
They are also in my local parc but I can’t get near the place for all the tourists.
I’ve forgotten what they look like.
Mike

 

[Ian Pollença]

A bit embarrassing but it’s a Tawny pipit.
I must have been very near to one at Son Real today but we didn’t have time to walk to the coast.
I walked the cliffs of Porto Colom where they are a dead cert but drew a blank.
They are also in my local parc but I can’t get near the place for all the tourists.
I’ve forgotten what they look like.
Mike

No you've not forgotten Mike lol. I remember waiting for you outside the loo with your wife at Albufera reserve 23Apr23, for you to confirm that I had seen a Tawny Pipit at Son Real bird hide 2 hours earlier. I was 99% sure that I had, but you kindly gave me the reassurance (that extra 1%) that I needed. I think you then took Jane (?) out for lunch. Anyway, a new bird for me, so thanks for that. p s I don't normally loiter outside Men's toilets.

 

[Ian Bell]

Great report of a great day,Mike.Despite visiting the Island for many,many,years,lt was brilliant to get a lifer ln the way of Turtle Dove and l can't think of a better friend to share my delight with.Thanks again,Mike.Same time next year ? 😀

 

[Ian Bell]

Oh and we had Pallid Swift at Maristany.

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks Ian.
I also forgot that I saw a Gull-billed tern just before picking you up.
There are currently two at s’Albufera, along with Ruff, Whimbrel and Curlew, so it looks like waders are on the move.
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

After just over a week of persistent rain since I got back to Northumberland and with a similar forecast for the next week I’ve decided to return to Mallorca. I’m arriving on Wednesday this week for 9 days staying in Gotmar, Port de Pollenca. I don’t expect to add much to the Big Year but it does sound like there are some waders on the move so you never know. Whimbrel and Curlew would be good. I hope to catch up with any other visiting birders that might be around.

 

[Mike Montier]

I have received a very good description of an immature Golden oriole, seen on Saturday about 3km from Petra.
I don’t doubt the record at all but it is very early.
I have seen Orioles passing through in August quite a few times before.
Mike

 

[Ian Bell]

I had a visit to Albufereta this morning.Usual suspects around,such as BW Stilts,Stone Curlews,Green Sandpiper,Osprey,Kestrel,Kentish Plovers and 27 Flamingo.
A bird passed calling once overhead and from my quick sighting,lt looked good for Collared Pranticole but l won't be counting lt.

 

[StewB]

I had a visit to Albufereta this morning.Usual suspects around,such as BW Stilts,Stone Curlews,Green Sandpiper,Osprey,Kestrel,Kentish Plovers and 27 Flamingo.
A bird passed calling once overhead and from my quick sighting,lt looked good for Collared Pranticole but l won't be counting lt.

That’s really interesting Ian. On the 12th June I was on the tower at the Albufereta and picked up a distant wader flying towards me from some distance inland. When it crossed the main pools and passed by quite close to the tower it revealed itself to be a Collared Pratincole. It carried on past and headed out directly north over the bay. This birding business is a complete mystery sometimes!

Stew