We landed at the airport at 13-10hrs and eventually left for the coach ride across the island to Puerto Pollensa minus one suitcase. En route, I saw small pond just outside Parma with c100 Yellow-legged Gulls sitting around it. Later, past Inca in the centre of the island, the list got off to a good start with a Woodchat Shrike perched on the wires by the roadside. Common Swift were also flying over the towns, with Swallow over Alcudia. A possible Pallid Swift was seen over the old town in Alcudia. We arrived at the Pollensa Park Hotel at 16-30hrs. House Sparrow and Blackbird were seen immediately, along with a singing Cetti's Warbler heard from the balcony. The House Sparrows had a larger bib, plus paler cheeks. A House Martin flew over, and then a Little Egret flew across the town. On our first walk around the area, a male Serin sang and then perched in a tree showing well, and a Zitting Cisticola flew around. After tea, we walked to the hotel playground, where beyond was a patch of reeds and wasteland. Here we heard Serin and Zitting Cisticola again, along with Stonechat and Greenfinch. Cetti's Warbler sang occasionally, as well as a Nightingale. We walked along the beach, seeing a Shag of the Mediterranean sub species desmarestii. Further along an adult Yellow-legged Gull showed well, and an adult Audouin's Gull sat beside it. We then found the Canal de la Gola or "Smelly stream". Possibly yesterdays Little Egret was feeding close to the bridge. We walked up a side street to get closer, and saw a Spotted Flycatcher of the race balearica and a male Sardinian Warbler in a bush
Sunday 2nd June 2002
We got up at 06-30hrs to a beautiful sunny morning and went down to the playground area. Cetti's Warbler were singing and sitting on the wires at times. Serin were also showing well, with the Nightingale singing and showing briefly on the wires. A male Sardinian Warbler also showed, with the Zitting Cisticola flying around calling permanently. We walked down to the beach, seeing Woodpigeon on the way. On the beach 5 adult Audouin's Gull were present, with Cetti's Warbler and Sardinian Warbler seen in gardens. At the Canal de la Gola, the Little Egret showed well, with a juvenile Yellow-headed Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Moorhen and Sardinian Warbler seen. A Grey Heron flew along the shore on the way back to the hotel.
Later on a bike ride around Puerto Pollensa, Serin and Blackcap were singing, with a male Sardinian Warbler again at the hotel entrance.
Monday 3rd June 2002
The early morning walk was to shrub along from the hotel, with Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Serin in a mixed flock feeding in the grass, 2 or 3 Sardinian Warblers, with Great Tit, Chaffinch, Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap seen. By the hotel, the seemingly permanent singing Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler and Nightingale were all still present. We then picked up a hire car (Nissan Micra for '84) and as we packing up and waiting for GAS, 2 Peregrines flew over.
Watching these, I picked up more birds of prey soaring in the sky. I stood and watched 4 Booted Eagles soaring off the mountain on the thermals. They slowly drifted away. Finally, a Honey Buzzard flew over the car.
Our next stop was up in the mountains on the way to Formentor at the Albercutz Mirador. Common Swift were flying around and amongst them was one Alpine Swift that flew over and we never saw it again. On the cliffs and directly below us there was a colony of Pallid Swift nesting on the cliffs, giving us excellent views. We were looking down on them and against the background of the sea they were clearly brown, broader wings mainly close to the body giving a different shape. Compared to the Common Swift nesting separately to the Pallid's, they seemed chunkier. More birds of prey appeared, and we spotted 21 Honey Buzzards circling slowly over, joined by another Booted Eagle. Later a Raven and 4 more Honey Buzzards went over.
We carried on to the Cap de Formentor and stopped on the way at a viewpoint at the 15km mark. On the ridge above us, a huge raptor soared, with massive stiff wings and fingers clearly seen; we had found a Black Vulture. Its size was immense, and its head was slung low on its body, giving the classic vulture appearance. This disappeared to be replaced by 2 Booted Eagles, and 4 Honey Buzzards, presumably the ones we saw earlier. A falcon then flew by, and landed on a rock. This was a juvenile Eleonora's Falcon, soon to be joined by an adult. A warbler then appeared, just as a Crag Martin flew below along the cliff. The warbler flitted about, showing occasionally. Dark grey above, and a lighter shade of grey below, it suddenly showed its red eye. To make a site hat trick, a male Marmora's Warbler.
We arrived at the Cap de Formentor and parked up. A Yellow-legged Gull showed well, along with a Wren and Sardinian Warbler. I started exploring the area, as I could hear falcons calling again. I wandered about, slowly working my way down the slope into a scree area in a small valley. Only a Sardinian Warbler sang, plus another Wren and surprisingly a Great Tit. Something then caught my eye from below, as a male Blue Rock Thrush hopped onto a rock. Dark blue on its head and breast, with darker wings, it just sat on a rock, showing very well. I hadn't bought the digicam with me, and when I return from the car, it had disappeared. A Rock Dove also flew out from the cliffs. We then returned for a well-earned dip in the pool.
We went in the evening for our now regular listening for the Scops Owl, but we failed again. However, a Peregrine and 3 Night Herons flew over.
Tuesday 4th June 2002
First birds of the day were 2 Little Egret feeding on the shore opposite the Albufereta marsh. Travelling south, we then stopped for a brief look at the Albufera Marsh. Gadwall, Coot, Mallard, two Zitting Cisticola and a Common Tern were seen before we looked in the dune area opposite. Here we saw a Woodchat Shrike of the West Mediterranean subspecies badius.
Next stop was in the Arta Mountains at Ermitas de Betlem. We pulled in at a lay-by at the top of the hill, and a lark sp. flew up. Unbelievably we had disturbed our target species, and we spent the next half hour chasing two Thekla Lark across the mountain-top. Its crest was clearly visible, plus it's rusty rump showed well against its brown tail. When they perched on one of the rocks, a Tawny Pipit popped up next to them, with Linnet and Stonechat the only other birds seen. En route, up to 6 Woodchat Shrikes were seen perched on wires, with Corn Bunting seen twice.
After tea, we drove up the Llenaire Road just down from the hotel in Puerto Pollensa. It was a supposed good site for Orioles and Wrynecks, but after several empty fields and fig trees, we arrived at a bridge across the river. Whilst looking at a Moorhen, a Hoopoe shot across and into a garden. We saw it briefly before it disappeared. Three Red-crested Pochard flew over as well. We again went to the Canal de la Gola and looked in the trees by the "Guardia Civil" for Scops Owl, but we failed again.
Wednesday 5th June 2002
Up at 06-20hrs and straight to Llenaire Road, but again there was nothing seen. Next stop was to look at the Albufereta Marsh, looking from the bridge over the river from the main Puerto Pollensa to Alcudia road. There were 2-3 Kentish Plover with young, 2 Black-winged Stilts, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Purple Herons flew over and an adult Night Heron dropped in. Four Audouin's Gulls were also on the beach. I tried to find the road to view the marsh from the back looking towards the sea, and drove down some narrow lanes. Two Hoopoes were calling, and further on a falcon sp. caught my eye perched in a dead tree. As I got out of the car, I had the best views yet of an Eleonora's Falcon, clearly seeing its dusky underparts. Unfortunately it flew off before I could photo it, but another brown falcon was feeding at the back of the field. This was an immature Eleonora's Falcon.
After breakfast, it was off to the mountains to the Embalse de Cuber. A very disappointing visit to what was on paper an excellent site, saw good views of Tawny Pipits, a singing Nightingale, some 300+ Yellow-legged Gulls on the water and nesting on the cliffs but not much else. Down in Puerto de Soller, a desmarestii Shag showed very well on a jetty, allowing us to approach down to a few feet.
On the way back to the hotel via the Llenaire, a Cattle Egret was flushed from the road. Before tea we popped to the Albufereta Marsh again for c10 Kentish Plover plus Little Ringed Plover, 5 Black-winged Stilts, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Audouin's Gulls, a Purple Heron and a Honey Buzzard flying around, being chased by almost everything on the reserve.
Thursday 6th June 2002
Up early for an organised guided tour around Albufera Marsh by Sebastian in an eight-seater people carrier. He picked us up at 08-10hrs on a dull and very windy day. First stop was just outside Alcudia where there were 5 Black-winged Stilt, 2 Cattle Egrets flying over and a Common Tern.
Next stop was to the English bridge, where we parked up and walked onto the marsh itself. In the heronry next to the path, there were c50 heron sp. including c10 Cattle Egret, a Squacco Heron and the rest were Little Egret. There was also a pair of Pochard.
As we walked on, Cetti's Warblers were singing from virtually every bush, with Zitting Cisticola also common. Next, a Marsh Harrier quartered the reed bed. We looked along the main canal and I found an adult Night Heron on the far bank, a Hoopoe perched in a dead tree, while a Nightingale sang. Two or three Purple Heron flew over, plus a scattering of Sardinian Warblers were around the reserve. From the Bishop hide, excellent views of Black-winged Stilt with young were had.
From the bridge over the canal, good views were had of an Eleonora's Falcon over, plus another Honey Buzzard over. Little Grebes appeared in the channels, but the wind was still constant, reducing the small birds being seen. A Reed Warbler sang briefly, and we had our first good views of Blue-headed Wagtails. From the vantage point, a Great Reed Warbler sang, and on the lake 6 Red-crested Pochard and a male Shoveler were seen. Our walk around the reserve was over, without our hoped for Moustached Warbler and "common" Purple Gallinule. Our guide then took us to the European Bee-eater colony in a sandpit in the Depuradora area of Albufera. We drove past the Old Salinas where there was a Kentish Plover and Common Sandpiper with one of only three pairs of Common Tern on the reserve, and 5 Cattle Egrets feeding in the grass. As we approached the sandpit, I could see the European Bee-eaters flying over the quarry, and we parked close to the cliffs giving us excellent views of the 4 birds. We were not allowed out of the van in order not to disturb the birds, and so I had to digiscope with the scope balanced on my knee and one tripod leg on the floor.
Friday 7th June 2002
We woke to a rainy morning, and it wasn't until after breakfast that it dried up. On a pedal boat trip in the bay, 4 desmarestii Shag and several Audouin's Gulls were seen.
Saturday 8th June 2002
Up early for our last day and a walk before breakfast on another dull day. Away from the hotel, Zitting Cisticola and Sardinian Warbler were seen, with 4 Crossbill and a Turtle Dove in some nearby conifers down the road.
