This was my first visit to Ibiza, brought about by a colleague’s wedding on the island, although I’ve birded both Majorca and Menorca before. Majorca definitely has the best potential of the three islands, and a wider range of breeding species, but what Ibiza lacks in species it makes up for in scenery, (so long as you avoid San Antonio.) One can always look for the Ibiza Rail on the island too, though it may be a lost cause since the species is thought to have gone extinct c5300-4350 years BC…
We stayed at the lovely Xarc Hotel, which is one of the new breed of Agro Turisme establishments. Highly recommended if you want to get away from it all, they only have 9 rooms and are in the middle of the countryside (though only c4kms from Sta Eulalia.) You are free to wander around the Xarc property and can walk the dirt roads in relative peace and quiet, finding typical arable species including Stone Curlew and Scops Owl. Web http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/xarc/
In terms of timing, either Spring or Autumn would doubtless net a few more species- July is not the best for visible migration needless to say, and it’s too hot to do any serious birding between 11am-5pm.
A rental car is pretty much essential for getting around the island, though distances are not great, (45kms from N. to S and 25kms W. to E.) We rented a Skoda Fabia for c£129 all in for the full week, worth paying a few pounds extra to get something with aircon. The island itself is on the expensive side (at least it was when we visited with the UK Pound worth only 1.18 Euros…) and there are now few super-cheap places to eat/drink. However, the local sefood and fish are excellent.
Sites to include in any itinerary: Ses Salines, Sta. Talaia.
The only species we searched for and missed was Rock Sparrow - no sign despite extensive searching in suitable habitat e.g. around the Mirador de Savinar in the South-West etc.
Highlights were Eleonora’s Falcon, Marmora’s Warbler (easy enough with tape,) Audouin’s and Slender-billed Gulls, and Bee-eater.
Species seen:
Cory’s Shearwater
In the evenings, 2 seen off Cala d’Hort/Es Vedra, 3 off Es Cubells, 2 of Aigues Blancas, 3 off Platje des Figueral. These were presumably all of the race Calonectris diomedea diomedea (‘Scopoli’s Shearwater’) but all were way too distant to confirm underwing detail etc.
Shag
A total of 8 offshore around the island.
Grey Heron
1 at Ses Salines, 8/7/08.
Little Egret
1-2 at Ses Salines both visits.
Greater Flamingo
Easy to find at Ses Salines- max. 192, 8/7/08.
[White-fronted Goose
1 goose sp. almost certainly of this species at Ses Salines 9/7/08- distant in heat haze.]
Mallard
3 females Ses Salines 9/7/08.
Pintail
1 female Ses Salines 9/7/08.
Shelduck
Only seen at Ses Salines where max. 13 on 9/7/08.
Kestrel
Common, seen daily.
Peregrine Falcon
1 at Es Portitxol, 1 Puig den Guillem.
Eleonora’s Falcon
A flock of 3 showed well at Cap Negret, 3kms NW of Sta Agnes in the NW of the island. (Note: this is the more Northerly/Easterly of the two ‘Cap Negrets.’) 1 at the Mirador des Savinar opposite Es Vedra in the SW, (not signposted but I guess this is where we were, immediately North of the old fort,) and 1 c1km W. of Cala de Sant Vincent in the NE.
Scops Owl
1 heard singing at the Xarc Agrotourisme Hotel where we stayed, 9/7/08 was taped in and showed briefly in the Xarc car-park. Also heard on 10/7/08, 11/7/08. 1 heard at the Atzaro Hotel c4.5kms NW of Sta Eulalia, 11/7/08.
Yellow Wagtail
1 ad. and 6+ juvs. of undetermined race on the rocky bank, S. side of Ses Salines 9/7/08.
Red-legged Partridge
Seen most days in small numbers.
Black-winged Stilt
Only seen at Ses Salines where max. 30, 9/7/08.
Stone Curlew
2+ heard each night at the Xarc Agrotourisme Hotel, c3.5m NW of Sta Eulalia. 1 seen at dawn 0.5kms North of there, 11/7/08.
Kentish Plover
Only seen at Ses Salines where max. 35, 9/7/08.
Yellow-legged Gull
Very common. Only significant counts: 100+, Cala d’Hort, 370+, Cala d’Espart.
Black-headed Gull
3 adults, Ses Salines 8/7/08.
Audouin’s Gull
Surprisingly common on all coasts, seen in very small numbers (<4) in most of the quieter bays. Highest count was 26 at Ses Salines, 8/7/08. Other locations included: Port de Sant Miquel, Cala Salada, Santa Eulalia beach, Cala Comte, Cala Moli, Cala des Jondal, Platje des Figueral, and Aigues Blancas.
Slender-billed Gull
4 adults at Ses Salines 8/7/08, plus a probable 1st Summer too distant to confirm in heat haze. 2 adults Ses Salines 9/7/08.
Woodpigeon
Seen daily, max 15/day.
Feral Pigeon
Small flocks here and there.
Collared Dove
Common, seen daily.
Turtle Dove
Very common, seen daily.
Swift
Common, seen daily.
Pallid Swift
1 Port de Sant Miquel and a couple 1 km to the South, 1 Ses Salines, 1 Playa Nova.
Hoopoe
A pair at the Xarc, 1 c5kms N. of Ibiza Town, 1 nr the Atzaro Hotel NW of Sat. Eulalia.
Bee-eater
In the SW of the island, a party of 7+ seen from the main road 0.8kms E of the fork in the road that splits Cala Comte from Cala Terida. A single bird seen in the low hills just W. of Platja de S’Estunyol on the East coast.
Thekla Lark
Singles seen daily in suitable habitat, often perched on telegraph wires in the early morning.
Barn Swallow
Fairly common, max. 8/day.
House Martin
Scarce, max 3/day, at the airport, Sta Eulalia, N. of the Atzaro Hotel etc.
Crag Martin
2 at the Mirador de Savinar opposite Es Vedra in the SW.
Stonechat
Singles seen dotted around the island, max 4/day.
Blue Rock Thrush
A male in flight at Cala Comte, and a pair at Cala des Jondal were the only sightings.
Blackbird
Common, seen daily.
Sardinian Warbler
Very common, heard everywhere.
Marmora’s Warbler
3 taped in on Sta Talaia, at the junction of the two dirt roads, signposted Cami des Puig Blanc and Cami de sa Talaia two thirds of the way up the mountain. 1 around the 2nd last parking area along the dirt road to (I think) Cala d’Albaca in the NW, and 1 at the end of the metalled section of the road out to Punta Grossa in the NE, (by the abandoned yellow crane.)
Fan-tailed Warbler
1 just N. of the turnoff to Sant Miquel off the main North/South highway, 2 N. edge of Ses Salines, 1 W of Sant Carles.
[Blackcap
1 heard in full song, early morning, 11/7, 0.5kms S. of Port de Sant Miquel.]
Firecrest
Commonly heard, but only 1 seen, a juvenile in the park at Port de Sant.Miquel
Spotted Flycatcher
Abundant.
Great Tit
1 at the Xarc, 8 Puig den Guillem, 3 S. of Port de Sant Miquel etc.
Woodchat Shrike
Common in small numbers, max 6/day. All those looked at in detail were of the expected Balaeric race badius.
Red-backed Shrike
An adult female seen opposite the start of the hiking trail (by 1st green water container on the dirt road,) along the dirt road S. of the metalled road from St Joan to St. Vincent, in the Cas Rippols/Puig den Guillem area, (S. of St Joan de Labritja.)
Raven
5 Sta. Talaia.
House Sparrow
Abundant.
Linnet
Rather scarce, only occasional small parties.
Goldfinch
Rather scarce, only occasional small parties.
Greenfinch
Common, seen daily.
Chaffinch
A single female, with Serins and Greenfinches along the hiking trail in the Cas Rippols/Puig den Guillem area.
Serin
Very common, seen daily, max 30/day.
Common Crossbill
8+ incl. at least 2 juvs. by the radar station at the top of Sta Talaia, and 3 just South of St Joan de Labritja, along the hiking trail in the Cas Rippols/Puig den Guillem area.
Wren
2 just S. of Port de Sant Miquel.
Total: 55 species.