A family holiday in Mallorca ove the past two weeks meant birding in 30 degree temp and clear blue skies - just what the doctor ordered. For a destination not really recommended in the height of summer, some good birding was on offer -a total of 98 species in a 20km square area of NE Mallorca. Fantastic mountain scenery and some great wetland reserves made patching the Pollenca region a real treat - i travelled no ore than 12 miles in any direction. Highlights included many Black Vultures (8 together at one point), Auduin's gulls walking inbetween the sunloungers on the beaches, several Balearic Warblers, Greater Flamingos, Great White Egrets, Moustashed and Great reed Warblers, Glossy ibis, Night, Purple and Squacco Herons, Stone Curlews, Little Bitterns, Booted Eagles, Ospreys, lots of Eleanora's Falcons, Marbled Ducks, Red-knobbed Coot, Marsh Harriers, Rock Sparrow, Cirl Buntings, Purple Gallinules, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Whiskered Tern, Blue Rock Thush and many waders - flocks of Spotted Redshanks, Curlew sands, Wood and Green Sands, Little Stints.
Some interesting subspecies too - 'badius' Woodchat Shrike, Moltoni's Subalopine Warbler, Balearic Spotted Fly, Crossbill, firecrest and Blue Tit as well as Mediterranean Shag - all interesting stuff.
Unfortunately my camera broke mid holiday so had to make do with the family snapshot camera for digiscoping. Anyone interested in more info don't hesitate to get in touch.
Good to be back though - just need some raging westerlies now!
Neis iawn Marc!
ReplyDeleteGoing to be there next week. Didnt have any expectations until i read this. Might even take my bins ; )
Btw, where died you get Rock Sparrow?