Saturday 15 October 2022

Majorca 23rd to 30th September

Amazing, its here again the Wonderful Island of Majorca, this time however the flight times of both going out and coming back meant we lost both travel days. 

23rd September 

Anyway arrived late afternoon picked the car up and headed straight out to our hotel the Eix Lagotel again. What was wonderful and made out holiday was once again getting our regular room on the 6th floor over looking the s albufera nature reserve.  It was getting dark but i set the scope up anyway and could see 4 Marble Duck 3 Glossy Ibis and 95 Flamingos. Just love this place. 


24th September

It was my birthday so my plan was to be out allll day birding the nature reserve, however a b ike race meant i could get to the car park so i continued on to Son Real. I tracked my usual circular past the small hide continuing onto the beach and back. It was fairly quite but i slowly picked up all my usual suspects, Medditeranian Turtle, Theckla Larks, Serin, Common Redstart, Common Crossbills, Shag and Audoins Gulls. Also Firecrest and a couple of Red kites. 






I returned to the hotel late afternoon and once again got the scope out, Very successful with Black and Griffon Vulture over, Elenoras falcon, Booted Eagle, Pallid and Common Swifts, 2 Great white egret and now 110 Flamingo. The highlight however was a cracking Caspian Tern.



Went out for dinner and watched many egrets going to roost with our first 4 Night Herons.

25th September

A Day in Alcudia and Port Pollenca doing the wifes tourist stuff so all i can say is plenty of Audoins gulls along the coast. On the way back i did get some birding in however by visiting the S albufera Son bosc Depuradora, a little quite but Juvenile Woodchat Shrike, and Great Reed warbler singing the highlights.  



26th September

A trip to Ses salines and the cap was on today lots of water meant wader species were low however, still the most common wader was Kentish plover with over 95 on site. Black winged stilts are always good. Other highlights were the usual Flamingos 100+, Peregrine Falcon, 16 Red Kites although this total is the total travelling down to the area, same with the 10+ Booted Eagles. At the Cap 1 probably 2 Bonellis eagles but that was it. The amount of people in the area meant we didn't stop at the Cap. 



More Sightseeing this time at Porto Cristo.





Stopped at the Depuradora again on the way home for an hour which was much more productive for some reason. Stone Curlew heard, Wood Sand on the pools, 45 Cattle Egret and the Woodchat Shrike still. 40+ Yellow Wagtails of mixed Species including some blue headed types. Major highlights here though were a cracking Bluethroat, Purple Heron, Moustached Warbler and our only Bee eaters of the trip (6). Obligatory Hoopoes too. 










27th September

Managed to finally get to S Albufera marsh, fantastic reserve with close views of many good birds. Water levels were high though. Anyway, on the walk down the river great views of the usual Night herons. by the bridge a Little Bittern high up in the trees. A Geko on the board walk and then round at the hides good views of loads of Black winged Stilts, Flamingos and the Caspian Tern again. A Single Pochard showed well.












Just off the river the cracking Red Knobbed Coots and back in the hides over 60 Marble Ducks. Although the water levels were high waders were still plentyful with 4 Ruff, Grey Plover and 2 Wood Sandpipers. Osprey, Hobby and Elenora's to top off a great day here. 









28th September

The day sightseeing again this time at Soller and Port Soller so no birding done. 






Returned to the hotel and found a jumping spider Plexippus Paykulli, with just one recent record, a striking little spider.


 29th September

A walk around the Cuba Reservoir was disappointing, very few birds seen, Black and Griffon vultures were seen with plenty of Crossbills and Redstarts, highlight was a brief Wryneck. We had a drive around the mountains but its hard to bird and drive.  The scenery was fantastic.





30th September

Time for home but 106 Species seen, this trip seemed quieter for birds than normal, maybe a mix of the short trip and high-water levels. Also the fact that no Bocher valley or Formentor trips this time. Also no birds moving in great numbers. Still had an utter brilliant time. 

A Few picks just to highlight a great trip.... thanks for looking.























3 comments:

  1. Brilliant report Craig. Some really beautiful photos too. Thanks for taking the time to do this, very enjoyable. Mike

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  2. Lovely blog pal ! 👍

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