Island Tour - Part 7 - Barranco de la Torre

 After our trip to the Molinos Reservoir, we drove across the island to Barranco de la Torre. By the time we arrived, it was 2.30pm, and quite warm, so there weren't too many birds around. We did, however, manage to add a couple of new species to the trip list.

The first birds seen were, as always, Spanish Sparrows, with many birds at the start of the Barranco (gorge), by the sea. Walking up the gorge, we had Ravens overhead, and a couple of Trumpeter Finches. We also spotted several warbler species. One was a male Sardinian Warbler, one was a Willow Warbler (new species) and the other 2/3 were Chiffchaffs (new species). A single Egyptian Vulture was seen, sitting on a nest.

On the walk back down, we spotted a new species of butterfly, when a single Plain Tiger landed briefly. A beautiful sight!

Plain Tiger

Island Tour - Part 2 - Betancuria

 After our morning visit to Calderon Hondo, Jayne and I drove across the island to the beautiful village of Betancuria, where we spent a few hours discovering the old own and church, whilst also adding two new bird species to the list.

The first new bird species seen was a single, male Atlantic Canary (8th lifer), that was singing in a tree above the car park. Unfortunately, this was our only sighting, and he flew off before I could take a photograph! The second new species was African Blue Tit (9th lifer). One adult and 2 juveniles were seen, around the car park. Again, I only managed very fleeting views, and these were the best shots I got.

Adult (top) and juvenile (bottom)

Juvenile African Blue Tit (ssp.degener)

Next to the car park there was a freshwater pond. A single Emperor dragonfly and about a dozen Scarlet Darter (or Broad Darter, as they seem to be now named) were flying around.

Pond in Betancuria

Scarlet/Broad Darter

We walked on, into the village and the church, were we added our first Sardinian Warbler (heard though not seen) and Spanish Sparrow.

Betancuria Church

Spanish Sparrow on the church roof

Heading back to the car park, we spotted an egg-laying Geranium Bronze butterfly, and our first live (!) Atlantic Lizard of the trip.

Geranium Bronze

Atlantic Lizard

Majorcan Birds - Puerto Pollenca

Jayne and I have just spent two weeks in Puerto Pollenca in Mallorca. Whilst there we hired a car for a few days and travelled around the island to a few of the birding sites. This first post will, however, cover just those birds seen in and around the seaside town of Puerto Pollenca.

One of the first birds seen was one that many birders travel to this island to see, namely Audouin's Gull. Birds were seen everyday flying in and around the town, harbour and beaches.

Audouin's Gull

The other gull species seen here was Yellow-legged Gull. Again, birds were seen daily, in and around the beaches and in the nearby La Gola nature reserve.

Yellow-legged Gull (La Gola reserve)

La Gola Reserve is a small reserve right in the centre of Puerto Pollenca (2 minutes walk from the harbour). Although it wasn't great for birds, I did get daily views of Yellow-legged Gull, along with Blackbird, Kingfisher (1 sighting), Moorhen, Coot, Great Tit, Mallard, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Linnet, Little Egret (flying over), Fan-tailed Warbler (Zitting Cisticola), Hoopoe (2 fly overs), Sardinian Warbler (see and heard daily, but impossible to photograph!!!) and Mediterranean Flycatcher. 

This last species, Mediterranean Flycatcher, (Muscicapa tyrrhenica baleric) was a bit of a surprise for me, as I hadn't realised it was a full species until I was actually in Mallorca!  It was formally accepted as a full species in January 2018 (see article here), so was a very nice addition to my "life list". The birds were plentiful around the town, in the gardens and in trees on the beach.

Mediterranean Flycatcher

Other species seen daily were Common Tern and Shag (sub species desmarestii) Both species were out on the breakwaters by the main beach. House Sparrows, Woodpigeons and Collared Dove were also seen every day. The final species for this site was Oystercatcher. One bird was seen on the breakwaters on one occasion. 

Year List update:

157 – Audouin’s Gull

158 – Yellow legged Gull
159 – Fan-tailed Warbler
160 – Mediterranean Flycatcher
161 – Hoopoe
162 – Sardinian Warbler

Menorcan Birds

Our family holiday this year took us to Menorca. This was our first visit to the Mediterranean island and we were very pleased with the 30+ degrees temperatures, a couple of new birds "lifers" and some lovely beaches.

Our base for the holiday was in the south coast resort of Son Bou where we had daily sightings of Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gulls.

Yellow-legged Gull

 

Audouin's Gull

 

We spotted 4 different colour-ringed Audouin's Gulls, details of which have been sent off, so I'll post about them as soon as I have the information back. Also seen from the beach were Shags.

Just behind the beach at Son Bou there is a large marsh, which isn't the easiest place to access, but it is possible to walk along the sand dunes and look over the marsh in different places. We had several sightings of Little Egret (maximum 7 coming into roost one evening), Purple Heron (maximum of 3 in flight) and Purple Gallinule (1 in flight on two occasions) over the marsh, and one evening we saw and heard two birds in silhouette, which, when we listened to the calls on the IPod, sounded a lot like Night Heron.

Other birds heard in and around the marsh included Zitting Cisticola (heard every day), Reed, Cetti's and Sardinian Warbler, Hoopoe (4 together) and a pair of Bee-eaters that spent most days hunting in the dunes.

Bee-Eater

House Sparrows were very common around the accommodation, as were Spotted Flycatchers, Turtle Doves (seen daily around the resort, even feeding on the lawn, just 5 feet away from me) and a very confiding juvenile male Blue Rock Thrush, which fed every day on the lawn in front of our apartment!

Blue Rock Thrush

 



As well as the birdlife around Son Bou, we also hired a car for a few days and travelled around the island to a few other birding spots. Details of these other sites, the 2 "lifers" and an update on the year list next time!