MALLORCA 14-20 APRIL 1997
James J. Packer* & James R. Diamond
james.packer@somersetbirder.co.ukLittle Grebe
Singles at S'albufera throughout; 1 at Albufereta on 20th.
Cory's Shearwater
At least 5, close to shore at Alcudia on 14th; at least 20 around Formentor lighthouse on 18th.
Mediterranean Shearwater
At least 50, Alcudia on 14th; about 20 around Fomentor lighthouse on 18th.
Cormorant
Singles, Porto Colom on 17th; Pto. Pollensa on 18th-19th; Albufereta on 20th.
Shag
6, Porto Colom on 17th; three, Pto. Pollensa on 18th-20th.
Little Bittern
A male from Bishop 1 hide (S' albufera) on 15th; a female S' albufera on 19th.
Night Heron
At least 16 roosting in pines at entrance to S' albufera throughout; 4, Bishop 1 hide on 19th; 2-3 flew over Pto. Pollensa at dusk on 19th.
Squacco Heron
Single immatures at S' albufera on 15th, 18th, 20th.
Cattle Egret
Present at S' albufera throughout, with a maximum of about 10 on 15th.
Little Egret
Recorded at many locations, possibly up to 40 at S' albufera. Many small groups of up to 10 flying
over Alcudia.
Grey Heron
Small numbers, perhaps up to 5-10 at S' albufera.
Purple Heron
Abundant at S'albufera, often out in the open; 2 over Alcudia on 15th; one smelly stream, Pto. Pollensa on 19th.
Spoonbill
2 immatures at S' albufera on 17th; 1 on 20th.
Shelduck
One at Salinas de Levante on 17th.
Gadwall
Up to 20 at S' albufera throughout.
Mallard
Abundant at most wetlands.
Garganey
Up to at least 20, S' albufera throughout.
Shoveler
Up to about 10, S' albufera throughout; about 5, Salinas de Levante on 17th.
Red-crested Pochard
Abundant at S' albufera. At least 20 paired birds throughout.
Pochard
3 on the canal, S' albufera throughout.
White-headed Duck
A pair on the canal, S' albufera on 17th.
Honey Buzzard
One over the Boquer valley on 19th.
Black Vulture
2-3, Cuber Reservoir on 16th. At least one adult and one wing tagged immature.
Marsh Harrier
Abundant at S' albufera throughout, perhaps 15 birds present. One migrant over Boquer valley on
15th.
Booted Eagle
Two pale phase birds over the Cuber Reservoir on 16th.
Osprey
Singles at S' albufera on 18th, and over the sea off Pto. Pollensa (later Boquer valley) on 19th.
Kestrel
Singles at many locations.
Eleonora's Falcon
2-3 at Formentor lighthouse, 2 in the Boquer valley, 1 beehives area all on 18th; 2 at Boquer valley, 1 at S' albufera on 19th; 1 beehives area on 20th.
Peregrine
Singles in the Boquer valley on 15th, Cuber reservoir on 17th, Formentor lighthouse on 18th; pair in the Boquer valley on 19th.
Red-legged Partridge
Two at the entrance to the Boquer valley on 15th.
Pheasant
Heard calling at Cuber Reservoir on 17th; Casas Veyas on 20th.
Water Rail
One seen, several calling at Salines de Levante on 17th; singles calling at S' albufera throughout.
Spotted Crake
1 or 2 seen very well at S' albufera on 17th. From path between Cim hide and viewpoint.
Moorhen
Abundant in wetland areas.
Purple Gallinule
Present throughout at S' albufera, with a maximum of 5 from the Cim hide on 17th.
Coot
Abundant in wetland areas.
Black-winged Stilt
Abundant in wetland areas. Pair copulating at Bishop 1 hide on 16th.
Stone Curlew
One near Felantix on 17th; two around Salines de Levante on 17th. Heard calling at night near
Alcudia.
Little-ringed Plover
At S' albufera throughout with a maximum of 4 on 15th; about 10, Salines de Levante on 17th.
Ringed Plover
Two at the Salines de Levante on 17th.
Kentish Plover
Abundant at Salines de Levante and S' albufera. Nest with 3 eggs found on waste ground at Alcudia.
Little Stint
At least 35 at the Salinas de Levante on 17th; 8 at S' albufera on 18th.
Temminck's Stint
Singles at S' albufera on 15th-16th (Cim hide); Salines de Levante on 17th.
Curlew Sandpiper
Singles at S' albufera on 17th (Cim hide) and 18th (opposite Alcudia Pins).
Dunlin
Up to 3 at S' albufera on 18th; 2 at Salines de Levante on 17th.
Ruff
10 at Salines de Levante on 17th; at least 70, S' albufera (opposite Alcudia Pins) on 20th.
Snipe
3 at Bishop 1 hide, S' albufera throughout.
Black-tailed Godwit
One at Salines de Levante on 17th.
Whimbrel
One flew over Salines de Levante on 17th.
Curlew
One calling, Salines de Levante on 17th; singles S' albufera throughout.
Spotted Redshank
About 30, Salines de Levante on 17th; maximum of 11 at S' albufera on 20th.
Redshank
Abundant at Salines de Levante on 17th and S'albufera throughout.
Marsh Sandpiper
About five, Salines de Levante on 17th; one at S' albufera (opposite Alcudia Pins) on 16th, 19th and 20th.
Greenshank
Present at S' albufera throughout, with a maximum of 5 on 17th.
Green Sandpiper
Single at S' albufera throughout, and Salines de Levante on 17th.
Wood Sandpiper
Present at S' albufera throughout with a maximum of 23 on 17th.
Common Sandpiper
A maximum of 6 at the Water Treatment Works, S' albufera, on 20th.
Little Gull
A tired adult was present at S' albufera Cim hide throughout.
Black-headed Gull
Very small numbers (less than 5) at Salines de Levante and S' albufera.
Slender-billed Gull
An adult at Salines de Levante on 17th.
Audouin's Gull
2 or 3 at Porto Colom on 17th; in the mornings and evenings, present on the beaches at Alcudia and Pto. Pollensa throughout; maximum of about 5. Pto. Pollensa on 18th; coming to feed on bread at Bellevue holiday village lagoons, Alcudia, on 21st.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Singles at Water Treatment Works, S 'albufera, throughout.
Yellow-legged Gull
Abundant throughout the whole island, particularly along the coast.
Gull-billed Tern
2 at S' albufera, Cim hide, on 20th.
Whiskered Tern
9 at S' albufera on 17th-20th.
Rock Dove
About 15 at Porto Colom on 17th.
Woodpigeon
Small groups of up to 4 widely distributed in many locations. About 20 at Casas Veyas on 20th.
Turtle Dove
1 at the beehives area on 20th.
Scop's Owl
At least 3 calling at Pto. Pollensa on 19th. Seen at the end of the Guardia Civil road, though perhaps not nesting at the usual site in the building?
Swift
Abundant at many localities.
Pallid Swift
Positively identified at Salines de Levante on 17th (2); S' albufera on 19th (3-4).
Alpine Swift
One associating with feeding Swifts at the beehives area on 20th.
Bee-eater
A flock of 12 at the beehives area on 20th, flew south-east; 2-3 nearby on the same date feeding from olive grove.
Hoopoe
Abundant, seen daily at many localities; 5 around the 'pine walk', near the entrance to the Boquer
valley throughout.
Wryneck
Birds calling at many localities; 2 calling at the Boquer valley entrance on 19th; pair copulating at the beehives area on 19th.
Short-toed Lark
At least 4-5 singing birds around the sand pit, S' albufera, on 16th.
Thekla Lark
Pair near the cliff top at Porto Colom on 17th.
Sand Martin
Abundant at wetland areas; perhaps 1000's at S' albufera during rain on 18th-19th.
Crag Martin
Seen at many localities, at least 50 near the entrance to the Boquer valley on 15th; very good views at the dam, Cuber Reservoir and the bridge over the stream, beehives area.
Swallow
Abundant at wetland areas throughout; one, bright red underparts of race savignii at S' albufera on
17th.
House Martin
Small groups of up to about 20 in various localities. Much less abundant than Sand Martin or
Swallow.
Tawny Pipit
One singing at Alcudia on 15th; 2 at Cuber Reservoir on 16th and Porto Colom on 17th; one, beehives area on 20th.
Tree Pipit
Singles at the Boquer valley entrance on 15th and 18th and Club Tropicana track, Pto. Pollensa on
20th; at least 4, Casas Veyas on 18th and 20th.
Yellow Wagtail
Small numbers, mainly at wetlands, of race M. f. iberiae.
White Wagtail
One at the Water Treatment Works, S' albufera, on 19th.
Wren
Small numbers singing at many localities.
Robin
Single at Porto Colom on 17th; 2-3 Postage Stamp Wood throughout.
Nightingale
Abundant, singing at many localities, and good views at Alcudia on 15th and S' albufera throughout.
Redstart
Up to 5 together in widely scattered locations.
Whinchat
Singles at Cuber Reservoir and S' albufera on 16th; Boquer valley and S' albufera on 18th; Casas
Veyas and beehives area on 20th.
Stonechat
Abundant throughout all lowland areas.
Northern Wheatear
Singles at many localities; at least 4, Porto Colom on 17th.
Black-eared Wheatear
A female along the Club Tropicana, Pto. Pollensa on 20th.
Blue Rock Thrush
Seen at virtually all upland rocky locations; at least 3 in the Boquer valley throughout; singing male at Porto Colom on 17th.
Blackbird
Widely distributed, seen in many localities.
Song Thrush
Single in the Boquer valley entrance throughout.
Cetti's Warbler
Abundant, particularly, though not exclusively, in wetland areas; birds often singing and feeding out in the open at S' albufera.
Moustached Warbler
Many singing at S' albufera throughout, often showing well, particularly where the bridges cross the
canal.
Great Reed Warbler
At least 5-10 singing at S' albufera throughout; seen nest building near the canal here on 19th.
Marmora's Warbler
One seen distantly at Cuber Reservoir on 16th; about 4-5 at Porto Colom seen well on 17th.
Spectacled Warbler
About 5 singing birds at Cuber Reservoir on 16th.
Sardinian Warbler
Abundant throughout lowland localities.
Whitethroat
Singles at many localities; about 4, Casas Veyas on 18th and 20th.
Garden Warbler
Singles at Cuber Reservoir dam on 16th and Casas Veyas on 20th.
Blackcap
Small numbers at scattered localities.
Wood Warbler
2 at Boquer valley entrance on 18th; single at Casas Veyas on 20th.
Willow Warbler
Singles at many locations; 4 together in the beehives area on 19th.
Firecrest
Heard singing at many upland pine wood areas; 2-3 singing at Casas Veyas on 18th and 20th.
Spotted Flycatcher
Small numbers, widely distributed.
Pied Flycatcher
Small numbers, widely distributed; at least 10, Casas Veyas on 18th.
Blue Tit
Seen and heard several times along the mountain road from Pollensa to Cuber Reservoir.
Great Tit
Small numbers at many localities.
Golden Oriole
Single male at the beehives area on 20th.
Woodchat Shrike
Small numbers at many localities; pair copulating at the Boquer valley entrance on 19th; male singing along the Club Tropicana track on 20th.
Carrion Crow
2 at Palma airport on 14th.
Raven
2 at viewpoint between Pto. Pollensa and Casas Veyas on 15th.
Starling
2 near the Water Treatment Works, S' albufera, on 18th.
House Sparrow
Abundant.
Chaffinch
Abundant, particularly in upland areas.
Greenfinch
Abundant.
Goldfinch
Abundant; bird seen in nest, Postage Stamp Wood on 18th.
Linnet
Widespread in small numbers.
Crossbill
Singing male at Bellevue holiday village, Alcudia throughout; family party at Casas Veyas on 18th.
Cirl Bunting
Widespread in small numbers.
Reed Bunting
On road from Palma to Alcudia(!) on 14th; single at S' albufera on 19th.
Corn Bunting
Abundant throughout lowland areas.
Mammals
Rabbit, Brown Hare, Brown Rat, House Mouse, Pipistrelle Bat, Brown Long-eared Bat, Pine Martin (scat).