Blue-tailed Bee-eater 
Real Birder
 

Mallorca 2nd to 9th May 2014

                                                                             

      Flag      Purple Heron      S'Albufera                                                                                           


    


INTRODUCTION

    I spent a week in Mallorca with my wife and daughter staying in Prinshotel La Dorada, which overlooks the S'Albufera
    Natural Park. Handy because you can see the reserve from the balcony of the hotel, birding as you eat your breakfast!
    My family set up base camp at the hotel pool which left me free to go birding each day. I went to three local areas,
    S'Albufera, Bocquer Valley and Son Real.

    The weather all week was basically sunny with some clouds, a decent spell when you consider our visit in 2013 roughly at
    the same time, we had three days of wind and rain, so we were thankful for the much improved weather in 2014. Apart
    from two morning trips to the Bocquer and Son Real I spent the rest of the trip in the S'Albufera and the local
    surroundings.

    
Little Bittern Black-winged Stilts Spoonbills Whiskered Tern
    
          
    SYSTEMATIC BIRD SPECIES LIST
    English Name
    Species
    Area
    Notes
           
    Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Alcudia Bay 20+ seen on the 7th at the headland.
    Gadwall Anas strepera S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Mallard Anas platyrchynchos S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Marbled Duck Marmaronetta augustirostis Ses Salinetes Birds were seen all week in the park, but only glimpes of them flying over the reeds. However they were more visible at the  ponds in the Ses Salinetes area of the Park. 2-3 birds visiting there early in  the  mornings to feed, almost daily.
    Pochard Aythya ferina S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Red-crested Pochard Aythya ferina S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Shelduck Tadorna tadorna S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Shoveler Anas clypeata S'Albufera Seen twice in Park.
    Teal Anas crecca S'Albufera Seen twice in Park.
    Red-Legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Son Bosc 3 birds.
    Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus S'Albufera A pair were seen on main channel 4-8th.
    Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis Son Real 3 birds seen on 5th May.
    Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii Son Real Several seen on 5th May.
    Little Bittern Ixobrychus miutus S'Albufera As for the Marbled Duck, everday I got glimpses of the birds but luckily at the main bridge over the channel, on the 7th a bird emerged for a few minutes and gave excellent views to several birders nearby.
    Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Great White Egret Ardea alba S'Albufera One bird seen on the 7th May.
    Little Egret Egretta garzetta S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Grey Heron Ardea cinerea S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Purple Heron   Ardea purpurea S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides S'Albufera Common, seen all week.
    Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus S'Albufera One seen on the 8th droppping in to roost.
    Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia S'Albufera Three birds were present all week and seen mainly in and around the Sa Roca hides. Sometimes coming within 30m of the hide and giving birders excellent views.
    Osprey Pandion haliaetus S'Albufera Seen almost daily in the Park.
    Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus S'Albufera Had to wait until the 9th, my last day to see this raptor. It was two dutch birders who initially saw some birds soaring on a thermal and when I looked up I saw at least seven of these birds gaining height to cross over the Traumuntana.
    Booted Eagle Aquila pennata  Bocquer Valley Seen briefly on the 6th gliding over valley.
    Golden  Eagle Aquila chrysaetos S'Albufera A bird frequented the reserve all week.
    Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti Bocquer Valley Immature seen on 6th soaring with vultures.
    Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily.
    Black Kite Milvus migrans Bocquer Valley One on the 6th.
    Red Kite Milvus milvus S'Albufera One bird seen in Park on the 5th.
    Black Vulture Aegypius monachus Bocquer Valley Three  birds seen on the 6th.
    Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvous Bocquer Valley Four birds seen on the 6th.
    Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae S'Albufera One of the iconic birds of Mallorca, seen daily in the park, maximum of 4 on the 7th.
    Peregrine Falco peregrinus Bocquer Valley One bird on the 6th gliding across valley.
    Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Alcudia Bay An unexpected surprise, not only one but two birds turned up. A female was in Son Bosc area on the 4th, on the 7th a 2y male flew across Alcudia Bay, migrating north.
    Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus S'Albufera Several birds seen in and around Park.
    Eurasian Coot Fulica atra S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera.
    Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera.
    Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera.
    Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera.
    Water Rail Rallus aquaticus S'Albufera Heard daily seen on the 4th.
    Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Ses Salinetes Two birds seen on 6th.
    Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily.
    Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Son Bosc Not as easy to find this year as it was in 2013. But eventually I found three birds behind a fenced-off area in the Son Bosc area.
    Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily.
    Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius S'Albufera Widespread in S'Albufera, seen daily.
    Greenshank Tringa nebularia S'Albufera Two birds present all week.
    Ruff Philomachus pugnax S'Albufera One bird seen in Park on the 3rd.
    Sanderling Calidris alba Depuradora Two birds seen on the 4th.
    Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos S'Albufera Seen daily in S'Albufera.
    Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea S'Albufera One bird seen on the 6th at the Sa Roca hide.
    Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Depuradora Three birds seen on the 4th.
    Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola S'Albufera Birds seen daily in reserve.
    Little Stint Calidris minuta S'Albufera Two birds seen from 4-6th at Sa Roca hide.
    Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii S'Albufera Widespread in area seen daily.
    Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus S'Albufera Birds seen daily in reserve.
    Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis S'Albufera Widespread in area seen daily.
    Common Tern Sterna hirundo S'Albufera Now breeding in area, seen daily in reserve.
    Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Alcudia Bay Common in bay.
    Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus S'Albufera Seen from the 5-8th in the park. An unexpected bonus, often giving excellent views from the hides.
    Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Son Bosc Several seen during the week.
    Rock Dove Columba livia Bocquer Valley Several seen on 6th.
    Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus S'Albufera Widespread.
    Common Swift Apus apus S'Albufera Widespread.
    Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Bocquer Valley Several seen on 6th.
    Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Son Bosc Common in area.
    European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Son Bosc Colony of 20 in area.
    Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Son Bosc Five birds seen during the week.
    Thekla Lark Galerida theklae Son Bosc  Three birds seen in the area, getting scarcer.
    Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica S'Albufera Widespread.
    Tawny Pipit Anthus petrosus Son Bosc Two birds seen over the week.
    Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava iberiae S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park. Quite a few birds seen at the east end of the reserve where the cattle and horses where grazing in the water meadow.
    Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Son Bosc Two birds seen in the grounds of the STW.
    European Stonechat Saxicola torquatus rubicola S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park.
    Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Ses Salinetes One bird seen on the 6th at the pools.
    Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Bocquer Valley Pair seen at entrance to valley on the 6th.
    Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis S'Albufera Common in S'Albufera Park.
    Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Son Bosc A pair was spotted near the bus depot.
    Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
    Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
    Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon S'Albufera Widespread but difficult, two birds seen.
    Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
    Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
    Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala S'Albufera Widespread in reserve.
    Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca S'Albufera One female seen on the 9th.
    Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata iberiae Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Great Tit Parus major Son Bosc Widespread in reserve.
    Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Raven Corvus corax Son Bosc Three birds seen flying overhead.
    House Sparrow Passer domesticus S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Greenfinch Carduelis chloris S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Serin Serinus serinus S'Albufera Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Linnet Carduelis cannabina Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera.
    Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirius Bocquer Valley One male seen.
    Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Son Bosc Common in and around S'Albufera.
            
    Nightingale            Cetti's Warbler
      Ed. O'Hara  
      Lurgan
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