One week was spent in Mallorca at the end of June 2001. Although possibly not the most productive time to visit the island, it was interesting to find that most of the sought-after bird species are easily found at this time of year. This may be useful information for any birders taking a holiday to this delightful place during the school summer holidays. Please note this was not a purely birding holiday and I am sure much more could have been seen with more time.
We stayed in self-catering accomodation at Cales de Mallorca (CDM) on the east coast near Manacor. From CDM, it was approximately one hour to S'Albufera by car.
All sites mentioned (except CDM) have easy access and our described in the excellent and invaluable book by Graham Hearl and Jon King "A Birdwatching Guide To Mallorca" (Arlequin, 1995).
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis. Several at S'Albufera.
Cory's Shearwater,Calonectris diomedea.1 south past CDM on 28/06/01.
Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis. Mediterranean sub-species desmarestii seen regularly at CDM, highest count 15 on 28/06/01.
Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus. Pair seen well by the canal at S'Albufera on 27/06/01.
Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax. Common at S'Albufera.
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis. Maximum of 18 at S'Albufera on 25/06/01.
Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides. Two seen at S'Albufera on 25 and 27/06/01.
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta. Very common at S'Albufera.
Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea. Three at S'Albufera on 27/06/01.
Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis. One at S'Albufera on 25/06/01.
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos. Small numbers at S'Albufera.
Gadwall, A. strepera. One at S'Albefura on 27/06/01.
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina. Common at S'Albufera.
Black Vulture, Aegypius monachus. Three singles at Embalse de Cuber on 28/06/01.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus. One at Embalse de Cuber, 28/06/01.
Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus. One near Lluc on 28/06/01.
Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus. Common at S'Albufera, maximum of 6 on 27/06/01.
Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. Common.
Eleonora's Falcon, F. eleonorae. Three at Cap de Formentor on 25/06/01 and several at S'Albufera.
Peregrine, F. peregrinus. One adult and one juvenile at Embalse de Cuber, on 28/06/01.
Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa. Common at CDM in coastal scrub.
Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus. one heard at S'Albufera on 27/06/01.
Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus. Common at S'Albufera.
Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio porphyrio. Fairly common at S'Albufera.
Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus. Common at S'Albufera.
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius. Common at S'Albufera.
Kentish Plover, C. alexandrinus. Common at S'Albufera.
Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans michaellis. Common. Maxima of 350 at Embalse de Cuber on 28/06/01 and 55 at CDM on 28/06/01.
Audouin's Gull, L. audouinni. Common along the east coast. Largest count was over 50 south past Calas Antena (next to CDM) in one hour in the early evening of 28/06/01, including one single flock of 11.
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo. Two at S'Albufera on 27/06/01.
Rock Dove, Columba livia. Common, though mostly along the coast.
Woodpigeon, C. palumbus. Fairly common throughout the island.
Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto. Several at various sites, including at least two pairs in CDM.
Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus. Common at CDM and several seen at S'Albufera.
Common Swift, Apus apus. Very common.
Hoopoe, Upupa epops. Common.
Bee-eater, Merops apiaster. Several singles, maximum of three at S'Albufera on 27/06/01.
Thekla Lark, Galerida theklae. Seen at CDM in coastal scrub, with three on 26/06/01 and two including one singing male on 29/06/01.
Crag Martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris. Common at Cap de Formentor and at Embalse de Cuber.
Swallow, Hirundo rustica. Fairly common
House Martin, Delichon urbica. Very common.
Tawny Pipit, Anthus campestris. Common at Embalse de Cuber.
Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava. Maximum of three together at S'Albufera. All identified were of the race Iberiae.
Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, Two heard at Embalse de Cuber.
Robin, Erithacus rubecula. Common.
Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos. Two heard and one seen at S'Albufera on 25/06/01.
Stonechat, Saxicola torquata. Very common, expecially in coastal scrub.
Blue Rock Thrush, Monticola solitarius. Commonly heard at Embalse de Cuber. Singles at Cap de Formentor and CDM.
Blackbird, Turdus merula. Common.
Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla. Common at CDM and Embalse de Cuber.
Sardinian Warbler, S. melanocephala. Very common throughout Mallorca.
Balearic (Marmora's) Warbler, S. (sarda) balearica. Fairly common at CDM with a pair seen in the evening of 24/06/01 feeding out in the open on a rocky coastal path for at least 20 minutes.
Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis. Common at S'Albufera.
Cetti's Warbler, Cettia cetti. Common at S'Albufera and a pair in the ditch in Calas Antena.
Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus. One seen at S'Albufera on 25/06/01.
Great Reed Warbler, A. arundinaceus. Very commonly heard calling at S'Albufera, though only one seen.
Moustached Warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon. Two seen well in emergent vegetation on the main canal at S'Albufera west of the reception, on 27/06/01.
Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus. one heard at Port Soller, on 28/06/01.
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata. Common.
Great Tit, Parus major. Common at CDM.
Woodchat Shrike, Lanius senator. Common throughout the island.
Raven, Corvus corax. Two at Embalse de Cuber on 28/06/01.
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus. Very common.
Linnet, Carduelis cannabina. Common.
Goldfinch, C. carduelis. Common.
Greenfinch, C. chloris. Common.
Serin, Serinus serinus. Common.
Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra. One near Lluc on 28/06/01.
Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus. Common near Lluc, and at Embalse de Cuber on 28/06/01.
