Last day (part 2)

After lunch it was all about Salobrar de Campos. What a great spot. I could spend some serious time here! It was that good we spent all afternoon until dusk! Another Bluethroat site...another blank...unfortunately.

Plenty of great salt pans for close views of waders however...

Greenshank

Plenty of Ruff...at least 30...

Spotted Redshank...

Avocets had arrived in force. They kept their distance but over 50 were present...

...and then of course Flamingoes...

and then they were gone...

So that's it. Hope you enjoyed it. I'll post a species list when I get chance with notes on specific species. Might be of use if your thinking of a visit at this time of year?

One for you Nig!

The last day (part 1)

9/3/2015

Today we did quite a  tour of the island. We started at another new site for me...Son Real. We parked and made our way through the farmyard. This is obviously a tourist attraction and further renovation was in progress. A smart bird was seen here but pretty sure I can't count it...

The walk to the beach was further than anticipated which meant a few stops for yours truly but we eventually made it. It was another superb morning, clear blue sky with no wind. Plenty more Sylvia Warbler habitat and this is supposed to be the only place on the island were you can see Dartford Warbler. No luck I'm afraid with this species or Balearic...plenty of Sardinian though...

Plenty of Thekla's on the beach...

I'd tried on at least half a dozen occasions for Cirl Bunting. You know how it is, you specifically target key birds and then you have a "should come across them" group. This was in that group but I hadn't come across it. I hadn't even considered Son Real as a possible site. We were almost back at the car when I noticed a small bird feeding on the grass by the livestock pools. There it was...a single bird. This sighting gave me as big a buzz as any on the whole holiday...

I got a bit fingers and thumbs on this occasion and the bird disappeared quickly but I did manage a few shots...

Against the sun but you can make out the face pattern

It was HOT when we reached the car around 11. From here we drove south as far as you can go to Cap de ses Salines. I was trying to visit as many sites as possible in a fairly leisurely way? This site is opposite the island of Cabrera and as a result is a top spot for seawatching. Both Shearwaters were again in evidence showing in small numbers fairly close. I also saw my first Gannet...

As previously mentioned on several occasions I'm not a Gull fanatic (Larophile). Certain species are special however for me. One exists on Mallorca. it's already featured in this report. I've seen it previously in Cyprus and mainland Spain. It's local on Mallorca but can be seen (fairly) easily at certain sites. I'd been watching the comings and goings for about an hour. Plenty of Yellow-legged Gulls drifting past. Then a few cyclists arrived (no surprise there) and started to have their lunch. Almost immediately a couple of Gulls appeared out of nowhere and landed on the rocks nearby...

Audouin's Gull

...part two tomorrow...

The Depuradora!

8th March

The day started with a visit to the l'Albufera"old salt pans" on the main coast rd. I soon picked up the call of Moustached Warbler and had some decent if typically brief views. A Marsh Harrier drifted over the reedbed in the early morning light...

Onto the depuradora then! Put simply it's a water treatment plant with a series of concrete lagoons. Yet another possible site for Bluethroat...yet another "no show". A great spot though with plenty of wildfowl and waders plus a viewing platform! I enjoyed a pleasant couple of hours here while "the boss" read her novel in the sunshine.

I managed to pick up 6 drake and 3 female Garganey way over on the far side of the complex...

I was pleased to pick up my first Snipe of the trip snoozing in the grass underneath the platform...only took me an hour to spot them!

Green Sandpiper was also added.

I'd seen a pair of Hoopoes on an early morning reccy and was hoping they were still around as we left the area so Louise could see them. They were...

Louise needed some titivation time, so being a romantic I decided to try for Owls! I would have loved to have seen Scops Owl.  I went to the tried and tested site in PP but nothing...not a peep...or a hoot!

I did manage another wonderful Audouin's Gull on the beach however...

Cracker

Last day highlights to follow. It was quite a day!

Rock Sparrow?

After leaving the monastery we headed west to Cap Blanc to try for the mythical Rock Sparrow. This is a species that I don't have a lot of luck with...to say the least! There is only one site on Mallorca were this bird can be seen. I like to feel I gave it a good shot...with my limited mobility...but it wasn't to be. Dave doesn't even mention the species in his site description. Should have been a clue!

I did get great views of Thekla Lark however...

Just as we were leaving for the car I took one last look...I do that a lot! A gull that looked distinctive was cruising along the clifftop heading our way. Surely not...

Audouin's Gull

Balearic Warbler

We arrived at the wonderful setting of Porto Colom around 8am after an early breakfast..we were first in! Yet again we tried a site from the Gosney guide. This was the No 1 site recommended by Dave for this species. It also appealed to me as you could park right by the area.

It was a beautiful morning if a little cool initially. Obviously plenty of garrigue habitat and lots of paths through it. Looked promising.

Trouble was there was no singing! Despite giving it until 11,,,not a peep.

BUT...

I'm pleased to report I DID manage to see it...and photograph it! I consider this a major achievement considering the bird/s were silent throughout (even though I say so myself!). Don't expect any picture postcards though. In a way they'll give you a more realistic idea of just how quick and elusive this bird is...when it's not singing!

Unfortunately the times it/they did appear for split seconds it was into the sun. Never mind.

Distinctive jizz

A shot of red-eye

Rear view

cocked tail

Ghostly...sums it up best

On the way back we had lunch at a fabulous place...San Salvador Monastery. The panoramic view of the island was simply stunning...

The Formentor peninsular in the distance

Yet again, unfortunately...no sign of any Alpine Accentors...or early Alpine Swifts.

Striking Stonechat?

Short one tonight. Too tired!

As an opener to my visit to Porto Colom to try for Balearic Warbler I thought I'd post 3 images of a Stonechat I found there...

a particularly interesting angle

A striking bird I think you'd agree. Never seen one like it? As always click to enlarge. Comments welcome...

Formentor heaven

6/3/2015

Out locally before breakfast around the fringes of the Albufereta. Auduoin's Gull is a still a comparatively rare breeder in Europe but can be locally common. On Mallorca it's on the increase and there are a few reliable spots to see this smart gull. One was supposed to be at the mouth of the Torrent de Sant Jordi which was a bout a mile north of our place. I'd had a peep as we'd passed on a few occasions but hadn't had any luck. That changed this morning...

7.50am

I did expect to see this bird as Puerto Pollensa is another excellent spot but it's always nice to get your first sighting. It came over as a relaxed Gull, not nervous at all. I was to have further fun with this fish eating Gull later.
Next I tried another Gosney site, the fig groves either side of the Hotel Llenaire. I was hoping to see Wryneck. It wasn't to be, despite three separate visits. I've never seen as many Black Redstarts in on place however...at least 50!

We then spent an our at the entrance to the famous Boquer Valley. Targets here included Wryneck (again), Cirl Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush plus Raptors and Vultures of course. It was a disappointing visit with nothing of note seen. The weather was glorious though and we were being watched...

Mountain Goat

The afternoon was spent driving the Formentor Peninsular. We started around the Albercutx Tower...

The Tower and approach road is a regular site for Alpine Accentor. I was to try on the way back.

We stopped at a few viewpoints along the road to the lighthouse. At one we saw some more Mountain Goats. I was stunned by what I saw. They were walking around on sheer cliffs as though they were in a meadow!!

Unbelievable!!!

The last pull in (km 16.8) before the Lighthouse was a possible location for the endemic Balearic Warbler. It was a fantastic setting with wonderful scenery and plenty of suitable habitat. Nothing doing however. Just as we were about to leave Louise spotted a bird. "What's that blue bird over there?"

Blue Rock Thrush is a common bird in the right habitat BUT I don't see many! It's a cracker. So fortunate to get so close to this stunning bird.

We parked at the lighthouse just as the cafe was closing (3pm?). Even worse the toilets were locked!! I lost count of the number of people who shook the locked gates. Ridiculous. It's a good 20K back to Puerto Pollensa. Anyway, the target here was seabirds, namely large Shearwaters. I set my 'scope up and scanned. 30 minutes...nothing. Another Sardinian Warbler kept me company...

I then had a look down at the cliff with my bins...there they are! Being used to looking far out to see in Britain I never considered that the birds would be so close to land!

They were a long way down!

Again, an amazing site for a Brit. Both species (Scopoli's and Balearic) were present in large numbers. Couldn't pick out a Yelkouan!

Scolopi's

No luck with the AA on the way back at the Tower but another stunning Vista...

As the sun was leaving us I got the feeling I was being watched...I was...

s'Albufera (2)

So, it's early afternoon. The walk back to the centre produced a stunning Little Egret along the main channel...

Thankfully the remaining hides weren't facing North! This made the remainder of the day more pleasant...at least for me! Louise was wrapped up and read her novel in the cover of the hide. A real trooper.

The quality of the scrapes was outstanding (Sa Roca pools). I could have paid many visits here just watching what came and went (my favourite type of Birding). As I opened the first flap I was looking immediately at this...

Next, a surprise group of Black-tailed Godwits, a scarce passage migrant on Mallorca...

Chuffed to see these as I was hoping to see some migrants even though I'd gone "early". There was lots of activity. I then noticed a smart drake Garganey but it soon disappeared. Blue-headed Wagtails...

...and Water Pipits were flitting around the margins...

The Great White Egret is another scarce bird on Mallorca and I had been told the Albefereta was my best bet, so it was a nice bonus when I picked one up gliding low through the reeds...

Another species I was hoping to see but had eluded me so far was Purple Gallinule (Swamphen). It was late afternoon now and still no sign of this bird. As I opened the flap on the last hide I was amazed to see a young Crested Coot no more then twenty feet away...

Then, as if to order, look what else appeared and started walking towards the hide!

A decent (chicken) sized rail with long legs and feet. Smart!

Louise had understandably had enough by now so we made our way back to the car then back to the resort. I popped out again locally for the last hour and managed 2 more trip ticks in forms of Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. I'd looked hard for these at s'Albufera without any luck. Strange but true...

A rainy day and a very windy day but great birds seen none the less. One disappointment being that I couldn't find any Marbled Ducks?

That was the end of the poor weather. We had 4 more great days to come...