Mallorca 4-8 May 2013

An excellent few days based in Pollensa, combining birding in the mornings with afternoon relaxation. Two visits to Albufera provided several highlights and photographic opportunities - the lagoons gave excellent close views of breeding and passage waders, the former including Kentish Plovers and Black-winged Stilts, the latter including Curlew Sandpipers, Greenshank and Little Stints. Herons included quite a few Purples, mostly seen in flight - a close male Little Bittern in flight - and breeding Squacco, Night Herons and Little and Cattle Egrets. Great Reeds and Cetti's, a Moustached and a Savi's were among the Warblers singing in the extensive reedbeds. Raptors included an obliging perched Osprey, and numerous Marsh Harriers and Eleonora's Falcons. Audouin's Gulls were around Alcudia Bay and along Pollensa beach, and flocks of Bee-Eaters were migrating along the coast, mostly picked up on their liquid call. The Boquer valley early morning was very scenic, and in addition produced the resident birds - a brief Balearic Warbler being the highlight - with Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and more Eleonora's falcons, along with presumed migrant Booted Eagles and a Black Kite. migrant passerines here included a Wryneck and a Woodchat Shrike. En route to the airport, the dramatic Castel de Santueri held a small colony of breeding Alpine Swifts, along with Crag Martins and a chorus of Nightingales in the scrub. Finally, the salt pans at Salobrar produced a single Greater Flamingo, more Curlew Sandpipers, and breeding Avocet and Stilts. A excellent few days, sunny weather, and photos to follow.