Blue-tailed Bee-eater 
Real Birder
 

Mallorca 17th to 24th April 2017

 

INTRODUCTION

S'Albufera 20th AnniversaryOnce again I spent a week in Mallorca with my wife and daughter, now an annual feature, staying in the Prinshotel La Dorado which overlooks the S'Albufera Natural Park. Convenient because you can see the reserve from the balcony of the hotel, and five minutes walk takes you to the entrance gate. The weather all week was a mixture of sunshine and clouds with a strong north-easterly wind blowing for part of the week. Most of the time was spent in the S'Albufera apart from three trips to Son Real, Bocquer Valley and Lluc. I was joined  each day for a few hours by Comghal McQuillan, a fellow birder from Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

Osprey WarblerGarganeyAudouin's GullJack Snipe

TRIP LIST & SIGHTINGS DETAILS

  English Name Species Area Notes
1 Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Alcudia Bay Several in bay during strong east winds
2 Greater Flamingo  Phoenicopterus ruber S'Albufera One bird at northern end of the reserve
3 Gadwall  Anas strepera  S'Albufera Common, seen all week
4 Mallard  Anas platyrchynchos S'Albufera Common, seen all week
5 Garganey Anas querquedula S'Albufera 3/4 birds all week from Cibollar hides
6 Marbled Duck Marmaronetta  angustirostris Ses Salinetes 4 birds seen during the week
7 Pochard Aythya ferina S'Albufera Common, seen all week
8 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina S'Albufera Common, seen all week
9 Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna  S'Albufera Common, seen all week
10 Shoveler Anas clypeata S'Albufera Seen twice in the reserve
11 Teal Anas crecca  S'Albufera Seen twice in the reserve
12 Red-Legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Son Real 3 birds seemn around finca
13 Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus S'Albufera A pair were seen on main channel
14 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis S'Albufera Common, seen all week
15 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis Alcudia Bay 3 birds seen in Alcudia Bay
16 Shag  Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii Alcudia Bay 2 birds seen offshore
17 Little Bittern Ixobrychus miutus S'Albufera Seen 3 times during the week.
18 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis S'Albufera Common, seen all week
19 Great White Egret  Ardea alba S'Albufera Several seen during the week in the park.
20 Little Egret Egretta garzetta S'Albufera Common, seen all week
21 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea S'Albufera Common, seen all week
22 Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax S'Albufera Common, seen all week
23 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea S'Albufera Common, seen all week
24 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides S'Albufera One bird seen, possibly early for this bird
25 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus S'Albufera One seen on the 21st, only sighting.
26 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia S'Albufera One seen flying over reserve
27 Osprey Pandion haliaetus S'Albufera Birds seen all week at the reserve
28 Booted Eagle Aquila pennata Bocquer Valley 2 birds seen at the Finca
29 Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti  S'Albufera Adult seen on the 22/4 was a surprise
30 Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
31 Black Kite Milvus migrans Palma One on the road near airport
32 Red Kite Milvus milvus S'Albufera Several seen during the week
33 Egyptian Vulture Aegypius monachus S'Albufera 5 over the S'Abufera on the 22/4
34 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvous Lluc 1 bird seen overhead at Lluc
35 Eleanora's Falcon Falco eleanorae Bocquer Valley Pair seen on the 19 /4
36 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus S'Albufera Bird seen hunting over reseve on 19/4 
37 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus S'Albufera Several birds seen in and around Park
38 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
39 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
40 Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
41 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
42 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola S'Albufera 6 birds present overall in reserve
43 Avocet Recirvorostra avosetta S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
44 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
45 Stone Curlew Burhinus oedienenmus Son Bosc Saw only one bird the entire week
46 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
47 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
48 Greenshank Tringa nebularia S'Albufera Two birds present all week
49 Spotted Redshank Tringa erthyropus S'Albufera 20 + birds present all week
50 Ruff Philomachus pugnax S'Albufera One bird seen in Park on the 19/4
51 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
52 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Sillot One bird seen on the 19/4
53 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Depuradora Birds seen on three visits
54 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola S'Albufera Birds seen daily in reserve
55 Little Stint Calidris minuta S'Albufera Several birds seen daily on reserve
56 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminickii S'Albufera A surprise finding , on the 18/4.
57 Jack Snipe Lymnpcryptes minimus S'Albufera Fantastic views from Cibollar I hide
58 Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
59 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
60 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily
61 Common Tern Sterna  hirundo S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera
62 Sandwich Tern Sterna  sandvicensis Alcudia Bay 3 birds seen in the bay
63 Whiskered Tern  Childonius hybridus S'Albufera 4 birds seen in the bay
64 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Son Bosc Several seen during the week
65 Rock Dove Columba livia Bocquer Valley Several seen on ridge above valley
66 Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus S'Albufera Widespread
67 Common Swift Apus apus S'Albufera Large numbers passing through
68 Pallid Swift Apus pallidus S'Albufera One bird seen over reserve 
69 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Son Bosc 6 birds seen over the week
70 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Son Bosc  15+ were seen on the 23/4
71 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Lluc Common around the carpark area
72 Crested Lark Galerida cristata Son Real One bird was seen on the pathway
73 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica  S'Albufera Widespread
74 House Martin Delichon urbicum S'Albufera Widespread
75 Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris Bocquer Valley Several birds seen around finca
76 Sand Martin Riparia riparia S'Albufera Widespread
77 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis S'Albufera Only one seen on the 23/4
78 Tawny Pipit Anthus petrosus Son Real One bird seen on a trackway
79 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta S'Albufera One bird 18/4 at Cibollar I hide.
80 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Lluc Bird seen at carpark
81 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flavia iberiae S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park
82 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Bocquer Valley One male seen on 23/4
83 European Stonechat Saxicola torquata rubicola S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park
84 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe S'Albufera One male seen on 22/4
85 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park
86 Blackcap  Sylvia atricapilla  S'Albufera Several in the bushy area of the park
87 Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos S'Albufera Widespread but difficult to see
88 Blackbird  Turdus merula S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
89 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Lluc Birds seen around carpark
90 Balearic Warbler Sylvia balearic Son Real Seen briefly along the track
91 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti S'Albufera Widespread in reserve
92 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Bocquer Valley Bird at finca in the early morning sun
93 Moustached Warbler  Acro.  melanopogon S'Albufera Difficult, only one seen all week
94 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus S'Albufera Surprisingly just  one seen during trip
95 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus S'Albufera Several males singing
96 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala S'Albufera Widespread in reserve
97 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus S'Albufera Several seen over the week
98 Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula hypoleuca  S'Albufera Common in area, migrating through
99 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata iberiae Son Bosc Less numerous than Pied
100 Great Tit Parus major S'Albufera Widespread in reserve
101 Blue Tit Parus caeruleus Lluc One bird seen at carpark
102 Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus S'Albufera One bird seen on 19/4
103 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator  Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera
104 Raven Corvus corax      Bocquer Valley 2 birds seen at the ridge
105 House Sparrow Passer domesticus S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera
106 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera
107 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera
108 Serin Serinus serinus S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera
109 Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera
110 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Lluc Common in and around Lluc
111 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera
112 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirius Bocquer Valley Several males seen along the valley
113 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus witherbii S'Albufera Two males seen , a ssp apparently.
     
     

PHOTOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS

SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE:  22/4 I noticed a large aquila eagle flying with 5 Cinerous Vultures and at first thought it was a Golden Eagle but on closer inspection it turned out to be an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE: Six birds in all seen over the week in S'Albufera reserve

TEMMINCK'S STINT:  First seen on the 18/4 at the Cibollar I hide and remained all week. Another bird that was a welcome addition to the trip.

WHISKERED TERN:  A large flock was seen  flying over the reserve on 18/4 with up to 50+ birds in the flock.

Spanish Imperial Eagle Collared Pratincole Temminck's StintWhiskered Tern

JACK SNIPE: Unexpected find on the 18/4 at the Cibollar I hide. Bird flew in and landed in front of hide, a welcome visitor for the birders in the hide.

GARDEN WARBLER:  23/4 : BOCQUER VALLEY: Bird was found at the Finca sunning itself in the early morning light.

PIED FLYCATCHER:  A lot of birds passing on migration, majority that we saw were females.

Jack Snipe Garden Warbler Pied Flycatcher

CIRL BUNTING: Several birds seen around the finca in the Bocquer Valley.

OSPREY:  12 birds in all were seen over the reserve, 5 birds were hunting the park on the 19/4.

Cirl Bunting Osprey

SUMMARY

All in all Comghal and I had a fantastic weeks birding, with several highlights which included Spanish Imperial Eagle, Temminck's Stint and brilliant views of Jack Snipe. As said so many times, Mallorca is a brilliant place to go birding, easy to get to with so many daily flights and lots of great birding sites. Spring and Autumn migration obviously being the best times. 

Ed. O' Hara 
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