Due to having to go in half term this trip to Mallorca was outside the peak spring passage time.  Details of the species likely to be of interest to British birders are included, in total 80 species were logged.

Although a couple of days were not given over to birding it was not too difficult to catch up with a number of the island’s specialities.  The biggest disappointment was getting an ‘untickable view’ only of a presumed Balearic Woodchat Shrike from a moving car.

We stayed at Port d’Alcudia, which proved to be a perfectly good base.  As well as being close to several key sites the birding in the resort itself was not bad at all.  From our balcony we saw Eleonara’s Falcons most evenings, and there was clearly a flightline for herons and egrets presumably en route to and from Albufera.

One or two miscellaneous points:

• car thefts are still a problem at Cuber, park carefully or empty your car.  We were targeted though fortunately lost nothing of value.
• Graham Hearl’s book is still an invaluable resource, but status of many species have changed since it was written. 

Bird List

Cory’s Shearwater – seen from the Formentor lighthouse and Cala Rajada

Shag (Mediterranean race) – seen without difficulty at coastal locations

Little Bittern – one seen at Albufera

Night Heron – seen overflying Port d’Alcudia, best  views at Albuferata

Squacco Heron – seen at Albufera

Cattle Egret – regularly overflew Port d’Alcudia and many at Albufera

Purple Heron – seen from balcony at Port d’Alcudia, several Albufera

Black Stork – one seen at Cuber was something of a surprise, though apparently they have summered there in the past

Marbled Duck – seen at Albufera and Depuradora de s’Illot

Red-crested Pochard – many Albufera

Black Vulture – about four seen at Cuber

Eleonora’s Falcon – seen at Cuber, Albufera, Bocquer Valley and over Port d”Alcudia on most evenings

Purple Gallinlule – Albufera

Black-winged Stilt – ubiquitous at wetland sites

Kentish Plover – near Albuferata

Audoin’s Gull – easily seen on the beaches  from Port d’Alcudia to Porto Pollensa, overflew the apartment most days

Gull-billed Tern – two Albufera

Whiskered Tern – several Albufera

Pallid Swift – seen at Formentor

Crag Martin – seen from viewpoints on the road to Formentor, at Formentor lighthouse and in the Bocquer Valley

Tanwy Pipit – Cuber near the dam

Iberian Yellow Wagtail – seen on the outskirts of Port d’Alcudia and at Salines de Lavante.

Blue Rock Thrush – seen in the Bocquer Valley only, at the far end of the valley near the cove

Fan-tailed Warbler – widespread, including on the outskirts of Port d’Alcudia

Moustached Warbler – Albufera

Great Reed Warbler – Albufera

Balearic Warbler – seen at viewpoints on the Formentor peninsula and in the Bocquer Valley

Sardinian Warbler – seen at several sites

Serin – common, including in the resort