Mallorca 2024 (17 Viewers)

[ChrisMc1957]

Today Mike M strayed from his Southerly abode, and we had a really good day at the Albufera.

There were at least 18 Night Herons in the bushes across the Gran Canal as we walked in, and a juvenile Squacco was near the Cattle Egret colony. The Caspian Tern (presumably yesterday’s bird) flew over, heading in the direction of Es Columbars, but sadly was not seen again.

At the “new” Sa Roca hide our attention was grabbed by a smallish wader, which resolved itself as a Pectoral Sandpiper - an excellent find and which almost resulted in a high-five! Other waders present were a Wood Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Spotted Redshank, four Greenshanks and at least three Green Sandpipers. Glossy Ibises and Purple Gallinules Made up the numbers.

A Cormorant and a Pochard were of interest at the Ses Pardes hide, but a ringtail Montague’s Harrier circling over and drifting south was particularly pleasing.

A Little Bittern was skulking in the reeds on the northern side of the Gran Canal Bridge, but another bird was fishing in the open in the small canal by the turning to Es Cibollar. Astonishingly, another juvenile Squacco was fishing in the open on the other side, just a few metres away!

The Es Cibollar hides produced lots of Black-winged Stilts (127 from Es Cibollar I), 37 Flamingos, 40+ Kentish Plovers, 2 Ruff and a Ringed Plover. 59 Flamingos could be seen looking south from the Es Columbars track.

On our return walk we called again at Sa Roca, hoping to see a male Bluethroat that was photographed earlier by Ryan Wood, but we had used up all our luck already and didn’t see it, although it was nice to see a Kingfisher which streaked across the pool.

Stew

Sounds like you both had a great day Stew, nice report, my wife and I love that reserve, when we were last there, November last year we also managed to get some photos of a Kingfisher at the Sa Roca hide along with a Purple Gallinule in the same place.

Nice photos!

 

[Mike Montier]

Thanks for a great day Stew and a wonderful weekend.
Some great birds and invigorating conversations, not to mention the top-class sandwiches.
On the way home I saw 37 Red kites together, circling a field of sheep. Presumably feeding on a carcass nearby.
Mike

 

[Phil Andrews]

I am busy planning next year's holiday in Mallorca - 2 weeks from approx 20th July. I am familiar with most of the birding locations but where are the best sites on the island for butterflies and dragonflies?

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Here is a list of butterflies from Menorca ( similar to Mallorca).
Best places worth visiting include Son Real for Two Tailed Pasha, Albuferata for Blues, Swallowtails, Speckled Woods, Fisherman's walk for Grayling, Ternelles for Monachs..
Stewb is good for Dragonflies..Ternelles is good for me.
I add the documents later

 

[Mcnswiss2]

List of butterflies of Menorca - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Phil Andrews]

Here is a list of butterflies from Menorca ( similar to Mallorca).
Best places worth visiting include Son Real for Two Tailed Pasha, Albuferata for Blues, Swallowtails, Speckled Woods, Fisherman's walk for Grayling, Ternelles for Monachs..
Stewb is good for Dragonflies..Ternelles is good for me.
I add the documents later

Many thanks 👍

 

[StewB]

This morning I parked near the Roman Bridge at Pollenca and walked up the Cami de Ternelles as far as the security gates. The sun was hazy and there was a bit of a breeze, so sadly there were no dragonflies on the irrigation tanks in either pass. There were Serins, Blackcaps, Firecrests and Blue Tits, and near the gates there was lots of Crossbill action, with groups of up to six birds flying around and calling from the trees.

I stood for around 45 minutes about 100 metres before the gates. There were Ravens, a Red Kite, some noisy Kestrels and a few Crag Martins. I saw a total of four Black Vultures and five Griffons, and had several views of at least two different Booted Eagles. Back at the car park I saw a Southern Brown Argus and a few Lang’s Short-tailed Blues.

At the southern end of the Cami Volantina (near the bridge) there was a Violet Dropwing, a Broad Scarlet and a Lesser Emperor. As I was leaving the car after parking at the northern end, a flock of c30 Bee Eaters came through at eye-level, heading south - a stunning experience. A yellow wagtail flew over calling. Dragonflies along the stream included three Emperors (including an ovipositing female), three Lesser Emperors and two more mating pairs, at least seven Violet Dropwings and 15+ Blue-tailed Damselflies. Red-eared Sliders and Atlantic Blue Crabs were, unfortunately, all along the stream.

Nearby, I checked the screens and pools at Can Cuarassa. On the open pool near the road there were several male Red-veined Darters and a few Blue-tailed Damselflies. A Kingfisher was at the second screen and two Kestrels were harassing a Booted Eagle over the field.

Stew

 

[Mike Montier]

Stunning photos Stew.
I managed a sneaky two plus hours at the Cap this morning.
As soon as I got out of the car, a beautifully marked Honey buzzard was directly above but it drifted off to the south before I could get my camera ready.
There were three flocks of noisy Bee-eaters flying around but locating them is very hard. I locked on to one group of 13 which went south.
I saw two raptors high in the sky moving south but I couldn’t nail them. They were soaring on wings in a distinctive “V” shape which narrows it down.
My guess would be Marsh harriers.
There was nothing else which was a bit of a disappointment after all the action last Saturday.
I’m used to it though.
Mike

 

[honeym]

Here is a list of butterflies from Menorca ( similar to Mallorca).
Best places worth visiting include Son Real for Two Tailed Pasha, Albuferata for Blues, Swallowtails, Speckled Woods, Fisherman's walk for Grayling, Ternelles for Monachs..
Stewb is good for Dragonflies..Ternelles is good for me.
I add the documents later

Mallorca is relatively poor for butterflies. There are some errors/problems with this list. But you should have a good time Martin.

 

[Mike Montier]

The Pectoral sandpiper was seen again today from the Sa Roca hide, Albufera,
as reported by Maties.
Another Bluethroat was seen today.
Quite a few migrants seem very early this year.
Mike

 

[derban]

Yesterday evening I went to the Salobrar to check out the migrating waders. What a glorious evening, perfect temperature, gentle breeze to disperse the mosquitos and a pleasant chat to a local birder from Palma. There were not many birds, however, although for me an oystercatcher was definitely the highlight – something of a symbolic bird for north Germany, where I spend my time when I am not here. Apart from that there was a range of plovers, ringed, little ringed and kentish, as well as greenshank and redshank (spotted and common). Not all that impressive, but I just love the place, an oasis of calm, even when large parts of the island are overcrowded.

 

[StewB]

I’m afraid I can never resist taking photos of Audouin’s Gull, they are just so elegant! This one was along the sea front at Puerto Pollenca this morning.

After an early morning walk along the front, I decided to spend a couple of hours at the Albufereta. Sa Barcassa was very disappointing, with just a single Green Sandpiper on the pool and a couple of Firecrests in the bushes next to the screen. A visit to the hide was no more productive - perhaps the water levels are a little too high at present?

A Great Crested Grebe on the main pools from the tower was a “trip tick”. Flamingo numbers were down to just a couple, a Great White Egret was at the water’s edge and an Osprey was again on the nesting platform.

From the smaller platform east of the mound, a Purple Heron flew past and an Eleanora’s Falcon was over the back of the main pools. Best of all was a group of nine Bee Eaters hawking from some dead bushes to the south east, with 11 more to the back of the main pools. They only remained for a few minutes before disappearing.

Stew

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Just arrived and only had time for brief visits to Maristany and Screen at S’Albuferata.
Maristany was interesting with it moon like surface and some 80 Little Egrets enjoy the low water levels. Two young Flamingos, some 20 Blackwinged Stilts, Ten Glossy Ibis, Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper were the main birds..Some 30 species seen in all.
As StewB said, water levels were high at S’Albuferata. Quiet for birds except for Green Sandpiper and some 50 Cattle Egrets.
Cannot wait to do some real birding!
Monach Butterfly seen today.

 

[Matthebirder]

I am busy planning next year's holiday in Mallorca - 2 weeks from approx 20th July. I am familiar with most of the birding locations but where are the best sites on the island for butterflies and dragonflies?

I should he able to help with some specific details as I made a purpose arranged insect trip in last 2 weeks of June. I largely followed StewB's excellent trip reports for Dragonflies. Having visited many times over 40 years for birds this trip was quite different. I concentrated on photographing the subjects so hours were spent on location ( on my own for this trip!)
I suggest studying StewB's notes initially then I can back up some of these. I wish I had time to write up and process all my photos into high quality pdfs but working long days and preoccupied with gulls at Grafham this summer every evening has slowed things down.
I'm about to go to Mallorca for a week and will recheck these obscure locations again so can get in touch over the winter.
- Matt

 

[Owene]

I am busy planning next year's holiday in Mallorca - 2 weeks from approx 20th July. I am familiar with most of the birding locations but where are the best sites on the island for butterflies and dragonflies?

I had a nice range of dragonfies at albufereta in may or june last year. Broad scarlet and violet dropwing were especially nice from a british point of view. There aren't many butterfly species on the island but seemed to be impressive numbers of the ones i saw. Southern Blue was the only tick for me

 

[Phil Andrews]

I should he able to help with some specific details as I made a purpose arranged insect trip in last 2 weeks of June. I largely followed StewB's excellent trip reports for Dragonflies. Having visited many times over 40 years for birds this trip was quite different. I concentrated on photographing the subjects so hours were spent on location ( on my own for this trip!)
I suggest studying StewB's notes initially then I can back up some of these. I wish I had time to write up and process all my photos into high quality pdfs but working long days and preoccupied with gulls at Grafham this summer every evening has slowed things down.
I'm about to go to Mallorca for a week and will recheck these obscure locations again so can get in touch over the winter.
- Matt

Many thanks Matt

 

[ggshrike]

I’m afraid I can never resist taking photos of Audouin’s Gull, they are just so elegant! This one was along the sea front at Puerto Pollenca this morning.

After an early morning walk along the front, I decided to spend a couple of hours at the Albufereta. Sa Barcassa was very disappointing, with just a single Green Sandpiper on the pool and a couple of Firecrests in the bushes next to the screen. A visit to the hide was no more productive - perhaps the water levels are a little too high at present?

A Great Crested Grebe on the main pools from the tower was a “trip tick”. Flamingo numbers were down to just a couple, a Great White Egret was at the water’s edge and an Osprey was again on the nesting platform.

From the smaller platform east of the mound, a Purple Heron flew past and an Eleanora’s Falcon was over the back of the main pools. Best of all was a group of nine Bee Eaters hawking from some dead bushes to the south east, with 11 more to the back of the main pools. They only remained for a few minutes before disappearing.

Stew

Been to S’Albufera several times this holiday and still not seen a purple heron! 🤬😂

 

[StewB]

This morning was my last opportunity to get out into the field before we head for the airport and home at lunchtime tomorrow. I spent it on a few hours at a rather quiet Can Cuarassa.

There was nothing surprising until I disturbed a Green Sandpiper from a minuscule puddle at the base of an electricity pylon. I heard quite a few species that I didn’t subsequently see. These included Stone Curlew, Red-legged Partridge and most frustratingly, Spotless Starling. I spent some time around Pins 16 hoping that the starlings would visit the villa roof, but although I could hear at least two birds calling in the olive grove, they resolutely refused to show!

Hirundines numbers seem to have dropped considerably over the last couple of weeks, but a steady trickle of swallows was passing through this morning. Thekla Larks were over the fields and gardens opposite Pins 16, with a couple more near the far end of the track, where what could be my final Hoopoe of the trip dashed off across the field.

A female Marsh Harrier flew across the fields, two Ravens were chasing each other around and a Booted Eagle was soaring over to the east. A very distant Black Vulture was up over the mountains to the west.

At the pools, a Kingfisher and the only Red-crested Pochard (a female) of the trip were at the first screen. Dragonflies were disappointing, with only Black-tailed Skimmer and Red-veined Darter seen. A nice selection of butterflies included Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood and a very obliging Southern Brown Argus.

Stew

 

[Mcnswiss2]

Out for a morning walk around lovely village of Llubi. Wonderful scenery plus Tallots..what else would you ask for...except a few birds!

Talayot - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

es.m.wikipedia.org

Some 20 species seen or heard including Cattle Egrets, Common Kestrels, Spotted Flycatchers, Red Kite, Booted Eagles and Thekla larks.
Bee eaters were heard overhead but couldn't be seen.
A great walk and wonderful town that has a Honey fair later in the year!
After a Siesta, had an evening walk around S'Albuferata. Very quiet indeed! A few Spotted Flycatchers, Stonechat, an Osprey feeding on one of the distant towers, 50 Cattle Egrets feeding on freshly ploughed farm..
From the Hide only 3 birds seen, but one looked like a solitary black necked grebe..what do you think?

 

[ChrisMc1957]

The Black Necked Grebe, it does look similar, but a bit hard to tell for me. I attach a photo of one I took in the UK for reference

Sounds like you had a good day anyway!