If anyone wondered where I am and why no blog post, the answer is that I am in Menorca, Santo Tomas again. So this is a quick message and a couple of pictures until I get back to the UK with new pictures.
Santo Tomas is just a small, quiet place on the south coast of the unspoilt Balearic island of Menorca where it doesn’t take long to see a few exotic birds at the height of migration time in early May.
The very first evening we saw the resident pair of Scops Owls again from our room balcony when both came into the hotel grounds on the lookout for ground beetles and moths to eat.
The next morning our first coffee in the Malibu bar overlooking the Mediterranean Sea gave unsurpassed views of Audouin’s Gull and binocular views of many shearwaters, both Cory’s and Yelkouan, skimming over then resting out on the water. Whilst looking back to the hotel we could see the resident Hoopoe on the grass between the sunbeds and knew we were back.
Our first walk took us through the pines es pins then over the cliff top towards Son Bou where we saw Tawny Pipits, Wheatears, Stonechats, Nightingales galore, Woodchat Shrikes, Corn Buntings, Common Sandpipers and more shearwaters. Raptors along here included Egyptian Vultures, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Kestrel and a Hobby in pursuit of the many Swifts still heading north to the UK.
We called into a spot for Golden Orioles and picked up 2 birds feeding in the canopy as a hidden male sang a litttle subsong. Just across the road we saw our first Red Kite of the trip. Tomorrow we head to the north of the island, taking in a colony of Bee Eaters, the marshes of Tirant and the headland of Punta Nati.
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2 comments:
Hi Phil, I have just come across your excellent blog, whilst doing some research. I am visiting Santo Tomas (Menorca) in a couple of weeks and wondered if you could provide me with some information on the best areas to look/listen for Scops Owl in the town please. I wont have a car (most days) if you had any other tips for birding that area it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Dan.
Hi Dan. I am away in Greece until weekend. Let me know what information you need and I will try and help but is now four or five years since my visits to Menorca.
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