Majorca - Spring 2024 - Cornwall Bird Watching Tours

We spent another glorious four nights on Majorca from 1st to 5th May 2024, spending two days around the S’Albufera and Depuradora and another day in the Boquer Valley.

Room with a view! Balcony view across the S’Albufera Parque Natural

On arrival at the hotel, we were pleased to find our room overlooked the S’Albufera and we added Osprey, Greater Flamingo, Cetti’s Warbler, Eleonora’s Falcon, Marsh Harrier, Common Tern, Common Swift, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis and Audouin’s Gull in the first 10 minutes!

Marsh Harrier, Audouin’s Gull and Eleonora’s Falcon from the hotel balcony!

The first full day was spent at our favourite nature reserve on Majorca, S’Albufera Parque Natural. The reserve never fails to amaze with such great close views of birds like Avocet, Kentish Plover, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Marsh Harriers, Glossy Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Great Reed Warbler, Cettis’ Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Serin and Nightingales. We spent most of the day around Sa Roca, which hosts the visitor centre and most of the good bird hides. Other birds here included Moustached Warbler, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Marbled Teal, Little Bitter, Osprey, Little Ringed Plover, 6+ Booted Eagles, Balearic Flycatcher, Eleonora’s Falcon, Hoopoe, 2 Black Vultures, 3 Gull-billed Terns, Sanderling and Stone Curlew.

Day 2 saw an early start in the Boquer Valley. Recent reports were that the valley had been very quiet, but there is always something to see! At the entrance to the valley we were greeted by soaring Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, Greenfinch and a nice male Common Redstart. Despite getting there early, the sun was out and out of the shadows of the mountains either side, it was very hot. Sardinian Warblers were everywhere, showing extremely well, as were Blue Rock Thrushes. We eventually saw 4 males and 2 females. After a lot of searching we finally had brief views of the elusive Balearic Warbler, a stunning male. Eleonora’s Falcons and Booted Eagles were conspicuous by their absence with only one of each species seen. Crag Martins were also difficult this year, with 12+ birds high above the ridges. Other birds seen were Crossbill, Red-legged Partridge, Common Swift, Siskin, Woodchat Shrike, Goldfinch, Balearic Flycatcher and Stonechat.

Day three started at the Bus Depot at Son Bosc. This walk, to the Depuradora water works, Ses Puntes and back onto the S’Albufera, covers some brilliant farmland, with open fields and gardens. The first bird was a lovely Turtle Dove, feeding in a ploughed field that also held Collared Dove, House Sparrow and a couple of Hoopoe. There were literally tens of thousands of Swifts overhead but despite a good grilling we couldn’t find a Pallid or Alpine Swift among them. At the sand works, two Thekla’s Larks showed really well, obviously collecting food for hungry chicks nearby. A Scops Owl called in a small pine copse along the main road but remained unseen. The roadside fences here are always good for Serin, Balearic Flycatcher, Zitting Cisticola and Corn Bunting. A couple of Stone Curlews were seen and heard along with Marsh Harriers, Cattle Egrets and Eleonora’s Falcon overhead. Lunch was had at the viewing platform overlooking the Depuradora Water Works. The irrigation pools here are manged with wildlife in mind and the floating nest platforms held breeding Black-winged Stilts and Little Ringed Plovers. Nightingales chased each other in the bushes nearby and three Whiskered Terns floated in from the main reserve and showed well on the floating platforms. Other birds seen here included Shelduck, Pochard, Marsh Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Great White Egret, Gadwall and Swallow.

The walk from Depuradora to S’Albufera involves a maneuver over a locked gate, but its that or walk the 6km round the outskirts of the reserve! Ses Puntes was quiet other than a Whinchat and the usual suspects, but back on the main S’Albufera reserve things were much better and along with all of the first days birds we added Little Stint (3), Curlew Sandpiper (5), Grey Heron, 2 Black Vultures overhead and 75+ Ringed Plover. A stunning Collared Pratincole annoyed the resident Avocets and a flock of 10 Black Terns flew in to join the breeding Common Terns. These were followed by our first Bee-eaters (flock of 17) and six Gull-billed Terns! A great end to the day.