Introduction
Majorca deservedly holds a high place with birders who want to see an excellent selection of Mediterranean birds in a varied and sometimes spectacular island. At slightly under 2 hours from Gatwick, Majorca offers some special residents and in autumn some special migrants! This was our fifth visit to the island, having been in the past in the Spring as well. We had selected Port Pollensa (Pollensa Park Hotel) as it is central to Top Birding spots like Boquer Valley, Trantumanta mountains, Albuferia and the Albufereta Parc Naturals.
A car is essential, we hired ours from Amigo Autos on the internet, at 100 euros week, a five door Fiesta pick up from the airport at Palma. Be aware that they charge for a full tank of petrol (in this case 65 euros) and you bring the car back empty!
Pollensa Park Hotel and grounds
The hotel offers good accommodation, food is well cooked, entertainment is every night, local Karaoke bar is noisy, but finishes by midnight. Perched on the tennis court fence and in the scrub area was Cettis Warbler and the abundant Sardinian Warbler. A resident flock of Serin amounted to a maximum of 40.
Pollensa sea front
The sea front is about 100mtrs from the hotel, two rock breakwaters provide roosting sites for gulls like Audouins Gull max 17, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull and Shag were always present.
Sites visited
Boquer Valley
This super site is very close to the hotel and the road leading up to it often had small numbers of Crossbill and Firecrest in the roadside pines. Four visits to the valley often produced large numbers migrants, early visits after first light was very productive, although the Balearic Warblers often only appeared after the sun had warmed the land up. Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher were common, normally well into double figures, they were joined by numerous Redstart, Willow Warbler, Northern Wheatear, the first part of the walk often had the most birds, two Collared Flycatchers amongst a count of 14 Pied were impressive, however an immature Roller took pride of place on one cool morning! Residents in the valley included Raven, Peregrine, many Blue Rock Thrushes, Kestrel and Cirl Bunting, supported by two Elenoras Falcons.
Tramuntana Mountains
These impressive mountains have spectacular scenery, one word of warning the roads are not for the faint hearted and the Spanish seem to own the road. Cuber reservoir was a major disappointment, but with the temperatures at only 11c, only a Spotted Flycatcher was brave! However the viewpoint to the Sa Colabra part of the coast on the main Sollar-Pollencia road proved very rewarding. Park in the layby near the viewpoint and look towards Sa Colabra as the temperature rose, so appeared the raptors, Black Vultures soared constantly, with five in the air at once, they were joined by three Eleonora’s Falcons and Booted Eagle, these were supported by a gliding Peregrine. A ravine close by also held 22 Rock Dove. Common Swifts and Crag Martins flew constantly around the crags. On the roadside pines Crossbill called persistently.
Sa Albufera
This is an outstanding reserve, and even after many years of visiting it still always brings out outstanding birds, and with four visits in the week we were not to be disappointed. Recent rain meant that there was lying water, excellent for migrant waders. The approach to the visitor centre always produced interesting flyovers. Osprey was daily, with Peregrine and Marsh Harrier also regular. The Night Heron roast on the main canel was always a delight, with adult and immature birds present max at 18 on one day. Nearer the information centre the Cattle Egret roost was very impressive 50+ seen. The gate area near the information centre viewing Cim hide is worth spending time at, with Hoopoe, Stone Curlew, Spoonbill, Great White Egret and Glossy Ibis present regularly. Cim hide is “the hide” to visit, large numbers of Duck included on one occasion seven Marbled Duck there plumage contrasting well with the many Teal present. A vast arrange of waders included Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed, Little Ringed and over 70 Kentish Plovers. However eclipsing this was a flying Great Snipe, its plump body and shorter bill very visible, it flew in a straight line across the hide and dropped down into vegetation. The areas around the hide had Fan-tailed Warblers and Yellow Wagtails. Bishop 1 and 2 Hides offer very good close up views of waders, Wood, Green, Common Sandpipers always present with the support cast of Snipe, Black winged Stilts, Greenshanks. White Wagtails were common from these hides, and as you approach Bishop 1 look for Moustached Warbler as we had views of the bird on all four visits!
Albufereta
Although this area is not on the same level as the Albufera,the area offers opportunities for birders at the Pollensa Park hotel to visit an area close by before breakfast! Typical birds of the area include covies of Red Partridge, many Corn Buntings, and profusion of Stonechats. The Abufereta exits into the sea under the main Alcudia road - Pollensa road, it is well worth stopping here, Purple Heron was regular supported by Kingfisher and Kentish Plover. It is well worth investigating the habitat inland from this estuary, especially along the river, here Red-rumped Swallow were present and on one morning a Bonellis Warbler was found feeding at first light !
Formentor
The road from Pollensa to Formentor Peninsular is challenging to say the least. Try to find a suitable pullover and look at the rock peaks, Crag Martin, and Eleonora’s Falcon will come into view, we watched up to seven Elenora’s chasing Common Swifts. Close to the lighthouse park up on the left, here Pallid Swift and Blue Rock Thrush are common.
Conclusion
Port Pollensa is the idea location for birding in Majorca,other areas i.e Arta and Ses Selinas we offer the possibility of extra species, but for variety this is the area to stay in, and with 110 species seen in one week all birders would be happy.
Derek & Lynne Lister
October 2008
Shag roosting on the rocks at pollensa bay (max 28)
Cormorant 3 max at albufera
Little grebe common albufera
Little egret common albufera
Great white egret one seen on all visits to albufera
Cattle egret up to 50 roosting albufera
Grey heron common albufera
Purple heron 1 imm at albuferreta most days
Night heron up to 12 in trees on main canel albufera
Little bittern one from canel hide in albufera
Spoonbill 1 imm albufera 1/10 cim hide
Glossy ibis 2 at albufera 2/10 cim hide
Red legged partridge very common albufereta
Pheasant 1 near the enterance to the boquer valley.
Moorhen common albufera
Coot very common albufera/albufereta
Red nobbed coot captive breeding birds+confirmed residents
Water rail 1 at salines albufera
Purple swamp hen up to 3 seen at once albufera
Snipe 3-5 at albufera at cim and bishop 1/2
Great snipe 1 flying low over cim hide scrape 1/10
Dunlin max 4 at albufera
Little stint max5 albufera
Curlew sandpiper 2 most days from cim hide albufera
Common sand piper 2 most days salinetes
Wood sandpiper one daily salinetes and albufera
Green sandpiper max 4 at albufera bishops 1/2 hide
Greenshank max 7 albufera bishop 1/2 hides
Spotted redshank max 8 albufera bishop 1/2 hides
Avocet 2 in albufera
Stone curlew 1 at albufera 28/9 and 31/9
Collared pratincole 1 at albufera cim hide 28/9
Black winged stilt common albufera
Ringed plover 2 at albufera 28/9
Little ringed plover 1-2 salinetes most days
Kentish plover very common cim hide max 40
Black vulture 5 from view point sa calobra
Marsh harrier max 4 in air at once albufera
Booted eagle at view point sa calobra tramuntana mts
Common buzzard 2 over cala picfort
Osprey 2 seen max at albufera
Eleonoras falcon up to 5 at formentor and 2 boquer valley
Peregrine 1 at abufera,2 at boquer valley,1 at formentor
Kestrel 1 most days albufera
Teal very common albufera
Marbled duck 7 at albufera 3/10 cim hide
Mallard very common albufera
Pochard 1-2 in albufera
Shovelor very common albufera
Gadwell common albufera
Pintail 2/3 at albufera
Wigeon singles at albufera
Yellow legged gull very common pollensa/albufera
Audoulins gull up to 20 pollensa bay
Lesser black backed gull 1 at pollensa nay rocks 30/9
Common tern 1 at albufera 28/9
Black headed gull up to 12 albufera/pollensa bay
Swallow very common,500+ grounded in bad weather albufera 3/10
Red rumped swallow 3 over albuferreta 4/1
Common swift small numbers sa colabra view point
Pallid swift 7 over cape formentor
Thelkla lark 1 singing boquer valley
Kingfisher seen on most days albufera/albufreta
House martin common
Sand martin 2/3 at albufera
Crag martin 10 max formentor 4/10
Yellow wagtail 2 at albufera 1/10
White wagtail 2 at albufera 4/10
Dunnock 2 in boquer valley
Robin big fall boquer valley 4/10 50 +
Wren fairly common
Blackbird common
Blue rock thrush 3 at boquer valley,6 at formentor 4/10
Blue tit common
Great tit common
Raven 2 boquer/2 formentor
Wood pigeon common
Collared dove common
Rock dove 14 seen in ravine at sa colbera view point
Hoopoe only one seen albufera on two occasions
Roller 1 imm at boquer valley at 07-40- 29/9
Starling up to 20 seen albufera
Reed warbler 1/2 at albufera
Marsh warbler 1 viewed at close range at salinetes,call notes noted
Moustached warbler max 3 seen albufera
Fan tailed warbler singles albufera
Cetti warbler very common
Sardinan warbler abundant
Sub alpine warbler 1 in the boquer valley 3/10
Blackcap 1 male boquer valley 30/9
Balearic warbler 2 most days at boquer valley
Willow warbler common at boquer valley with falls of 20+
Chiffchaff fairley common boquer valley max 5
Bonellis warbler 1 on albufereta stream 1/10,bird calling -imm.
Redstart max 5 boquer valley
Firecrest common
Spotted flycatcher max 8 boquer valley
Pied flycatcher max 14 boquer valley in falls
Collered flycatcher 2 with falls of pied in boquer valley 2/10
Weatear albufera/boquer valley
Stonechat common albufera/boquer/abufereta
Chaffinch common
Serin max flock 30 boquer valley
Green finch common
Gold finch common
Linnet fairly common
House sparrow common
Crossbill at pollensa pines-route to boquer most days and formentor
Cirl bunting common boquer valley
Corn bunting at albufera
Total 110 species