Date: 8-13 September 2016
Location: Mallorca S'Albufereta + S'Albufera + Boquer Valley
Weather: Blue Skies 28-30c
Observation:
So next morning 7am headed back round to S'Albufereta having spoken to a another birder found this small lake round corner from wooden platform not much water on it but Stone Curlew a bit closer, they seen to very wary birds around 6 birds scattered around lake.
Seeing the normal stuff at distance from platform including Great White Egrets numbers around 10 plus Little Egrets, Grey Herons plus a flypast Purple Heron and also Stonechats, Corn Buntings a single Marsh Harrier and even a Osprey. Headed on back to breakfast and on little Estuary again Black Crowned Night Heron was sat admiring the view.
Looks like he was looking at himself !
But the light really was fantastic here, a little after sunrise and glorious !
Then saw a small Shrike perched ... I go for Woodchat Shrike juv ?
After my outing to S'Albufera the day before was not feeling to good after being munched on by the local mosquitoes population so headed into Puerto Pollenca for some spray.
Spent the day round pool recovering but next morning headed back round to S'Albufereta 7am every morning the sun would rise over this mountain Stunning !
This Morning the Egrets were out in force 7 Great Whites,16 Grey Herons and 16 Little Egret plus many flyover Cattle egrets.
After breakfast the plan was the famous Boquer Valley high hopes Falcons, Vultures and Eagles on the list, rode the bike to Puerto Pollensa locked it up and walked the pleasant if a little warm track into valley. Could hear Eagles, Booted and could see very distantly also distant Eleonora's Falcon but little else. Even the local goat population thought it to be a bit warm! while seating at head of valley saw a brief view of Balearic Warbler but not quick enough for picture !
Best view of Booted Eagle , i think ?!
The scale of cliffs and valley is huge rising to around 1000ft and around 1 mile across birds get lost in the landscape !
Best shot of the day was the ever happy to pose Wheatear .
While stumbling along trail i literally did stumble and head over heals fell! Cuts and bruising were incurred ! All for the art of birds !
Next morning bruised and feeling battered headed a bit later to S'Albufereta and was rewarded with a hunting Eleonora's Falcon real fast but through binoculars a great view even if camera work was poor !
After breakfast and good wife settled round the pool headed out around back lanes and perimeter of S'Albufereta Reserve, seen 2 of these on wires Woodchat Shrikes.
Also a long tailed Blue Butterfly, if only in the uk !!
Still a little cracker !
Saw lots of Cattle Egret about although not a tame as Portugal. with also Serin, Corn Bunting, Red Legged Partridge and Kestrel's.
A fluttering Clouded Yellow, which was my last target species in the UK.
Next Day with James a birder i met in same hotel and amazingly next door room to ours ! decided on going back to S'Albufera so i Biked it and James caught the bus. On meeting him there we hunted for Moustached Warbler but didn't see. Headed on round to hides where this Purple Swamphen was wandering in front hide, Great and weird looking thing !
After a few life ticks for James saw this beautiful Little Bittern fly 5ft in front of us and perched on reeds ! Even though so close amazing camouflage a against reeds !
Saw i think at least 5 different Little Bitterns that day .
Hides were very warm in fact i think i've been in cooler saunas !
But a glutton headed round to Bishop's Hide being a little more sheltered Black Winged Stilts, Greenshanks and a Osprey here.
Did another loop of the closer hides and my first Stick insect ! Not sure of make or breed of this one but amazing !
From hides again a Hunting Marsh harrier after watching and willing it to come closer it slowly drifted off. But mountains in background make a nice shot.
Then a Osprey circled overhead it seems hunting this A320 !
Such obliging birds not like my uk shots of distant specs or the blue sky behind !
With Marbled Teal, Stone Curlew, Kentish Plover in front hides a few Cattle Egret amongst Cattle doing what their suppose to !
Also a single Yellow Wagtail female in amongst it.
Almost done and another couples of shots of the Little Bitterns.
Called Little Bitterns they really are Little this Mallard show scale.
So all done with S'Albufera a great place and already planning return visit next year. so one day left and after my fall in Boquer decided on a return visit. Found the Pine valley bit at start this time and a Hoopoe was feeding at base of trees also could see another birder with his scope trained on something so approached slowly a Red Backed Shrike a rarity i'm told on lifting camera up it flew and disappeared !!
Got a blurred picture of it through railings !! DAM!
Boquer Valley again hot and again couldn't see much only people mainly Germans. Kept check out the surrounds with binoculars but sparse ! This Goat in distance thinking of jumping no doubt !
A Stonechat !! Nice but no cigar.
A few sightings of Sardinian Warblers and again distant Booted Eagles a Band winged Grasshopper taking in the heat and that was that. May/June i'm informed a better time so May/June it is 2017 !
On leaving stopped of at La Gola a very small park in Puerto Pollensa quite good here with Little Egrets, Yellow Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers.
It says at certain times of year the Osprey comes here 2 perches some 10 foot from paths with many fish in surrounding lake, I'd like to see that ! For now the final Bird of my trip a Yellow Legged Gull Adult. All in a great trip but next time a car and a bit earlier in the year i think, with my new knowledge of different sights and definitely some mosquitoes spray i think 2017 will be better but as for now thanks for reading hope you've enjoyed looking as much as i've enjoyed snapping !!
Thanks For Looking !
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