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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Menorca, 4 - 11 October 2002,

Graham Taylor

Based at Cala en Porter

Weather 5 days warm and sunny periods, last two days cooler and heavy rain

Cala en Porter
A stream runs into the bay. It has lots of reed beds and is flanked by limestone cliffs. Follow until the path is blocked by the land owner

Birds seen
Sardinian Warblers (common)
Goldfinches (common)
Rock Doves (too many)
Egyptian Eagle (most mornings from 9.30am)
Black Kite (1)
Red Kite (2)
Melodious Warbler (3)
Robin
Several warblers heard but very difficult to see.
Sparrows (many near the villas)
Common Gulls
Yellow Legged Gull
Thekla Lark
Grey Heron (Several)
Blackbirds (a few)

S'Algar
Blue Rock Thrush
Common Swifts
Pallid Swifts
House Martins

On the inland areas Kestrels, Kites and Booted Eagles seen in flight. Stonechats seen everywhere, mainly on shrubland by the sea or cliffs

S'Albafuera
Coots everywhere
Little Egret
Sardinian Warblers
Greenfinches
Mallard

Cala Santa Galdana
The best till last; 10 October, female Golden Oriole

No owls were heard (The Scops Owl must have bored everyone to death and gone! No Shearwater, Bee Eaters, Alpine Swifts, Buntings, Peregrine, or falcons though it is possible that some higher flying birds of prey might have been but it is difficult to be sure from a car.

Son Bou and El Prat Marshes were visited but being a very windy day there was little to observe apart from Reed Warblers and Sardinian Warblers

Inland water areas and reed beds were rather disappointing this time of year. What was there was limited and very difficult to observe. I would suggest mid May is the best time to visit according to local knowledge.

Graham
12 October 2002

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