Today was a good day. First things first, I was checking the wires by the electricity sub-station at Son Bosc for Bee Eaters (there were two) at around 11.35 when I had a fly- past Jackdaw. It flew across the road, over the open area and off low over the trees and lost to view. Jackdaw is a seriously mega Mallorca bird, so I guess that a single observer, no photograph, non-staying record’s chances of acceptance are slim at best. But hey, it’s on my list!
Back to my day.. I set out early to visit the Albufera and to do a complete circuit of Albufera sites. A brief stop at the Sa Barcassa screen en route produced a Great White Egret, Purple Heron and Stone Curlew.
The Albufera was as good as ever in mid June, with lots of Purple Herons, Glossy Ibises, Cattle Egrets etc. Sa Roca provided a trip-tick in the form of three Teal, and a Moustached Warbler was singing from reeds at the back of the scrapes. A Great Reed Warbler was singing from reeds at Ses Pardes, and Crested Coots were in the nearby dykes. I watched a male Black-tailed Skimmer dismember and munch a Small Blue butterfly, and just over the bridge on the main canal a male Little Bittern flew into the reeds. What was presumably his mate was hunting on reed detritus on the dyke nearby. Dragonflies were really good, with Lesser Emperor, Norfolk Hawker, Keeled Skimmer, Violet Dropwing, with Blue-tailed and Goblet-marked Damselflies for company. Marbled Ducks we’re at Cibollar I (2 birds) and Sa Roca (1 bird).
I made a brief visit to the paddocks near Son Bosc and saw three Bee Eaters. At the Bus Depot at Son Bosc I scored with Tree Sparrow (2 birds) for the first time in several visits.
As mentioned earlier, I saw a Jackdaw while I was watching two Bee Eaters at Son Bosc.
A Ruddy Shelduck was on the pool by the gate to the Depuradora at the parking area. From the platform there were nine Marbled Ducks, including a female with a brood of five young.
S’Amarador had its usual singing Great Reed Warbler, and the local Kestrels were feeding at least two fledged young.
The sluice at Sa Font had Norfolk Hawkers, Broad Scarlets, Black-tailed and Keeled Skimmers and Red-veined Darters. The road past the orchards (yet again no Common Waxbills) produced two Common Darters and a fine male Black Pennant.
I had a singing Reed Warbler (first of the trip) at Forcadet, but dragonflies were difficult in a brisk wind along the Cami des Pols. I did manage a Violet Dropwing, Keeled Skimmer and a couple of Broad Scarlets. It was sad to see the area burnt by the recent fires, although some green regrowth is already appearing.
Stew
