Mallorca 2007

These records are from the three visits we made. The first two visits were via the public bus which was superb as it dropped you off right outside the park with the bus stop on the return journey also dropping us off outside the hotel. The bus was a journey through Alcudia old town and then the "new" Alcudia. We met up with quite a few other birders on the bus which helped us to know which stop to get off at.

   Night Heron                                                         Squacco Heron                                                Little Egret

The birding starts as soon as you get off the bus as a wall of song from ubiquitous Cetti's Warbler hits you. Not only is the song everywhere but surprisingly they are very conspicuous with many a close encounter as we walked along some of the hedge lined tracks. On our first visit it was quite overwhelming as the trip started very well with the first sightings of a pair of  Woodchat Shrike skulking in the woods at the entrance. It took forever to get to the information centre as at every turn a new sound or sighting hit us which left us taking many photos on our way. The info centre was about 3/4 of a mile walk but this alone took us about 1 1/2 hours. On the way up to the centre we had great views of roosting Night Herons and Little Egrets. We also could not escape the incessant noise coming from the frogs which covered the whole of the Albufera. The frog in question is a Iberian green frog   ( Rana Perezi).

        Iberian Green frog (marsh frog Rana Perezi)                          Migratory Locust                                                        Damselfly

 The waters were very high on the first and second trips due to the amounts of rain they had up to the 14th April.Many of the tracks were cut off due to the rain including the track, Ses Puntas that was a favoured place of the Mustached Warbler.

After gaining our passes at the info centre we set about the task of orientating ourselves. The several bridges and walkways were well observed as Icterine Warbler and a Little Bittern has been reported. On each visit we found ourselves been drawn to the Bishops 1 and 2 hides. Bishops 1 was probably the most popular and the small hides were not big enough to cope with the interest shown by Birders, Photographers and day trippers. On the first day I was alerted to a Collared Prantincole on Bishop 1 but I did not catch up with it sadly. we spent several hours in these hides with many of the birds being enjoyed at close quarters inc Spotted Redshanks, Black winged Stilt, Garganey and Kentish Plover. An Osprey even sat for about three hours on a post just beyond one of the hides. It sat motionless for some time which left many wondering if it had been stuffed!

                             Black Winged Stilt                                                      Osprey                                                         Purple Swamphen

  We met some fantastic people there with a special mention of Mick & Fran, Geoff & Joyce,Ken & Carol and the German birder who was a pleasure to listen to and  pick information up about the sounds of birds from. It was a real good interaction as different people chose different ways to enjoy their birding and that difference in study choice was fascinating to witness.

Whilst I can not deny the fact that I met some very special people I have to say that the three photographers that sat in, and "owned" the Bishops 1 hide to the exclusion of all others, for hours, were quite selfish and really displayed a total lack of regard for anybody or anything! The statement of "full frame Nigel, full frame" and the conclusion that it was "the same settings as when we were in Florida taking shots of....." which were belted out for all the hide and beyond to hear was very poor manners. The fact that three photographers, which were British, felt that they could occupy 6 spaces in the hide and that the quiet sign on the door did not mean them, suggested that they were a poor excuse for wildlife photographers and that you should be ashamed. When Nigel was asked "why are the birds moving further away" than earlier, summed up the intelligence of these people with large lenses which probably made up for there lack of apendage. I know where I would have liked to screw that telecoverter.

This experience was stark as I met many a "photographer" with a lot of gear that were a pleasure to sit along side and talk to comparing a few pictures and one German fellow was quite the opposite of his Brit counterparts understanding that lots of noise and movement equals no birds!

                  Moustached Warbler                                                Nightingale                                                       Kentish Plover

By the time we had visited for the third time on the 24th the water levels had lowered some what which allowed us to go to a few of the other hides that had previously been blocked off. This above picture of the Moustached Warbler was gained on the Ses Puntas track but this was to be our only sighting of this bird, so phew! Some of the more distant hides were fairly quiet in comparison to the CMM hide and Bishop 1 but this allowed us to relax in a couple of hides that nobody else was bothering to visit. It also gave us, on the tracks down to the various hides the chance to see the European Turtle that is resident in the park and possibly the only resident White Headed Duck within the park. Sadly after a long walk down one of the tracks the watch tower hide has now been closed off which was a shame as this looked like a great vantage point over the park and the many ditches and runs which the Little Bittern prefers.

Common Tern                                                     Cetti's Warbler                                                Common Snipe

The reserve is massive and it is quite amazing that you see the amount of birds you do as a lot of the park is impossible to see which always makes you wonder how many species of bird you are missing out on. This is quite possibly the place to visit if you are not able, for whatever reason, to do as much birding whilst on holiday as you would like as it has something to offer more than just birds. We met with many people who were entomologists', lepidopterists' or many a person who was enjoying the school outing, general walking, the spectacle of the fish jumping clean out of the water or just the fact that you were in touch in a lovely spot with nature all for free. The Info centre has a museum with interactive segments a list of what is about. Information on the park and it's many attractions are also available and a water dispenser is on site. Food is not available to purchase but a small home made picnic can be enjoyed on the shaded picnic benches. The House Sparrows always appreciate your generosity and willingly come close to sample your Spanish bread and cheese.