Balearic Spring Day 7 - One End to the Other
Over night there was rain. The first clouds of the week had rolled in over the hills with the approaching darkness and my sleep was periodically interrupted by the sounds of the swirling wind and rain outside. By morning it was gone with only a few remnants of cloud remaining as we headed down to the south of the island to see what the famous saltpans may hold. We made our way along the ornithologically infamous 'Eddy's Track'. Steve headed one way and I the other. Bird photography rarely works in pairs.

I headed towards a lagoon which had a small penninsula that allowed me to get in amongst the birds and down to water level. The aroma surrounding the lagoons was memorable and the mosquitoes in a hungry mood. All that was on offer for the camera was a number of Stilts wading through the placid brine. It was good to be out in the open and down at water level with the birds rather than being constrained by a hide.

After taking some stilt photos I met back up with Steve who had little to report from his wanderings, so we headed back to the car and drove around to check the rest of the saltpans. If there had been any other birds in the other lagoons they appeared to have been scared out of camera distance by a person in a red car and bright yellow t-shirt who kept jumping out with his camera on the road ahead of us. We decided to check an adjacent field althought it produce no images Serin, Tutrtle Dove and a Hoopoe were seen. Steve also managed to do his best impression and called a cuckoo in several times but it evaded having its photo taken. Back in the car again and we came across a Corn Bunting in full jangling song on top of a post. So we stopped for a short while ,got out of the car and took a few images of a very acommodating bird.

We decided to then head to most southerly point of the island which is known as a good place to find weary migrants crossing the Mediterranean. We thought the previous night's rain may have brought some down to earth. However, once more no migrants were present with only the occasional Sardinian Warbler breaking the silence of the garrique scrub under the late morning sun. Time to head northwards.


En route we came across a lake and decided to stop for a while. Steve busied himself with some large red dragonflies while I thought I would photograph some of the low flying Swifts using my Canon 7D.

I doubt that these fast flying birds contributed to the subsequent meltdown of the camera body, which from then on showed a persistent 'Error code 40' message (electrical fault) and refused to work. Fortunately there was only one day of the holiday to go but it shows the importance of taking two camera bodies when travelling. The only other bird that appeared at the lake was a Greenshank that appeared at point blank range to completely fill the viewfinder.

We continued our journey northwards and decided to head to the lighthouse at far end of the Formentor pennisula, the most northerly point of the island in an attempt to try and find some Blue Rock Thrush. However, all we found was one calling at great distance and out of sight. We had now covered the full length of the island from north to south.

Heading back down the pennisula we saw a sign for the beach. As the sun was now dropping we decided to see if there were any Yellow Legged Gulls around as we still had not managed any good photographs of these birds. Yellow Legged Gulls are the southern equivalent of the Herring Gull but much more photogenic in my opinion. If you wonder why they are called yellow legged gulls ;)

We found a number of birds drifting off a small jetty, built out from the beach, and had some great fun with them as the sun sunk rapidly down towards the hills behind.

Having got the portrait images done, it was time to have some fun and get some more interesting poses in some wonderful light. Steve donated his remaining uneaten sandwiches to the cause and some great fun was had with the birds who ended up with a free meal for their fine display. I was also glad of all the flight photography practice I have done on the gulls close to my home over the years which was now proving useful. There are quite a few images below but it may be a long time before I post a yellow legged gull photograph again.

An adult showing a young bird who is in charge.

The last we saw of the sandwich.

The gulls had saved an otherwise fairly quite day. We now had only 24 hours lef,t as this time the following evening we would be heading for the airport. What would the last day bring, something special and memorable?

Balearic Spring Day 6 - From Dawn to Dusk

Over the evening routine of sorting through the days images with a couple of beers and a salad, the plan for the next day's photography was usually hatched. We decided it was time to have a day of relaxation and rest the aching feet and undertake a dawn to dusk session at S'Albufera. Up to this point we had not visited the marsh in the morning so were keen to see what it offered for the camera in the early light.

The day dawned once more with cloudless crystal skies and with a stillness through a complete absence of wind. At breakfast the Zitting Cisticola as usual was circling the field adjacent to the villa in roller coaster song flight and the Stone Curlew had returned to its daytime resting position in the field beyond. After the short drive out to the S'Albufera, we were once more taking the long walk in to the marsh to the aural accompaniment of canary yellow Serin and rust brown Cetti's Warbler singing from the bordering bushes.

The quietness of the early morning had encouraged the Snipe to emerge from the reed fringe to feed in open water.

The birds were busy using their long bill to probe the lake sediments for insects.

There was a new member of the avian cast in front of the hide that morning in the shape of a single Greenshank.

The still water allowed for some wonderful reflections.

The omnipresent Black-Winged Stilt were going about the usual early morning duties that included making a good deal of noise.

Running around.

Taking flight with their long trailing legs...

and showing each other 'affection' after mating.

I decided to leave the hide and take a wander. First stop was an attempt to try and photograph a Cetti's Warbler along an overgrown path. These are a very frustrating bird to try and capture with the camera as they flit around in dense undergrowth. The bird has a habit of bursting in to a loud warble right next to you and then immediately moving on. So often you attention is drawn by the call only to see the bird flying away through the bushes.

I eventually managed to get a couple of photographs but a further attempt would be needed before the end of the week.

The other species I went to photograph on my travels arund the reserve was the Red Crested Pochard as I had noticed a couple of birds in the vicinity the bridge that crossed the main channel when I arrived.



Returning back to the hide, a Great White Egret had arrived much to the upset of a pair of Common Terns that took a particular dislike to this large bird.



Up until this point I had tended to ignore the Little Egrets that were frequently in front of the hide, as this is a species I have taken a good deal of time photographing in the UK. However, when one ruffled up its full breeding plumage it was difficult not to take photos.

A good number of photographs were taken through the course of the day at this very productive site and obvious a blog post only allows me to show a small sample at time. I will therefore move forward in time to the end of the day when I spent the last 2 hours of light photogaphing some Kentish Plover.
A female bird first, followed by the slightly more colourful bird. They are great little characters these birds as they hesitently dart around the shallow water and lagoon margins. A wonderful way to end a day spent at this special place.

Balearic Spring Day 5 - In search of a Warbler

Early morning saw us once more heading down the dusty trail towards the coastal garrigue. We decided on a return visit to the area we had visited a few days earlier to see what else it could produce for the cameras. I was really hoping I could find one of my target birds for the trip, the Balearic Warbler. The reason for this becoming a target was that on a previous visit several years before I had caught a very brief glimpse of one. This had created a long running spark of facination and curisoity that needed to be satisfied.

10 minutes after arrival the throbbing blister on my foot had been numbed by new species on the camera memory card in the shape of a Tawny Pipit. A promising start to the day.


Further wandering around amongst the coastal scrub produced the by now identifable Thekla Lark.


I was scrutinising every bush I passed and listening hard for any sign of a Balearic Warbler. However, all I was seeing was the occasional Sardinian Warbler flitting between the low scrub. The habitat looked perfect but the birds, if here, were keeping a very low profile. I continued my search for quite some time and then while walking up a small track, a small dark long-tailed bird darted across the path. My first thoughts were 'another Sardininian Warbler' but then from the low bush rose an unfamilar scratching warbling song. A Balearic Warbler at last. I settled down close by and the bird put in a couple of brief appearances, which seemed to be more for the satisfaction of its own curiosity.
There birds really are a Dartford Warbler in all but colour. I managed to find another bird a little further down the same track that was occasionally popping up on to perch to sing. I waited and waited, and waited but eventually the bird appeared.

That was the last I saw of these endemic Mallorcan warblers but it had been a memorable morning.

After much careful creeping through the undergrowth and using the available cover I managed to sneak in to close range under the vigilent watch of a Woodchat Shrike. This was to be the last bird photographed that morning.

We had worked hard for the photographs that morning and so after lunch decided to have some R&R and finish off the rest of the day at S'Albufera. Snipe fed in close to one of the Bishop Hides.

A little further out a Black-Winged Stilt was bathing.


and beyond the Stilt it was bathtime for a Spoonbill.

The afternoon 'siesta' was only occasionally disrupted by mating Stilts. A delicate operation to perform when legs are so long.

It is easy to forget the length of a Stilt's legs when they are wading around in water and it is only when they come out on to terra firma that you appreciate how bizarre they are.

As the sun set on the day there was not much to photograph in front of the hide but with the light being so beautiful even the common species took on a whole new look.

Balearic Spring Day 3 - Into the Farmlands

Another day of clear blue skies dawned as we packed the kit in to the car to head south towards the centre of island. Our aim was to travel around an extensive area of farmland to see what species could be found next the tracks with the car providing us with a mobile hide. As we arrived you already feel the coolness of the morning burning away under the rapidly ascending sun.

The first species we encountered were a small streaky warbler with an impressive and very apt name, the Zitting Cisticola who seem to have adapted well to a life amongst the arable crops. These are the only representative of a group of African warbler species that are found in Europe.

We did manage a couple of closer encounters that morning. Unusually the lining of the male mouth is pitch black and they look very odd when in full song.

On our journey along another track, we located a pair of Short-toed lark gradually working their way across the sun baked soils.

Another track, another species. This time it was the Iberian race of Yellow Wagtails with their grey heads. Personally I prefer the looks of our yellow headed UK race.

By this point the light was getting harsh and the autofocus crippling heat haze was building. The last species I photographed before we left the farmlands was a Corn Bunting, my first image of this species, and one I was hoping to improve upon before the end of the week.

We decided to stop for a bit of lunch and then headed back up to S'Albufera. The daily outings were starting to take on a bit of a pattern with a trip out exploring a new area in the morning and a return to the Marsh for the mid afternoon and early evening. As I said in my first post you could easily spend a week at S'Albufera Marsh alone.

Another of the S'Albufera conservation efforts was the introduction during the 1990s of the endangered Crested Coot. I remember these birds from when I visited a few years, with each sporting a large identification neck ring. As the numbers have increased so has the chance of finding an unringed bird. A number of birds were present each day around the main bridge that crosses the central canal. Photographing from the raised position of the bridge did not offer the greatest perspective and we located a small area off one path were we could get to water level with the birds. Coots under harsh sunlight is not a photographic pursuit I would recommend for those who do not like an exposure challenge!

It is good to see these birds flourishing in their new home.

Just around the corner from the bridge, the Bishop Hide was in good form with plenty of Black-winged Stilts feeding at very close proximity.

The Stilts were occasionally joined by a Purple Gallinule that would boldly march, between the bordering reedbeds, across the front of the hide to the accompanyment of camera shutters.

The bird shown below was particularly impressive in its colours.

We decided to move to another hide for the end of the day light. Kentish and Little Ringed Plover foraged with their stop and go movements along the lagoon edge.

The only distraction being the very pleasent sight of passing Purple Herons or Marsh Harrier in the softening light. I can think of much worse ways of passing time.

The following day we would be heading to the mountains but that will have to wait until the next post.