Mallorca 2024 (15 Viewers)

[malc2394]

I walked the Boquer this morning and no sign of Balearic Warbler. I was early though so maybe once the sun gets on it they will come out. Also had Wryneck near the car park and Blue Rock Thrush from the Finca. Good at Cuber with Griffon and Black Vulture, Booted Eagle and Rock Pipit. Out listening for Scops Owl at the moment with no sign. Getting hungry so won't be staying long.

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi malc
Rock pipit is very rare in Mallorca, just wondered if you had any photos?
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

8.45 tonight in Gotmar, opposite Rosa Blanca bar Scops Owl calling very loudly. We tracked it down in to Duva apartments. Still calling 10 minutes later but moving around in the hotel grounds.

 

[malc2394]

Hi malc
Rock pipit is very rare in Mallorca, just wondered if you had any photos?
Mike

Hi Mike
Unfortunately not. Pinned it down once but it was flushed by some walkers before I could get camera on it. Two reported there on ebird yesterday as well.

 

[malc2394]

8.45 tonight in Gotmar, opposite Rosa Blanca bar Scops Owl calling very loudly. We tracked it down in to Duva apartments. Still calling 10 minutes later but moving around in the hotel grounds.

I wasn't far away on Carrer del Pinsa but left at 8

 

[Geordie Dave]

I met Peter S this morning and we headed out for a day on the south coast starting at Cap de Ses Salines. A lovely sunny morning with great views across to Cabrera islands. We soon saw the first of the many hundreds of Balearic shearwaters and over the course of the next hour this must have advanced to a thousand or more. In the meantime we had several larger, lazier moving Scopoli passing through. We saw 2 gannet fairly close in and possibly more moving past in the distance. Our next stop was to Eddies Track at Salobrar de Campos where all of the ponds had water in them. We saw about 100 flamingo and at least as many avocets before finding a single black tailed godwit and 2 greenshank. The waders were then disturbed by a raptor flying overhead and we are still undecided as to whether this was a peregrine or an early Hobby. The joys of birding and sometimes just not knowing. The Es Trenc road was very quiet with no waders, a few stilts and avocets and several patrolling marsh harriers. From there we went to the Sa Baralla polo pitches where they were dozens of white wagtail and meadow pipits, a few linnets and a group of 16 serin feeding on the grass. It was as now time to head north and home. Another lovely day on this beautiful island and 40 species seen.

 

[Jonny Holliday]

Hi all - i have a week in Can Picafort (staying near southern end of town near Aldi) from 4th May. I have visited Son Real before, is it possible to access there from the town along the beach/seafront? also, any other sites within walking distance? any help or advice appreciated.

Jonny

 

[Mike Montier]

Hi Jonny
I’m sure many people on here can help you.
I believe it is possible to walk the coast and access Son Real from either direction but others will confirm and hopefully suggest some other sites nearby.
I believe public transport is good for places like Albufera and Maristany.
Good luck. Do let us know what you see.
Mike

 

[Jonny Holliday]

Hi Jonny
I’m sure many people on here can help you.
I believe it is possible to walk the coast and access Son Real from either direction but others will confirm and hopefully suggest some other sites nearby.
I believe public transport is good for places like Albufera and Maristany.
Good luck. Do let us know what you see.
Mike

Will do Mike! i think i will be able to walk out to the old bus depot and on to the Depudora platform, and i have used the bus along to the north before so will be doing that also. are the little saltpans half way along main road to Albufera still attracting birds do you know ?

 

[Mike Montier]

Being a bit fond of suffering, I undertook two seawatches today.
I spent a while this morning at Porto Colom and as things seemed a bit lively, I thought I would do a count at my local lighthouse tonight at Porto Petro.
Balearic shearwater: 2580
Scopoli’s shearwater: 721
No gannets tonight nor Great skua but I live in hope.
It’s interesting to see how the numbers mount up each week and I hope to get an accurate period when the numbers peak.
I got a Blue rock thrush in the morning but nothing else tonight. There is very little variety around these parts but then the odd surprise pops up and gets the adrenaline going.
Mike

 

[Ian Pollença]

Hi all - i have a week in Can Picafort (staying near southern end of town near Aldi) from 4th May. I have visited Son Real before, is it possible to access there from the town along the beach/seafront? also, any other sites within walking distance? any help or advice appreciated.

Jonny

Yes, definitely, a lovely walk. I did it again yesterday. Saw a few Thekla Lark. Also Shag on S'Illot des Porros. Nearly always Andouin's Gull too. There are a few ways to enter the Son Real estate from the beach. You can also walk up the Torrent Son Baulo as there is a proper path up as far as the posh hotel which is gated off for now. When the gates open in holiday season you can return to Can Picafort this way.

 

[Ian Pollença]

5 x very confiding Turnstone at Cala Gamba this a.m. I x Black-winged Stilt on the beach. And a Sandwich Tern diving right in front of us 15m away was great to watch. Called in at Bassa de Can Guidet to see 5 x Black- Necked Grebe. No Swift today but there were about 10 (most probably Common) on Saturday 10th March along with House Martins and Swallows.

 

[malc2394]

Another good day with 45 species at Albufera including Marbled Duck, Red Knobbed Coot and Purple Swamphen. Depurado was interesting but fairly quiet, 5 Common Sandpiper 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Yellow Wagtails the best. 2 Booted Eagles at Alcudia were nice as were Kingfishers at Albufereta and Can Cuirassa. Finished of with 2 Spotless Starling at house number 16. After walking ot after dinner I had no luck with the Scops again unfortunately. Flying home tomorrow evening so a day in the south is being planned.

 

[Geordie Dave]

A quiet local day today with a trip to Albufereta then on to the scrape behind the Port Blue resort hotel. A decent selection of the usual suspects at Sa Barcassa pond with 20 flamingo and several stilts, Kentish plover, a greenshank, kingfisher and common sandpiper. There were 3-4 great white egrets on the main pools. At the scrape there were several green finches, gold finches and serins. Bird of the day though was a Scops owl calling very loudly in Gotmar near the former Stefanos restaurant at about 9.30pm, a regular occurrence here.

 

[ggshrike]

At Boquer Valley yesterday and saw three booted eagles, blue rock thrush, red kite and around 50 ravens flying together up high! An impressive sight !!

 

[malc2394]

A quiet local day today with a trip to Albufereta then on to the scrape behind the Port Blue resort hotel. A decent selection of the usual suspects at Sa Barcassa pond with 20 flamingo and several stilts, Kentish plover, a greenshank, kingfisher and common sandpiper. There were 3-4 great white egrets on the main pools. At the scrape there were several green finches, gold finches and serins. Bird of the day though was a Scops owl calling very loudly in Gotmar near the former Stefanos restaurant at about 9.30pm, a regular occurrence here.

I was around the Duva apartments around that time. Only heard traffic and people playing tennis. Was not to be so one for next time.

 

[Ian Pollença]

A 2 hour stint sea watching very close to Porto Colom lighthouse this p.m. Immediately saw a Gannet flying north, quite close in, followed by another one a minute later. Balearic Shearwater were travelling the other way in singles, then gradually building up in smallish groups. The larger Scopoli's Shearwater passed through too but in smaller numbers; they seemed to be in less of a rush, even wandering a little, whilst the Balearic seemed to fly a little faster and more directly. (Just my observation, but I stand to be corrected). Sorry, I didn't count them, but there were 'lots'.

 

[Mike Montier]

I really enjoyed your report Ian, it just about sums up seawatching here in Mallorca.
Your description of the shearwater behavior is very accurate.
Glad you got to see some birds. It can become addictive though!
Mike

 

[Geordie Dave]

A great day out in the mountains today but be warned the cycling season is upon us and with it hundreds of entitled, lyrca clad, mobile phone wielding, selfie taking people with no regard for the rules of the road. Riding 4 a breast and taking downhill corners on the wrong side of the road. Meanwhile in other news!! We arrived at a glorious Cuber this morning and walked a lap of the reservoir where water levels are very low. Within minutes of arriving we were struck by the activity overhead which peaked with around 60 ravens, some of them diving in to the 12 or more griffon vultures either perched or in the air. We had 4 separate wryneck calling loudly as we proceeded around the track. We then moved on to Gorg Blau reservoir where things became even more interesting. We picked out 16 griffon vultures perched on the cliff tops with about 10 more in the air. We were then treated to as many as 6 black vultures, a peregrine that landed to preen nearby and 2 red kites. Every where we looked there were vultures and ravens in the sky, the most I’ve seen in the island. We headed back down the road and called in at Mortix for a walk through the vineyards and half way up the track to the refuge. Our target bird was Bonellis eagle which I was fortunate enough to see in January. The vineyards were alive with black redstart but little else. As we made our way up the track I found a very distant bird sat on a rock, if eventually took flight and showed itself to be Bonellis eagle and it gave good fly past views for about 10 minutes. Mission accomplished we headed back to base in Port de Pollenca for a beer. A fantastic day in glorious sunshine where I managed to combine two of my favourite locations in Cuber and Mortix. Thank you to Peter S for great company as always.

 

[Geordie Dave]

….and some more photos from today