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Mallorca 9-22 April 2010
This was a trip planned at relatively short notice as a simple, easy trip to a destination that may have a few birds. As it turned out, a volcano erupting in Iceland prolonged the trip by six days and added a bit of stress that wasn't needed. I thought the island was exceptionally beautiful, particularly in the north of course, however lots of other areas deserved praise too. We ended up staying in two places at Puerto Pollensa, both were good.
Hotel Uyal
The Hotel Uyal was fine. We paid a bit extra for a junior suite with a sea view. Food was good and staff were friendly. My only slight criticism was that the place seemed a bit tatty around the edges, though to be fair, it's not the most modern hotel in Pollensa and it was always very clean. You seem to always be able to get some of the best room rates here with alpharooms
Flora Aparthotel
This was a self catering complex of apartments. We paid the walk-in price for an apartment, and in my opinion it was great value. The apartments were well equipped and clean. The whole complex tidy, well kept and good value. It was quiet at the time we were there, I suspect it's much busier in the summer. I'd definately stay here again.
The birding was distinctly average, sometimes possibly poor. This may have had something to do with the fact that we were early in the spring birding season. A few notes are provided below on the species most people want to see in Mallorca. We missed a few species that we knew were present including Collared Pratincole, Greater Flamingo and a Little Crake.
Systematic List
| Little Grebe |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Cormorant |
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| Shag |
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| Little Bittern |
Just one male at S' Albufera on a canal |
| Night Heron |
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| Squacco Heron |
Up to two in S' Albufera but not easy! |
| Cattle Egret |
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| Little Egret |
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| Great White Egret |
One Albufereta throughout |
| Grey Heron |
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| Purple Heron |
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| Shelduck |
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| Gadwall |
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| Teal |
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| Mallard |
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| Garganey |
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| Shoveler |
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| Marbled Teal |
At least three in S' Albufera but only seen flying around. Loads of birders didn't see them. |
| Red-crested Pochard |
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| Pochard |
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| Red Kite |
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| Egyptian Vulture |
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| Griffon Vulture |
One from Lluc |
| Black Vulture |
Seems like they can be seen almost anywhere in the northern Mountains, and we saw them many times. Never great views, but if like many walkers, you can hike to a summit and get lucky as one flies by, good on you. |
| Marsh Harrier |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Booted Eagle |
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| Osprey |
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| Kestrel |
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| Eleanoras Falcon |
We only saw three, but it's early for these. Over Pollensa and Albufereta |
| Peregrine |
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| Red-legged Partridge |
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| Pheasant |
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| Water Rail |
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| Moorhen |
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| Purple Gallinule |
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| Crested Coot |
Stupidly tame and easy at S' Albufera. |
| Coot |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Avocet |
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| Stone Curlew |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Kentish Plover |
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| Grey Plover |
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| Dunlin |
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| Ruff |
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| Snipe |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Spotted Redshank |
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| Redshank |
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| Greenshank |
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| Green Sandpiper |
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| Wood Sandpiper |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Audouin's Gull |
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| Yellow-legged Gull |
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| Gull-billed Tern |
Just one at S' Albufera |
| Sandwich Tern |
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Common Tern |
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| Whiskered Tern |
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| Rock Dove |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Alpine Swift |
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| Common Swift |
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| Pallid Swift |
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| Bee-eater |
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| Hoopoe |
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| Wryneck |
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| Short-toed Lark |
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| Thekla Lark |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Crag Martin |
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| Swallow |
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| House Martin |
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| Tawny Pipit |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Water Pipit |
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| Yellow Wagtail |
including a Black-headed Wagtail at S' Albufera (photo below) |
| White Wagtail |
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| Wren |
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| Robin |
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| Nightingale |
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| Black Redstart |
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| Redstart |
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| Whinchat |
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| Stonechat |
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| Northern Wheatear |
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| Blue Rock Thrush |
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| Blackbird |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Cetti's Warbler |
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| Fan-tailed Warbler |
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| Moustached Warbler |
Not particularly easy in S' Albufera, despite there being several zillions of pairs present! We had good views of several singing males very near the dogleg of the main drive into the visitors centre |
| Sedge Warbler |
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| Reed Warbler |
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| Great Reed Warbler |
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| Balearic Warbler |
We saw these in the Bocquer Valley and the road up to the Atalya tower on Formentor. In the Bocquer there was a male singing right by the track past the last stone wall as well as others on the slope down to the beach at the far end. Some days they were really difficult here, other days easy. Unsurprisingly they tended to show much better on calm days. They were never particularly easy to photograph. The other site, described by others as the easiest, is the road up to the tower from opposite the first Mirador (viewpoint) on the Formentor road. We did see them here, but on my visit to photograph them we got kicked off the road by some military folk. Very polite they were too! |
| Sardinian Warbler |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Blackcap |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Firecrest |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Balearic Woodchat Shrike |
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| Raven |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Serin |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Linnet |
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| Crossbill |
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| Cirl Bunting |
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| Corn Bunting |
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Photos - All images strictly copyright James Packer 2010. Do not copy or reproduce without permission.
Purple Heron at S' Albufera
Great White Egret at Albufereta
Night Heron at S' Albufera
Black-winged Stilt at S Albufera
Adult Crested Coot at S' Albufera
Crested Coot at S'Albufera. I suppose this means it's a sustaining population!
Audouin's Gull at Puerto Pollensa
Yellow-legged Gull at Formentor
Pied Flycatcher on the Arta Peninsula
Sardinian Warbler somewhere on Formentor
Cetti's Warbler at S' Albufera
Balearic Warbler in the Bocquer Valley. Not easy!
Moustached Warbler at S' Albufera
Wood Warbler at Puerto Pollensa
Water Pipit at S' Albufera
Well, I reckon it's a Black-headed Wagtail at S' Albufera
Hoopoe at S' Albufereta
Balearic Woodchat Shrikes at S' Albufera
Serin on Formentor
Cirl Bunting in the Bocquer Valley
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