MALLORCA4 th - 11 th July 2015

TRIP REPORTBy Luke Nash

Introduction

As we knew perfectly well, embarking on a birding holiday in the middle of the hot Mediterranean summer was going to be difficult birding wise. Mallorca is no exception; the temperature reached 39 degrees at one point, and it was hotter there at night than it was in the UK in the daytime on the Thursday.

Having booked the hire car through Avis & the villa through Villa Plus, we flew out with EasyJet to Palma de Mallorca from London Luton, a hideous airport with horrific queues at border control (it took as an hour to get out of the airport after landing). Never again! The advantage of this, however, combined with the fact that we booked well in advance & the flight out departed at 6am, meant that around £200 was saved on the cost of the holiday.

The villa was ideally situated in the countryside in between Puerto Pollensa & Pollensa Old Town. It met all the requirements; swimming pool for my younger brother, ping-pong & snooker tables and air conditioning. If there were downsides, the kitchen lacked a place to put food (there was a fridge & freezer, though) & one of the bushes was infested with wasps! We frequently dined in the outside dining area in the evenings listening out (unsuccessfully) for owls. We had used Villa Plus in Fuerteventura & Tenerife and their service is excellent.

The primary aim of this trip was to try and see as many of the endemic or rare species & subspecies as possible, particularly Balearic Warbler, Moltoni’s Warbler, Black Vulture, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike & Crossbill, and there were also a few European birds which had eluded me which I wanted to catch up with. Also, Marcus (my dad) had last visited this island 35 years ago and wanted to catch up with a few birds as well. These targets were achieved with varying amounts of difficulty, but we caught up with most of them none the less and, judging by the species total (97 birds at the last count), a whole lot more besides.

It soon became apparent that early morning & evening visits would be the primary focus in the visit (the exception was looking for vultures, which only really appear after 10am), and this definitely contributed to the larger-than-expected species total. What may have been one of the most pleasant evenings I have ever experienced was on the first night, when we drove to the Depuradora and stood looking at birds on the pools in very refreshing conditions (a stark contrast to earlier in the day), then returning to the villa for a very pleasant late Mediterranean supper.

Gosney’s book ‘Where to Find Birds in Mallorca’ proved essential, despite appearing to be mostly written about birding there in spring. It still provided up-to-date information on most of the sites (only Albufereta & Mortitx had changed significantly, the former having most of its paths closed & privatised, the latter being fenced off after about 2km) and the resident birds we wanted to find. This is a piece of invaluable literature which is essential if you want to visit this island. A map of Mallorca made by Freytag & Berndt was also useful.

I would also personally like to thank Mike Montier & the Mallorca BirdForum thread for being an excellent source of information on sites, birds and more. Trip reports also proved useful. I used the reports of Nick Crouch, Ian Merrill, EJ Albas, Dave Rumes, Chris Knox, Mike Hodgson, Ed O’Hara, Bob Shiret, Stewart Betts, Henk Hendriks, Pat Hayes and the ‘Aldcliffe Birder’ to get information.

Itinerary

Day 1- ARRIVAL DAY- Depuradora de S’Illot in the evening (the morning was spent recovering from our rather rude awakening at 1am to get to Luton for the flight)

Day 2- Boquer Valley in the morning, the Formentor Peninsula in the evening.

Day 3- Albufera in morning & evening.

Day 4- Tramuntana Mountains in morning, Formentor Peninsula in evening.

Day 5- Albufera & C’an Cuarassa in the morning (including the Salines), Boquer in the evening.

Day 6- Marcus checked out Salobrar de Campos, Porto Colom & Albufereta

Day 7- Cuber & Mortitx in the morning, Formentor in the evening.

Day 8- DEPARTURE DAY- No birding done.

Sites Visited

S’Albufera de Mallorca

Europe’s largest piece of wetlands and is known on Mallorca for holding populations of Moustached Warbler, Red-knobbed Coot & Marbled Duck, three rare birds in European terms, as well as various other waterbirds & an endemic subspecies of Reed Bunting, which is largely restricted to the south west end of the reserve. There are also some nearby ‘Salinetes’, also known as Salines de S’Illot, which can be good for waders. Location: At the southern end of Port d’Alcudia near to C’an Picafort just past a bridge called ‘Englishman’s Bridge’, the car park is signed and the ‘Salinetes’ are reached by driving down a wide driveway 2.6km beyond Englishman’s Bridge.

Moustached Warbler, Albufera

Boquer Valley

This fabled valley is known for holding a population of Balearic Warblers, and various mountain birds are also seen here. One important note is that the warblers prefer the lower, knee-height scrub towards the sea, and the head height scrub at the valley is known to be relatively unproductive. Location: The start of the valley is visible from Puerto Pollensa, and the walk is signed ‘Cami de Cala Boquer’ from a small car park.

Formentor Peninsula

The peninsula is renowned for being good for hunting Eleonora’s Falcons, and the pine forests hold large populations of balearica Crossbill & balearicus Firecrest. Scopoli’s Shearwaters are also known to be good here, and Balearic Warblers also breed here. Location: Well signposted from Puerto Pollensa; the Albercutx tower is at Km 2, Cala Murta at Km 13 & the ‘Mirador’ at Km 16.8.

Eleonora's Falcon, Formentor Peninsula

Tramuntana Mountains

These mountains hold populations of Black Vulture, a very rare bird in Europe, and the best site for them is at Cuber Reservoir, which also holds a small population of Moltoni’s Warbler in the pine trees. The Spectacled Warblers & Rock Thrushes appear to have moved on (both of these species were photographed at the top of Puig Major in the weeks leading up to our visit). The Lluc Monastery & Mortitx are also good sites for vultures, although the latter is unfortunately now closed after about 2km. Location: All three of these sites can be reached along the Ma-10 from Soller & Pollensa or the Ma-2130 from Inca.

Depuradora de S’Illot

This sewage plant has some pools which sit practically next to Albufera, so most of the species which you can see there sometimes make their way over here. The fields leading up to the pools are supposed to be good for larks & Tawny Pipit, but we didn’t see any. Location: The track to the plant comes from in front of the bus depot at Km9 along the C’an Picafort-Muro road. The pools are signposted by a rather obscured wooden sign with binoculars on them.

Thekla Lark, Porto Colom

Porto Colom

Probably the best site on the island for Balearic Warbler, and the harbour also holds Shag & Audouin’s Gull, although these are better at Pollensa. However, Marcus struggled to find the warblers when he went, but that may well be because he was trying to see them in the heat of the day. Location: A stone’s throw just east of Portocolom.

Salobrar de Campos

Formerly known as the Salines de Levante, this is the best site on the island for Greater Flamingo, which now appears to stay all year round. This site is also good for waders & various passerines along ‘Eddie’s Track’. An Egyptian Vulture reported here in late June appears to be a one-off occurrence. Location: Just south of Campos along the road to Colonia de Sant Jordi.

Albufereta

Unfortunately, a lot of this site has now been closed & privatised. The Mound described in Gosney is still present, but a lot of the tracks are now inaccessible. The nearby C’an Cuarassa restaurant is the best site on the island for Spotless Starling, but Marcus’s search there failed to find any. Location: Near to the C’an Cuarassa restaurant & the Club Pollensa Resort near Pollensa.

Species List

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna- 3+ Depuradora on 4th & 10+ Salobrar on 9th.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos- Common at Albufera & 1 Depuradora on 4th. Also 5-6 Salobrar & 8+ Albufereta on 9th.

Gadwall Anas strepera- Fairly common at Albufera & 2 Depuradora on 4th.

Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris- 7 adults & 5 young Depuradora on 4th.

Teal Anas crecca- 2 Depuradora on 4th.

Pochard Aythya ferina- 1♀ Depuradora on 4th & 3 Albufera on 6th.

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina- 4+ Albufera on 6th & 8th.

Little Bittern, Albufera

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa- Fairly common around the Cami de Can Seguinot, as well as 2 near Cuber on 7th & 10+ at Albufereta on 9th.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis- 1 Depuradora on 4th.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus- 3+ Albufera on 6th & 8th.

Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea- c.10 off the Formentor Lighthouse on 5th.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo- 3 Albufera on 6th.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii- 6 Pollensa Bay on 6th & 1 Formentor Beach on 10th.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus- 2 Albufera on 6th & 8th.

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax- 1+ Albufera on 6th, 2+ Albufera on 8th & 1 Albufereta on 9th.

Squacco Heron, Albufera

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis- Common around the Depuradora & S’Albufera and Palma.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides- 1+ Albufera on 6th, 5+ there on 8th.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta- 1 Alcudia Bay daily & lots at Albufera, as well as 20+ at Albufereta on 9th (including a rather grey bird)

Great White Egret Casmerodius albus- 2 Albufera on 6th.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea- 2 Albufera on 6th & 1 Cuber Reservoir on 7th & 10th.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea- 2 Albufera on 6th, 3+ there 8th & 1 Albufereta on 9th.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus- 40 at Salobrar on 9th.

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus- 3+ Cuber on 10th.

Black Vulture, above Cuber Reservoir

Black Vulture Aegypius monachus- 2 perched near Cuber Reservoir on 7th, with 6-8 there on 10th.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus- 1 Albufera on 6th & 1 Cuber on 10th.

Booted Eagle Aquila pennata- 1 over Villa on 4th, 1 over Mortitx on 7th, 1 over Boquer on 8th & 1 Cuber on 10th.

Red Kite Milvus milvus- 1 near Inca over motorway on 4th & 1 Cuber on 10th.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus- Fairly common Albufera, 1 over Depuradora on 4th & 4+ Salobrar on 9th.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus- Common; seen daily.

Hobby Falco subbuteo- 1 Formentor Peninsula on 10th.

Booted Eagle pale morph, above Boquer Valley

Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae- Fairly common around the eastern end of the Formentor Peninsula, and 4 were seen at Cala Murta & 2 over Mortitx on 7th.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus- 1 over Albufera on 8th.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus- 1 heard briefly at Albufera on 6th.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus- Fairly common Albufera. 2+ Albufereta on 9th.

Coot Fulica atra- 5 Depuradora on 4th & common Albufera.

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata- 5+ adults, 4+ chicks Albufera on 6th; 5 adults with 4 juveniles there on 8th.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio- Fairly common Albufera & 1 Depuradora on 4th.

Red-knobbed Coot, Albufera

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta- 100+ at Salobrar on 9th.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus- 7+ Depuradora on 4th, common Albufera; 6-8 Albufereta & 50+ Salobrar on 9th.

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus saharae- 5+ calling at Depuradora on 4th, 1+ calling from Villa late on 6th-8th, 1 over Albufera on 8th & 1 over Albufera on 9th.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius- Common Albufera, several Cuber on 7th, 2-3 Salines de S’Illot on 8th, several Albufereta & several Salobrar on 9th.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrius- Common Albufera, Salobrar & Albufereta. 2 near the C’an Cuarassa restaurant on 8th.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola- 4 Albufera on 6th & 3 Salines de S’Illot on 8th.

Stone Curlew, Depuradora de S'Illot

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus- 1 Depuradora on 4th & 1 Albufera on 6th & 8th.

Redshank Tringa totanus- 5+ Salobrar on 9th.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus- 7+ Albufera on 6th, 11 on 8th.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia- 2 Albufereta & 2 Salobrar on 9th.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus- 1 over Albufera on 6th.

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus- Common at Depuradora & Albufera and Salobrar. Singles were at Pollensa Bay on 8th & Albufereta on 9th.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis- Common; seen daily in coastal areas & a flock of 65 at Salobrar

Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii- 5 Pollensa Bay on 8th, 2+ Porto Colom on 9th and singles at Albufereta & Salobrar on 9th.

Audouin's Gull, Pollensa Beach

Common Tern Sterna hirundo- 4+ Albufera on 6th & 3+ on 8th.

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia- Common in urban areas; a flock of 20 at Boquer on 8th were good contenders for Rock Dove.

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus- Common; seen daily

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto- Common; seen daily

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur arenicola- 1 heard Cala Murta on 7th.

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus- 1 heard churring from Villa on 5th & 8th.

Swift Apus apus- Common; seen daily, often near urban areas

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus brehmorum- 1 over Villa on 4th, 3 Albercutx on 5th, 2 Formentor Lighthouse on 7th & 4+ Porto Colom on 9th.

Hoopoe Upupa epops- Fairly common; seen daily

Bee-eater, Depuradora de S'Illot

Bee-eater Merops apiaster- 2 Depuradora on 4th, and possibly a third nearby, as well as 10+ Albufera on 6th & 8th & 5+ Salines de S’Illot on 8th.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla- 1 at Cala Murta on 5th.

Thekla Lark Galerida theklae- 2 Salobrar & 6+ Porto Colom on 9th.

Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris- Common around Cap de Formentor; also 1 Boquer on 5th & 2 there on 8th, 2+ Cuber on 7th.

Swallow Hirundo rustica- Fairly common; seen daily

House Martin Delichon urbicum meridionalis- Common; seen daily, often near urban areas.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris- 2 Cuber on 7th, with 6+ there on 10th.

Tawny Pipit, Cuber Reservoir

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava iberiae- Fairly common at Albufera & Salobrar, with singles at Depuradora on 4th & Albufereta on 9th.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos- Fairly common; singles seen daily.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus rubicola- Common; seen daily

Blackbird Turdus merula- Fairly common; seen daily

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius- 2 Boquer & 1 over Formentor road on 5th, 1♀ each at Cala Murta & Lighthouse on 7th.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla paulucci- Fairly common; seen daily.

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala- Common; seen daily.

Moltoni’s Warbler Sylvia subalpina- 1+ Cuber on 7th, with 6+ there on 10th.

Balearic Warbler, Boquer Valley

Balearic Warbler Sylvia balearica- 2-3 Boquer on 5th & 8th, as well as 2+ Porto Colom on 9th.

Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon- 3 Albufera on 6th, and 6 there on 8th, with excellent views of birds obtained from the bridge over the Gran Canal & the track leading up to the Es Cibollar hides.

Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis intermediae- Fairly common at Albufera, Depuradora, Salobrar & Albufereta.

Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti- Fairly common Albufera & 2+ Albufereta.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus- 1+ Albufera on 6th, 2+ there on 8th.

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus- 1 heard at Depuradora on 4th & fairly common at Albufera

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla balearicus- Fairly common at Cala Murta & Cuber.

Spotted Flycatcher, Cala Murta

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes kabylorum- 1 Cala Murta on 5th & 1 Cuber on 10th.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata balearicus- Common; seen daily, but they are much more common in the north than in the south.

Great Tit Parus major mallorcae- 3-4 Cala Murta on 5th, lots Cuber on 7th & 10th.

Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus balearicus- 1+ heard Cuber on 7th & 10th.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator badius- 1 adult seen at the Villa on 4th, 6th and 8th. Also 1 juvenile at Albufera on 6th & 1 Salobrar on 9th.

Raven Corvus corax- Fairly common over mountainous areas like Cuber, Boquer & Formentor.

Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor- A flock of 20 over the Depuradora on 4th was almost certainly of this species.

Crossbill, Formentor Peninsula

House Sparrow Passer domesticus- Abundant; seen daily in high numbers.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs balearicus- Common, especially in the Tramuntana Mountains; seen daily.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina- Fairly common around the Depuradora & Albufera and at Salobrar & Cuber, also 5+ Porto Colom on 9th.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis- Fairly common; seen daily.

Greenfinch Chloris chloris- Fairly common; seen daily

Serin Serinus serinus- Common; seen daily. Abundant at Salobrar.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra balearica- Fairly common, especially around Cala Murta & Cuber. A very red male at Cala Murta on 5th raised a few quizzical looks, despite the ♂ of the Mallorcan

Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler, Cuber Reservoir

subspecies supposedly being more orange. Several were also heard from the Villa on 6th & 9th.

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus- 1♂ Cala Murta on 5th, with 2 there on 10th, & 1 heard Boquer on 8th.