MALLORCA 2007

“Our first afternoon on the sun-kissed island of Mallorca set the scene for what proved to be an exciting and bird-filled week. Within an hour and a half we had seen a perched Eleonora’s Falcon, 2 Black Vultures overhead, several ‘Balearic’ Marmora’s Warblers and an Audouin’s Gull! I can’t ever remember a tour starting so well, we even managed finish our ‘scope views of the Gull before the heavens opened. The weather was changeable throughout the week, but somehow it never hampered our birding, it always stayed dry for picnics and on several occasions was responsible for some dramatic birding. Particular highlights were the huge flock of birds behind a distant trawler appearing like a swarm of insects that materialized into some incredible views of over 400 Cory’s Shearwaters, with a blackening sky and the island of Cabrera providing a spectacular backdrop. At the same time we saw migrating Black Terns passing at sea with double figures of the endangered Balearic Shearwater. Equally impressive were the group of 10 Eleonora’s Falcons at Formentor lighthouse, the scenery here is some of the best on the island, but add in these impressive, long-winged falcons (some calling overhead) patrolling the coast for arriving migrants and it seemed like heaven!

The marshes of the Albufereta and S’Albufera provided many herons and egrets including Squaccos, a Great White Egret and a female Little Bittern. Ducks included a few Marbled Ducks and some striking drake Garganey. More specialities came our way in the form of Moustached and Great Reed Warblers, hunting Marsh Harriers, a great selection of waders from Wood and Curlew Sandpipers, to Temminck’s Stint and Kentish Plovers. During more overcast weather we managed to see all three species of ‘marsh’ Tern in one flock, with two White-winged Blacks being a real treat.

In the south, the saltpans held four Greater Flamingo, the fields allowed the opportunity to compare Thekla and Short-toed Larks and we also connected with Avocet, lots of Black-winged Stilts and a flighty Hoopoe.

The final afternoon of the trip was the best of all. As we watched an impending thunderstorm, Dan picked up a Roller sat on overhead wires. This was impressive enough, but seeing it with a deep purple sky and bolts of lightning behind it really added to the experience. At the same time low flying groups of hirundines and swifts finally gave us a Red-rumped Swallow. We had incredible views of Bee-eaters before and after the rain, sheltering at first and then drying themselves. We also caught up with a couple of Golden Orioles and a brief large Falcon was probably a Saker but sadly it didn’t hang around.

A cold day in the mountains was enlivened by fishing Ospreys, close up Tawny Pipits, a couple of moltoni Subalpine Warblers with their distinctive calls and best of all a pair of Rock Thrush, with the male finally giving itself up for prolonged ‘scope views.

There are too many other highlights to mention but include more Black Vultures, Red and Black Kites, daily Booted Eagles, close up Crag Martins, Peregrines, Turtle Dove, more Hoopoes and Bee-eaters, Pallid Swifts, breeding Tree Sparrows, Firecrests, Scops Owl, Blue Rock Thrush, scores of Spotted Flycatchers, nominate and endemic Woodchat Shrikes, a Pied Flycatcher at checklist, Common Redstarts, Wrynecks, Stone Curlews, Cirl Buntings, not to mention the orchids, butterflies and scenery.

All of the above was made all the more enjoyable by the tasty picnics (I’m not sure I found the perfect sandwich yet but avocado, cambozola, Serrano Ham with a handful of dates comes pretty close!). Sadly for the drivers we couldn’t partake in the chilled Rose or cold beer! Last but not least special mention should be made of our hosts. Each year we are treated like returning friends, and once again they couldn’t do enough to make our stay enjoyable and entertaining. A week of sheer relaxation and birding!” James Lidster

Bird List:

This is a list of all the species seen during the last twenty spring tours to Mallorca. The fact that Mallorca is a centre of migration in the spring means that some species are not seen every year.

Column A = Number of tours this species has been recorded on.

Column B = Number of days this species was seen on the last tour.

Column C = Maximum daily count for this species on the last tour.

H = Heard only

(H) = Mostly heard but some seen

(I) = Introduced

A B C

20	Little Grebe	1	1	H	Tachybaptus ruficollis
5	Great Crested Grebe	1	1		Podiceps cristatus
4	Black-necked Grebe				Podiceps nigricollis
2	Bulwer’s Petrel				Bulweria bulwerii
20	Cory's Shearwater	4	400		Calonectris diomedea
17	Balearic Shearwater	3	10		Puffinus mauretanicus
3	Gannet				Sula bassana
13	Cormorant	1	1		Phalacrocorax carbo
20	Shag	6	14		Phalacrocorax aristotelis
5	Bittern				Botaurus stellaris
10	Little Bittern	1	1		Ixobrychus minutus
20	Night Heron	1	4		Nycticorax nycticorax
11	Squacco Heron	3	2		Ardeola ralloides
19	Cattle Egret	6	25		Bubulcus ibis
20	Little Egret	6	10		Egretta garzetta
3	Great White Egret	1	1		Egretta alba
20	Grey Heron	4	2		Ardea cinerea
20	Purple Heron	6	5		Ardea purpurea
1	Black Stork				Ciconia nigra
1	White Stork				Ciconia ciconia
4	Glossy Ibis				Plegadis falcinellus
5	Spoonbill				Platalea leucorodia
13	Greater Flamingo	1	4		Phoenicopterus ruber
9	Shelduck	3	40		Tadorna tadorna
3	Wigeon				Anas penelope
17	Gadwall	4	20		Anas strepera
3	Teal				Anas crecca
20	Mallard	6	30		Anas platyrhynchos
5	Pintail				Anas acuta
8	Garganey	1	2		Anas querquedula
7	Shoveler				Anas clypeata
4	Marbled Duck	2	4		Marmaronetta angustirostris
13	Red-crested Pochard (I)	4	30		Netta rufina
11	Pochard				Aythya ferina
1	Tufted Duck	1	1		Aythya fuligula
3	Ferruginous Duck (I)				Aythya nyroca
1	White-headed Duck (I)				Oxyura leucocephala
14	Honey Buzzard	2	5		Pernis apivorus
9	Black Kite	2	6		Milvus migrans
5	Red Kite	1	1		Milvus milvus
16	Egyptian Vulture				Neophron percnopterus
20	Black Vulture	3	8		Aegypius monachus
4	Griffon Vulture				Gyps fulvus
5	Short-toed Eagle				Circaetus gallicus
16	Marsh Harrier	6	12		Circus aeruginosus
11	Montagu's Harrier				Circus pygargus
7	Sparrowhawk				Accipiter nisus
7	Buzzard				Buteo buteo
2	'Steppe' Buzzard				Buteo buteo vulpinus
19	Booted Eagle	6	4		Hieraaetus pennatus
20	Osprey	5	3		Pandion haliaetus
2	Lesser Kestrel				Falco naumanni
20	Kestrel	7	10		Falco tinnunculus
8	Red-footed Falcon				Falco vespertinus
15	Hobby				Falco subbuteo
20	Eleonora's Falcon	7	40		Falco eleonorae
19	Peregrine	7	5		Falco peregrinus
20	Red-legged Partridge	4	4		Alectoris rufa
13	Quail				Coturnix coturnix
9	Pheasant				Phasianus colchicus
19	Water Rail				Rallus aquaticus
20	Moorhen	5	6		Gallinula chloropus
12	Purple Gallinule (I)	2	2		Porphyrio porphyrio
20	Coot	5	20		Fulica atra
1	Red-knobbed Coot (I)	1	3		Fulica cristata
7	Oystercatcher				Haematopus ostralegus
20	Black-winged Stilt	6	50		Himantopus himantopus
17	Avocet	1	35		Recurvirostra avosetta
20	Stone-curlew	6	3		Burhinus oedicnemus
11	Collared Pratincole				Glareola pratincola
1	Black-winged Pratincole				Glareola naumannii
20	Little Ringed Plover	6	10		Charadrius dubius
20	Ringed Plover	3	3		Charadrius hiaticula
20	Kentish Plover	6	20		Charadrius alexandrinus
9	Grey Plover	1	1		Pluvialis squatarola
2	Knot				Calidris canutus
11	Sanderling				Calidris alba
20	Little Stint	1	3		Calidris minuta
15	Temminck's Stint	1	1		Calidris temminckii
20	Curlew Sandpiper	3	1		Calidris ferruginea
10	Dunlin				Calidris alpina
18	Ruff	1	1		Philomachus pugnax
14	Common Snipe	2	2		Gallinago gallinago
2	Woodcock				Scolopax rusticola
3	Black-tailed Godwit				Limosa limosa
3	Bar-tailed Godwit				Limosa lapponica
7	Whimbrel				Numenius phaeopus
3	Curlew				Numenius arquata
17	Spotted Redshank	1	1		Tringa erythropus
20	Redshank	3	30		Tringa totanus
5	Marsh Sandpiper				Tringa stagnatilis
20	Greenshank	1	1		Tringa nebularia
5	Green Sandpiper				Tringa ochropus
20	Wood Sandpiper	3	15		Tringa glareola
20	Common Sandpiper	7	5		Actitis hypoleucos
6	Turnstone				Arenaria interpres
4	Little Gull				Larus minutus
19	Black-headed Gull	1	2		Larus ridibundus
5	Slender-billed Gull				Larus genei
20	Audouin's Gull	6	20		Larus audouinii
8	Lesser Black-backed Gull				Larus fuscus
20	Yellow-legged Gull	7	800		Larus michahellis
13	Gull-billed Tern	2	3		Gelochelidon nilotica
7	Sandwich Tern	2	1		Sterna sandvicensis
3	Common Tern				Sterna hirundo
4	Little Tern				Sterna albifrons
20	Whiskered Tern	2	2		Chlidonias hybrida
9	Black Tern	3	50		Chlidonias niger
7	White-winged Black Tern	2	4		Chlidonias leucopterus
20	Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon	7	100		Columba livia
20	Woodpigeon	7	100		Columba palumbus
10	Collared Dove	2	2		Streptopelia decaocto
19	Turtle Dove	1	1		Streptopelia turtur
2	Ring-necked Parakeet (I)				Psittacula krameri
14	Cuckoo				Cuculus canorus
1	Long-eared Owl				Asio otus
19	Eurasian Scops Owl	2	1		Otus scops
3	Nightjar	1	1		Caprimulgus europaeus
11	Alpine Swift				Apus melba
20	Common Swift	6	1000		Apus apus
19	Pallid Swift	4	30		Apus pallidus
20	Bee-eater	6	150		Merops apiaster
7	Roller	1	1		Coracias garrulus
20	Hoopoe	4	4		Upupa epops
20	Wryneck	4	2		Jynx torquilla
20	Short-toed Lark	2	4		Calandrella brachydactyla
19	Thekla Lark	1	6		Galerida theklae
3	Skylark				Alauda arvensis
20	Sand Martin	4	60		Riparia riparia
20	Crag Martin	6	10		Hirundo rupestris
20	Swallow	7	300		Hirundo rustica
7	Red-rumped Swallow	1	1		Hirundo daurica
20	House Martin	6	30		Delichon urbica
1	Richard's Pipit				Anthus novaeseelandiae
20	Tawny Pipit	1	4		Anthus campestris
16	Tree Pipit				Anthus trivialis
5	Meadow Pipit				Anthus pratensis
4	Red-throated Pipit				Anthus cervinus
3	Water Pipit				Anthus spinoletta
19	Yellow Wagtail	2	1		Motacilla flava
12	White Wagtail				Motacilla alba
20	Wren	6	5		Troglodytes troglodytes
2	Rufous Bush Robin				Cercotrichas galactotes
9	Robin				Erithacus rubecula
20	Nightingale	5	2		Luscinia megarhynchos
20	Redstart	5	2		Phoenicurus phoenicurus
7	Black Redstart				Phoenicurus ochruros
20	Whinchat	3	1		Saxicola rubetra
20	Stonechat	6	15		Saxicola torquata
18	Northern Wheatear				Oenanthe oenanthe
8	Black-eared Wheatear				Oenanthe hispanica
13	Rock Thrush	1	2		Monticola saxatilis
20	Blue Rock Thrush	4	2		Monticola solitarius
20	Blackbird	7	6		Turdus merula
11	Song Thrush				Turdus philomelos
20	Cetti's Warbler	5	4		Cettia cetti
20	Fan-tailed Warbler	6	10		Cisticola juncidis
1	Savi's Warbler				Locustella luscinioides
6	Grasshopper Warbler				Locustella naevia
20	Moustached Warbler	1	2		Acrocephalus melanopogon
2	Sedge Warbler				Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
15	Reed Warbler				Acrocephalus scirpaceus
20	Great Reed Warbler	2	2		Acrocephalus arundinaceus
4	Melodious Warbler				Hippolais polyglotta
20	Marmora's Warbler	1	4		Sylvia sarda
2	Dartford Warbler				Sylvia undata
13	Spectacled Warbler				Sylvia conspicillata
11	Subalpine Warbler	1	1		Sylvia cantillans
20	Sardinian Warbler	7	6		Sylvia melanocephala
2	Lesser Whitethroat				Sylvia curruca
17	Whitethroat	1	2		Sylvia communis
13	Garden Warbler	2	1		Sylvia borin
20	Blackcap	7	20		Sylvia atricapilla
10	Bonelli's Warbler	1	1		Phylloscopus bonelli
13	Wood Warbler				Phylloscopus sibilatrix
20	Willow Warbler	4	20		Phylloscopus trochilus
19	Chiffchaff	1	1	H	Phylloscopus collybita
20	Firecrest	6	4		Regulus ignicapillus
20	Spotted Flycatcher	7	50		Muscicapa striata
1	Collared Flycatcher				Muscicapa albicollis
20	Pied Flycatcher	3	4		Ficedula hypoleuca
20	Blue Tit	5	2		Parus caeruleus
20	Great Tit	7	6		Parus major
15	Golden Oriole	1	2		Oriolus oriolus
1	Red-backed Shrike				Lanius collurio
20	Woodchat Shrike	4	3		Lanius senator
7	Starling				Sturnus vulgaris
19	Raven	7	10		Corvus corax
20	House Sparrow	7	100		Passer domesticus
5	Tree Sparrow	1	2		Passer montanus
1	Rock Sparrow				Petronia petronia
20	Chaffinch	7	100		Fringilla coelebs
20	Serin	7	10		Serinus serinus
20	Greenfinch	7	6		Carduelis chloris
20	Goldfinch	7	30		Carduelis carduelis
1	Siskin				Carduelis spinus
20	Linnet	4	10		Carduelis cannabina
20	Crossbill	7	15		Loxia curvirostra
20	Cirl Bunting	2	2		Emberiza cirlus
6	Ortolan Bunting				Emberiza hortulana
15	Reed Bunting	1	1		Emberiza schoeniclus
20	Corn Bunting	6	3		Miliaria calandra