Mallorca Birding 7th October 2017
S’Albufera
On the 7th we took the bus out to S’Albufera where we immediately got great views of Night Herons along the bushes on the far side of the avenue. There were the usual large numbers of Cetti’s Warblers expressing themselves loudly and we even saw one or two. On the left side of the avenue there were regular views of Marsh Harrier – never possible to determine how many over a half-hour period.
We walked down to the visitor centre and checked in. We got a new map which is useful because they have erected a few new platforms around the site and they seem to have done quite a bit of work in general – perhaps as a result of an easing of “austerity economics”. Then it was off to the – rather busy – Sa Roca Pools hides which just happened to have a large mixed flock of waders right outside the window. I got a bit confused when someone was referring to Alpine Waders until I eventually realised that the person referring to these was doing so because they were Calidris alpine –i.e. Dunlin! Also among the flock were scatterings of Sanderling and Little Stints – only a couple of feet from the hide.
An Osprey flew in and showed very well for ages. There were Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, a single Snipe and half a dozen Purple Swamphen. There were numerous Cattle Egret and some Lapwing and even a confusing bird that the hide seemed to eventually agree was probably a female Wheatear – it was certainly acting like one.
Rather disappointingly we did not see any Stone Curlew. Previously these had been regularly seen in the dry scrubby filed to the left of the pools but I did not meet any birders all holiday that had seen them there this autumn!
We went round to the other hide overlooking the Sa Roca pools but it was pretty much the same birds from a different angle.
We continued along the trail, stopping at the bridge where there were a few Red-knobbed Coot
We went on down the track to the Es Cibollar pools hides which were also very, very busy. We eventually squeezed in. This hide is usually very reliable for waders and this was no exception with Spotted Redshank in good numbers and also Greenshank, Black Winged Stilt and a single Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Avocets. Smaller waders included Sanderling and Little Stint. There were good views of a Water Rail down in the scrub to the left of the hide but the prize bird of the day, holiday and year so far, was probably an incredibly short view of a Bluethroat flying past the hide. It had been seen a few times earlier in the day and it was known to be in a certain bush so people were ready for it. It was still incredibly fast as it flew past us but I am still counting it as a life tick!
There were also Gadwall and Shelduck. Lots of Cormorants, an Osprey, some Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls and a Grey Heron and Little Egret. Also Kentish and Little Ringed Plover so not bad at all really – just too full. It was eventually so sweltering inside the hide that we had so seek out the fresh air outside where it was a very pleasant day.
We headed back down to the visitor centre where we stopped to spend some time looking at a very interesting display by a Cattle Egret that looked like it was looking for Grasshoppers stirred up by passing people on the track
The afternoon was getting on and we had wanted to get back to Port de Pollenca and La Gola for a talk at the visitor centre on Bonelli’s Eagles so we walked back down the avenue but then couldn’t resist walking down to the first platform down the Ses Puntes track where we got another Osprey.
In the end, we did not make it back to La Gola in time for the talk and hot and thirsty we stopped at a bar for a drink before going back to the hotel.
Route round S’Albufera