Mallorca is hardly viewed as exotic anymore, with exhaustive knowledge available through trip reports & literature. However, it still provides an excellent birding holiday just over an hours flight from the UK, especially if you have to combine it with family concerns.
I have been here in September 2001, when birds in general were more showy, indeed this time of the year may be the worst overall, with many nestlings being carefully guarded and hence birds behaving quite secretively. But it was still very worthwhile and there was plenty to see.
I was based at Astoria Playa in ALCUDIA, where Eleonora's Falcons hunted low overhead most evenings. I also had a Peregrine carrying a snake, a pair of regular kestrels, and Spotted Flycatchers and a single Hoopoe within the hotel grounds. Egrets ferried between the nearby TUCAN MARSH & S'ALBUFERA with regularity, and Purple Herons were also seen communting. Yellow Legged Gulls were common. Infact the birds may have been moving on as far as ALBUFERETA. Indeed, I took a quick look at TUCAN MARSH by taking the rough track adjacent to the huge Mars, Jupiter & Saturn hotel complexes and adjacent water park. Nightingale & Cetti's warbler were heard but not seen, but I spent little time here. Audouin's Gulls were quite easy to find on Alcudia beach most mornings, but were not seen elsewhere.
Those folk staying in Port Pollenca will probably find ALBUFERETA easy to explore on foot, I tried to drive around but found it very difficult to stop as the road was just too narrow. Nevertheless, by taking Llennaire Road out of town, I managed Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Stonechat & Goldfinch. But there must have been more.
Rather than exploring BOQUER VALLEY, I drove up the FORMENTOR PENINSULA on two consecutive early evenings. I did not try to park at the lighthouse as that is a lottery at any time, and most birds can be seen en route. Little was seen at CASAS VELLAS, although migration of course has largely passed. There was very little opportunity to stop here anyway, with fields fenced off and inaccessable. However, just as you are leaving the tree-lined area of Casas Vellas adjacent to this road, I came across a large villa type- mansion with a handpainted sign "Cala Murta" outside (between 13-14km marks). On the opposite side of the road is an entrance to a car park. I had female Crossbill calling loudly here, and Serins in the nearby trees. It is worthy area to explore for a while. 200 yards up the windy road is a very small pullover parking space (2 cars at max), and from here I had Balearic Marmora's Warbler within twenty metres on two consecutive nights, so park there if you can. On 7th June three birds flitted around the long pampass type grass adjacent and to the left of the pullover spot, and on the 8th a male called from the row of sun-drenched rocks close by (as did House Sparrow!). They did not show continuously, but I reckon this is a favoured area & if the weather is sunny & calm I reckon it is a likely spot. After a short distance from here, you then go through the only tunnel on the way to Formentor, and there is then another small parking spot about 100 metres before the 15km post, on the left. I had a possible Subalpine Warbler here, as well as probable Marmora's warbler in flight, along with Stonechats. The best area here is the scrub on the hill to the left. A male Blue Rock Thrush (only one seen) was seen looking down towards the sea. I also enjoyed fantastic views of two hunting pale-phase Eleonora's Falcons just overhead. But this spot, although fruitful, is regularly visited by tourists coming and going, inevitably frustrated at the lack of viewing opportunities along the way & at the head. Swifts were frequently seen, in small groups, but I need better eyes to search out Pallids! Crag Martins were seen at both stops, and at the famous ALBERCUTX MIRADOR viewpoint just out of Port Pollenca (where all the coaches stop).
I did not visit SALINAS DE LEVANTE/SALOBRAR DE CAMPOS but other birders told me there was not much present except 2 Slender Billed Gulls! In Sept 2001 I had 80 Greater Flamingo's & many waders here, but it is on the opposite side of the island.
CUBER VALLEY was visited once. Yellow Legged Gulls noisily filled the reservoir and the quarry occasionally apparently favoured by Rock Thrush. Three Black Vulture sightings were enjoyed involving pairs each time, ironically the best views were enjoyed of pairs on our arrival at the car park, and when we returned to the car. Six birds were seen in total. A very brown backed probable Peregrine was also seen from the car park (could it have been a Lanner? It was too bulky for Eleonora's Falcon). We were a little dissapointed not to see other raptors during our late morning visit, but when I came here in 2001 in the afternoon I saw nothing at all, and I am told mornings seem to be more profitable. But it is hit & miss here. A male Cirl Bunting sang & showed well to the left of the track as we walked on the obvious path, and 2 Tawny Pipit sightings were enjoyed, their distinctive call attracting our attention. Stonechats, Chaffinches, and an unseen Chiffchaff were also present, but disappointingly no Spectacled Warblers were located here at all, although unidentified brown-backed warblers flitted annoyingly beneath the dam at the base. Spotted Flycatchers, Serins & a Nightingale were identified beneath the dam, and a short walk of a few hundred metres beyond the dam (away from the reservoir & along the valley) is pleasant and may be fruitful.We could hear Blue Rock Thrush singing, competing with at least one Nightingale & what we presumed to be local frogs/toads. We did not walk much further around the reservoir, just checking out the old quarry for the much-hoped for Rock Thrush before turning around. Yellow Legged Gulls filled every crag anyway. Retracing our steps back to the car, Tawny Pipit was again seen, and Raven.
GEORGE BLAU Reservoir held several Cormorants & more gulls. The nearby ESCORCA viewpoint is worth a stop, we had a single Black Vulture heading away from us on the way, and a pale phase Booted Eagle when we stopped briefly on the way back. Last time I was here in 2001 I had nothing however.
Finally S'ALBUFERA - what a reserve and a must for any birder visiting the island. I spent two mornings at this five star reserve. The small car park on the busy main road is worth checking out as we had Serin, Spotted Flycatcher, Fan-Tailed warbler, and a calling Nightingale. As you walk through the gates, you are instantly struck by the 'cackling' sound of Little & Cattle Egrets perched in two nearby trees like Christmas lights. The Cattle Egrets look stunning in summer plummage. It is worth ambling slowly along the straight path up to the reserve centre (it looks a long distance, but only takes fifteen minutes, and once there most hides are within close proximity anyway). Scan around as you walk up, warblers sing from the bushes, and I had an open view of an unusually obliging Cetti's Warbler here, as well as Sardinian warbler. Just Coots were on the adjacent river, but check the bushes on the opposite side for a few Night Herons amongst more Cattle/Little Egrets. Where the path diverts to the left I paused by the bridge as Fan-Tailed warblers were present here, difficult to see but sometimes singing overhead. You can take the Ses Puntes track here to your left, that leads to the old quarry & Depuradora, & the few remaining Bee-eaters (I drove round ). Most people carry straight on at the bridge, up to the reserve centre via another straight path or adjacent wooden ramped walkway, where you may hear Night Herons 'grunting' away but generally out of view unless they take to flight. Entry is free & you are given a permit /map.
The first hide to the left is CIM Hide, we had a juvenile Gull-Billed Tern at rest, as well as a pair of Hoopoe's that showed well, Kentish Plovers & the noisy Black Winged Stilts of course. Swifts, Egrets, & herons (both Purple & Grey) flew around. Woodchat Shrike (both nominate & balearic) were seen well on fenceposts between CIM Hide & The Mound, also look out for Little Grebe & Red Crested Pochard in any of the small ditches. Great Reed Warbler, Nightingale & Cetti's Warbler were glimpsed as they called boisterously. From the mound you can see any of these three species, we also had Eleonora's Falcon overhead, and Marsh Harriers are usually in view from here. The small pond beneath the mound is favoured by these species, and also Crested Coot at present. Not sure if these birds are pillioned, but at present the pair have two young. Should be easy to find .After twenty minutes here, I walked slowly on to the 3 bridges, checking out any movement beneath or around the reedbed edges. Main disappointment was to have no Little Bittern this time, as I found them relatively easy in Sept 01. A single Moustached warbler flitted beneath the bridge but was elusive. An Osprey, adult Night Heron, and stunning adult Squacco heron offered fantastic views in flypasts here. Purple Herons also showed supremely well around the bridges on a few occasions. Just 3 Purple Gallinules were seen during the two visits, but two of these were just feet beneath the main bridge. I checked out Bishop One Hide, where seven Common Terns (which now breed here)saw off an Eleonora's Falcon aggressively, whilst waders were slightly disappointing in that just BW Stilts, Kentish Plovers & a single LRP were seen. Again in Sept 01 the variety was far better. Wildfowl species were also disappointing in contrats to Sept 01, not surprisingly of course.
If you have not got a hire car, it may well be worth walking down Ses Puntes track to reach The DEPURADORA and adjacent old quarry workings for a different range of species. For me it was easier to drive arund as the Depuradora is signposted. The rough road track to the water works is about a mile long and provides opportunity to scan for passerines on either side. The left turn to the hide is very abrupt & easy to miss, but if you find the water works on your left you have missed the turn. At the end of the track, there is a new elevated ramp overlooking the water works now, it has replaced the old cramped hide. It is worth looking all around. On the water works, we had Shelduck, BW Stilt & a male Blue-Headed Wagtail (Race flava). Again in Sept 01 the Depuradora was more fruitful, with Montagu's Harrier & Alpine Swift. It is worth scanning the arable farmland behind, we had Hoopoe (virtually guaranteed along this track), Woodchat Shrike, Grasshopper Warbler, Serin, Sardinian Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, and Great Reed Warbler. House Sparrows are ubiquitous! We also had our only two Starlings of the trip here - both juveniles.Driving back to join the main rough track, we pulled in after about 100 metres at a derelict cottage close to two windmills (this was one of the only opportunities to park the car up). The rough adjacent land and scrub is favoured by motor bikes especialy at weekends, but we spent time here, enjoying views of Bee-eater (x 4), Woodchat Shrike, Serin, Corn Bunting, Sardinian Warbler, Goldfinch, and best of all 2 Short-Toed Larks. The latter are bit hit & miss but showed well eventually.
So overall a great birding break can be enjoyed still at Mallorca, even if like me you are only spending parts of the holiday birding.
Black Vulture
Osprey
Marsh Harrier
Eleonora'Falcon
Peregrine
Kestrel
Purple Gallinule
Crested Coot
Coot
Moorhen
Red-Crested Pochard
Mallard
Shoveler
Teal
Cormorant
Yellow-Legged Gull
Audouin's Gull
Common Tern
Gull-Billed Tern
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Night Heron
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Collared Dove
Raven
Great Tit
Fan-Tailed Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Marmora's Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Reed Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Grasshopper Warbler
House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Serin
Corn Bunting
Starling
Blackbird
Short-Toed Lark
Bee-eater
Hoopoe
Crossbill
Tawny Pipit
Stonechat
Blue-Headed Wagtail
Woodchat Shrike
Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Crag Martin
Balck-Winged Stilt
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover