2016 Year List

2016 Year List (UK:137) (Total:165):
Key: Bold = Lifer. Red = Overseas Bold Red (Work it out!)

Starling, House Sparrow, Mallard, Eider, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Shag, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Widgeon, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Great Northern Diver, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Purple Sandpiper, Collard Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Red Kite, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shovelar, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Moorhen, Coot, Ring-necked Parakeet, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Canada Goose, Pintail, Pochard, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jay, Siskin, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Red-legged Partridge, Treecreeper, Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Sardinian Warbler, Audouin's Gull, Osprey, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackcap, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Serin, Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Booted Eagle, Kentish Plover, Greater Flamingo, Moustached Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Greenshank, Pink-footed Goose, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Partridge, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Lapland Bunting, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Golden Pheasant, Common Snipe, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Wheatear, Dipper, Yellowhammer, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Goosander, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, King Eider, Whimbrel, Snow Bunting, Capercaillie, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Rock Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black-throated Diver, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Skua, Puffin, Red-crested Pochard










Wednesday 17 February 2016

Mallorca - A Day's Birding 17th Feb 2016 (1 of 2)

Wednesday 17th (1 of 2)
 
Today was my day for bird watching, I had a great day and owe great thanks to Mike Montier via the Forum at Mallorca Birdwatching.com and to the great publication 'Finding Birds in Mallorca' by Dave Gosney, both these resources proved invaluable.
 
I got up early and headed up to the Forementor region in the North-East of the island. I drove up the hill above Port Du Pollenca to the view point at the top, I arrived nice and early which is advisable as it got fairly busy about 08:00.  The views were spectacular.... and a little nerve racking, the path had the smallest of walls with gaps and a sheer 150 (ish)ft drop to the ocean below.
 

 
The purpose of this location was to look for Blue Rock Thrush and Balearic Warbler.  The first birds I saw were a few Raven, there were also Yellow-legged Gull on the sea below.  I eventually found a number of Blue Rock Thrush, the trick was to sit and wait for them to appear.
 
Raven 

Blue Rock Thrus

Blue Rock Thrush
 
 Blue Rock Thrush
 
The only problem with the Blue Rock Thrush was you could never get within about 100m of them so photo opportunity was slim but I didn't care as this was my first lifer of the day.  I wasn't so successful with the Balearic Warbler but did find another Sardinian Warbler.
 
I then headed down towards the Cases Velles Farm as this is known as a migrant hotspot and although I knew it unlikely due to it being the middle of February I thought a quick look couldn't hurt.  Needless to say there were no migrants but I was afforded so great views of Crossbill, I also saw Black Redstart, Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird and a hovering Kestrel.
 
I reckon 90% of the passerines I saw in Mallorca were Black Redstart, except on the Formentor Peninsula which seemed infested with Robins, they were everywhere.
 
My next stop was the Boquer Valley, here I was hoping for Alpine Accentor but this was not to be, I'm certainly not complaining as the birding was amazing.  I parked in the tiny dusty area at the bottom of the access path and check the field adjacent as Dave Gosney's book said it was good for Stone Curlew..... he was spot on, I found one straight away along the field margin.
 
Stone Curlew
 
Walking up the path, through the farm there were Black Redstart everywhere, a few Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Sardinian Warbler and Song Thrush, Robin, Blue Rock Thrush on the rocks higher up.
 
Black Redstart

Black Redstart
 
Boquer Valley
 
On the route back to the car I was treated to two lifers in the form of a flock of Crag Martin and a pair of Booted Eagle.
 
Crag Martin

Booted Eagle

Booted Eagle
 
Next stop was the Gola reserve in Port du Pollenca, I parked up on a dirt track opposite the super market off the 'boat plane' roundabout.  First bird in the fields leading to the reserve was of course Black Redstart....  I got onto the track of this very small reserve and reached one of the viewing points where I was treated to Great White Egret, Little Egret, Cormorant, Mallard, Coot, MoorhenCommon Sandpiper and Yellow-legged Gull
 
Great White Egret
 
Little Egret

Cormorant
 
Yellow-legged Gull
 
Back in the fields I then had Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Sardinian Warbler.
 
Chiffchaff
 

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