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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Mallorca 24th May - 7th June 1997,

Author


Colin Davies

This report covers the period 24th May to 7th June 1997.  It was a family holiday, based at Cala D'or in the south east of the island which on the face of was not an ideal birding location being at least a hours drive from the S'Albufera marsh and the mountain sites.  However, Cala D'or is within easy reach of Salinas de Levante which I found the most impressive birding site on the island, and also Porto Colom which produced many good species.  Also, Cala D'or itself was quite good for birds, with Audouins Gulls common and often seen very close, and many other species seen well.  There was also an impressive migration of Honey Buzzards over the resort on the 25th May.

Birdwatching guides

A Birdwatching Guide to Mallorca   Graham Hearl, Jon King
Birdwatching in Mallorca   Ken Stoba
Finding Birds in Mallorca  Dave Gosney

Tourism guides

Mallorca and Menorca: the Rough Guide  Phil Lee
AA / Thomas Cook Travellers: Mallorca  Nigel Tisdall

Birds seen Comments
Little grebe One bird seen at S'Albufera.
Mediterranean Shearwater 100+ passing C'ala Dor 6th June .
Cory's Shearwater 50+ passing C'ala Dor 6th June.
Shag One or two from most headlands and in harbours.
Purple Heron Several at S'Alufera 29th May and 2nd June. One bird over Cala D'or 25th May.
Grey heron Small numbers S'Albufera.
Night Heron About 20 at S'Albufera 29th May, most roosting in a tree by a bridge over the main canal.
Little Egret A few S'Albufera 29th May, eight at Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Greater Flamingo Five at Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Mute swan One at S'Albufera on main canal 29th May.
Shelduck One S'Albufera 29th May, two Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Mallard A few S'Albufera 29th May and 2nd June.
Red crested Pochard About 40 at S'Albufera on 29th May, including one female with five young.
White headed Duck One sub adult male at S'Albufera on main canal 29th may.
Pochard One male S'Albufera on 29th May, three males 2nd June.
Honey Buzzard 30 birds in a single flock over Cala D'or on 25th May.
Osprey One fishing Cuber reservoir 2nd June.
Marsh Harrier Two or three birds S'Albufera 29th May and 2nd June.
Black Vulture One wing tagged adult at Embalse de Gorge Blau 29th May.
Kestrel Common throughout.
Peregrine One juvenile at Salinas de Levante 1st June.
Eleanora's Falcon One at Cuber reservoir 29th May.
Water rail One S'Albufera 29th June, two Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Moorhen A few S'Albufera.
Coot A few S'Albufera.
Black winged stilt A few S'Albufera 29th May and 2nd June, 100+ Salinas de Levante 1st and 4th June.
Little Ringed Plover One S'Albufera 29th May, one Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Ringed Plover One Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Kentish Plover A few S'Albufera, abundant Salinas de Levante 1st and 4th June.
Little stint 18 Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Curlew sandpiper Two adults Salinas de Levante 1st June.
Black-Tailed Godwit One adult Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Redshank A few Salinas de Levante.
Greenshank One Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Golden Plover One Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Black headed Gull Three Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Yellow legged Gull Common around all coasts.
Audouin's Gull Common in most harbours, especially in the south east, and at Cala D'or.
Slender-billed Gull Two adults Salinas de Levante 4th June.
Whiskered Tern 18 Salinas de Levante 1st June, one 4th June.
Rock Dove A few Porto Colom 31st May and 3rd June.
Woodpigeon Fairly common at Cala D'or.
Collared Dove Fairly common at Cala D'or.
Swift Common everywhere.
Pallid Swift Only positively identified at Porto Colom 31st May and 3rd June.
Bee-eater 18 over Cala D'or 27th May.
Hoopoe A few seen regularly at Cala D'or.
Short-toed Lark A few Porto Colom 31st May and 3rd June. Also Salinas de Levante 1st and 4th June.
Thekla Lark Two Porto Colom 31st May.
House Martin Common throughout.
Swallow Common throughout.
Crag Martin A few at the colony on the dam at Cuber reservoir 29th May.
Tawny Pipit Two singing birds Cala D'or 27th May. Also seen at Cuber reservoir 29th May and 2nd June.
Yellow Wagtail Common at S'Albufera and Salinas de Levante.
Blue Rock Thrush Two Porto Colom 31st May.
Nightingale Singing everywhere from Cala D'or to S'Albufera.
Stonechat Common everywhere including Cala D'or and Porto Colom.
Blackbird Common in Cala D'or
Cetti's Warbler Common at S'Albufera and a few at Salinas de Levante.
Fan-tailed Warbler Common in suitable habitat including Cala D'or, S'Albufera and Salinas de Levante.
Great Reed Warbler A few singing at S'Albufera 29th May and 2nd June.
Moustached Warbler Good views of several birds in reeds at main canal S'Albufera 29th May and 2nd June.
Marmora's Warbler Two family parties at Porto Colom 31st May including two singing males seen well. Also seen 3rd June.
Spectacled Warbler At least four singing males seen well at Cuber reservoir 29th May and 2nd June.
Sardinian Warbler Common everywhere.
Blackcap One male Cuber reservoir 29th May.
Firecrest Heard singing at several mountain localities 29th May.
Spotted Flycatcher Common in Cala D'or.
Great Tit A few seen in Cala D'or.
Woodchat Shrike A few seen throughout the island.
House Sparrow Common in several places including Cala D'or.
Serin A common town bird in Cala D'or. Seen at many other places including S'Albufera and Salinas de Levante.
Greenfinch A few seen in Cala D'or.
Goldfinch A few in Cala D'or.
Linnet Small flock seen at Porto Colom 31st May.
Corn Bunting Singing in many localities, including Cala D'or.
Cirl Bunting Singing in many localities, including Cala D'or.

 

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