Marjorca - June 2013

 This was a 12 day holiday with my wife, staying near the resort of Porto Pollensa.  I managed a few early morning birding sessions as well as a longer visit to the Albufera Marshes.  A couple of days touring around the mountains turned up a few interesting species.  Clearly not the best time to visit this island as there was no evidence of any migration, but I did manage to catch up with several interesting breeding species.

With limited time I only managed half decent photographs of a few species.  These follow.

                                                                                                                                               

Balearic warbler (Sylvia balearica)

This Balearic Warbler was photographed in the Boquer Valley early morning on 23rd June.  The bird was not perturbed by the presence of myself and Louis, a  Canadian birder and sang from this perch for several minutes.  A few days later I heard 3-4 singing birds in the valley but was unable to see any!

I did manage to get a video of this bird which can be viewed at :

Video of Balearic Warbler

     

                                                                                                                                         

Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

Also seen in the Boquer Valley, this Cirl Bunting was carrying food back to a nearby nest.

                                                                                                                                              

Sardinian Warbler  (Sylvia melanocephala)

This species, can be found around much of the Mediterranean, was extremely common across the island and often betrayed it’s presence with it’s loud song.

                                                                                                                                               

Purple Gallinule  (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Seen at the superb Albufera Marshes, this is one of two seen a short distance from the visitor centre.

                                                                                                                                               

Crested Coot  (Fulica cristata)

Also at the Albufera Marshes, this Crested Coot was feeding a very small chick.  With constant moving around neither were easy to photograph.

This species has a very limited range in Europe and is confined to Southern Spain.  The main range of the species is in southern Africa.

                                                                                                                                              

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

This rather odd plumage is of a male Red-crested Pochard entering eclipse plumage.  This was the only one seen during five hour visit to the Albefura Marshes.

                                                                                                                                               

Other notable birds seen were Black Vutures at the Boquer Valley and Cuber Resrvoir; Booted Eagle and Elenora’s Falcon at the Boquer Valley; Crag Martin at the Boquer Valley and high in the mountains;  Blue Rock Thrush at Formentor Peninsula..