Sunny Days

Here's a post from 2 weeks in sunny Menorca. Brilliant indeed proved both the holiday and the birding with 14 days of unbroken sunshine and not a spot of rain. The island has a list of over 220 species throughout the seasons, so our two week birding list of 78 species is respectable but isn’t going to break any records. But bird watching is not the only joy of a Menorca holiday as blog regulars and/or visitors to the island will already know. Don't forget to click the pics for a colourful Menorca experience.

This year I met up with a Menorcan birder and ringer, Javier Mendez. Javier is extremely knowledgeable about birds and all things Menorcan, and for visitors to the island who prefer a guide, he does that too. You can contact him at  Javier Mendez.

I spent a morning with Javier at his Constant Effort Ringing site at Algendarat, an ecological farm near Mahon. Some lovely birds in the hand on Another Bird Blog soon, but for this post there are photos from birding mornings and exquisite places around the island. 

First port of call each year is to a Bee-eater colony on a farm close to the main road between the unspoilt, authentic inland town of Es Mercadal and the picturesque but touristy Fornells. The Bee- eaters fly to a roadside fence as long as there are not cars speeding by. Bee-eaters burrow into sandy soil to make a nest chamber, hence the dusty residue on this bird’s bill. 

European Bee-eater

Menorca

 European Bee-eater

We regularly see Hoopoes at the same location although they aren’t especially approachable, as Hoopoes tend to be. They have to keep a look out for raptors overhead, the common Booted Eagle or the ever present Kestrels that might rob them of their large insect prey. 

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

Kestrel

Booted Eagle

In a nearby field we discovered this year a spectacular display of wild poppies. Menorca has over 1000 species of plants, 60 of them endemic to the island. In the background of the picture is the resort of Cala Tirant, a world away from the flower-filled fields of a Menorcan Spring where the song of Corn Buntings fill the air and farming is carried out in traditional ways.

Menorcan Poppies

Hay Making Menorca

Corn Bunting

Menorcan Foal

We found just a few pairs of Stonechat this year, and it seems that the Stonechat is not doing too well here at the moment, Menorca is not totally immune from environmental changes that threaten species worldwide. The island’s Stonechats are a little darker than the ones we see in the UK, just like one or two other species, for instance Goldfinch and Woodpigeon being particularly evident in showing darker shades. Perhaps it’s something to do with all that sunshine? 

On the way to lunch at La Palma, a favourite café in Fornells we found a male Stonechat along the roadside telling us he had a family nearby. But there’s no time to stop when tapas is on the menu so we piled back in the Panda and set off again. 

Stonechat

Menorcan Panda

Fornells- Menorca

Fornells - Menorca

Fornells - Menorca

There’s more birds and scenes from Menorca soon on Another Bird Blog.

Linking this post to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

Back To A Patch

Two weeks in sunny Menorca meant Saturday was employed in catching up with family, a mountain of post, a long list of emails and then downloading and sorting hundreds of photos from the holiday. But this morning the local patch beckoned so a full Menorca post was postponed for now. Log in to Another Bird Blog soon for this year’s pictures from The Idyllic Isle. 

Remembering to drive on the “correct” side of the road I set off north in the direction of Pilling and Cockerham, first stop Conder Green where a goodish list ensued, waders, wildfowl plus “bits and bobs” of passerines. 

The huge passage of Black-tailed Godwits of April has left lingering individuals, 16 or so birds still having feeding success in the tidal creeks, their long bills buried deep in the mud to then pull out long worms. I am guessing that their prey was the lugworms and ragworms that anglers dig for here and then use for bait. 

Black-tailed Godwits

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Other waders are now limited to species which breed here but not necessarily all of those counted, although I did see an Oystercatcher sat tight on a nest. In addition, 9 Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher and 4 Curlew, the latter flying overhead. 

Wildfowl are scarce now with the counts of 2 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Goose, 16 Shelduck and 2 Grey Heron a reflection of Spring becoming the doldrums of Summer. For the small area surveyed I found a reasonable number of passerines in song, so numbers which represent the males alone and discount the quieter partners: 4 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinch. 

There were reasonable numbers of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins about but sadly no Swifts in evidence. A Swallow gave brief chase to a passing male Sparrowhawk, the hawk no doubt with a nest bound female not too far away. 

Last week on the Menorca patch I watched swallows, martins, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Booted Eagle, Red-footed Falcon and Egyptian Vulture! Oh the joys of a local patch. 

Egyptian Vulture

I headed back to Pilling via Braides where a Sedge Warbler sang from the Cocker Channel and 18 Stock Doves scrutinised a recently sown field. Maybe the doves were finding undrilled seed? 

Stock Dove

Fluke Hall seemed almost silent, the warbler reduction since April very marked with now just single Chiffchaff and Blackcap in song and no Willow Warblers. Luckily the Whitethroats were in good voice my ear still tuned to their scratchy song rather than the machine-gun rattle of Sardinian Warblers. Whitethroats are passage migrants in Menorca, Sardinian Warblers ten-a-penny. 

Whitethroat

Sardinian Warbler

A male Kestrel hunted the freshly sown fields where I found no evidence of breeding Lapwings, the plough of April having done its job with great success. At least 4 Skylarks remain on territory and a pair of Tufted Ducks prospected for a breeding niche in the sea wall channel. 

A good morning’s work. There’s no beating a local patch, wherever it might be.

Almost Home

We’re almost at the end of Menorca for 2014. So here are a few more pictures of Menorca life until next year. Enjoy. 

On some evenings the Scops Owl comes for a close look at us just as we're enjoying a glass of wine.

Scops Owl

The common lark in these parts is the crested Thekla Lark. It makes a change from the humble UK Skylark.

 Thekla Lark

Adding a little interest to the sunbathing are regular sightings of ringed Audouin's Gulls. 

Audouin's Gull

Or watching the local Kestrel watching us from on high.

Kestrel

Spring in Menorca is just wonderful for seeing and painting the wild flowers.

 Menorca Poppies

A walk to the local shops even involves a spot of birding.

Spotted Flycatcher

Now that's what I call a Menorca walk.

Menorca

Menorca Horses

Another Bird Blog is back home in the UK any day now and will post new pictures from the last two weeks very soon.

I promise to catch up with all your comments soon.  Apologies if you are still waiting.

I hope everyone enjoyed Menorca as much as we did? Linking today to Anni's Blog, Camera Critters and Eileen's Saturday Blog.

Are You Home Yet?

Sorry, but Sue and I are still in Menorca so I'll catch up with fellow bloggers just as soon as I can.

Here are more birds and scenes from Menorca with just a few words from me. 

The breeding season is in full swing here.

Stonechat

Punta Nati- Menorca

There's a colony of Cattle Egrets next to the road for Punta Nati.

Cattle Egret

Five minutes later we're shopping in the beautiful and historic city of Ciutadella.

Ciutadella - Menorca

Menorcan Sweeties

Spotted Flycatchers come through in droves in early May.

Spotted Flycatcher

So do Woodchat Shrikes, although some stay here to breed.

Woodchat Shrike

Alaior street - Menorca

Another Bird Blog will be back in a day or two with more Menorca. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the pictures of Menorca as much as we are enjoying the holiday.

Are You Bored Yet?

Definitely not. We are far from bored and time just flies when having fun.

It’s Week Two but there are a multitude of things to see and do in Menorca, lots of ways to fill the day or the evening.

Those Hoopoes keep us amused for ages. And they never ever get stuck in the nest hole.

Hoopoe

It's a steady and interesting route to pretty and colourful Es Migjorn where the sunny walk demands a cooling beer afterwards.

Es Migjorn

  

Bee Eater

Cattle Egrets don't always live up to their descriptive name. 

 

At Es Grau again.

Es Grau- Menorca

At the Nature Reserve near Es Grau there's a chance of seeing Squacco Herons.

Squacco Heron

At Fornells there's shelter of sorts from an often unrelenting sun but from where you can watch the sleepy harbour; or perhaps take out that set of watercolour paints you've been meaning to try?

Fornells - Menorca

Fornells - Menorca

Bee Eaters - a watercolour

Mints after dinner and owl watching time.

Scops Owl

There's even More from Menorca soon on Another Bird Blog. Apologies for not visiting too many blogs and I will catch up with everyone soon.

Where Are You?

Would you believe it? We are in Menorca again. 

Here are a few pictures of this wonderful Mediterranean island for blog readers to enjoy with minimal commentary from your's truly.

The endangered Egyptian Vulture is a regular sight throughout the island, especially soaring over the rocky gorges that fall down to the coast. 

Egyptian Vulture

Menorcan Gorge

Tawny Pipit

Es Grau- Menorca

There are always lots of Yellow-legged Gulls and Audouin's Gulls at the pretty fishing village of Es Grau. 

 Yellow-legged Gull

For such an apparently conspicuous bird the Hoopoes is surprisingly elusive, more often heard than actually seen.

Not so the Bee Eater with a few breeding colonies on the island plus a strong Spring movement as they head to Europe.

Bee Eater

Wne driving and walking it's best to keep an eye open for the island tortoises as well as the birds.

 Heerman's Tortoise

There's more from Another Bird Blog in Menorca soon.

A Sylvia Day

Wednesday - Not quite the morning hoped for with100% cloud, poor light and a touch of drizzle at times. Oh well, best to make the best of a bad job and set off somewhere. 

As soon as I arrived at Fluke, the Blackbirds were at it, scolding a Tawny Owl again. The Tawny Owls here are very active at the moment. I’m guessing that there are youngsters to feed, necessitating more frequent hunting, this being the third time in a week I’ve seen these normally nocturnal owls. I located the owl which was being chased by a posse of Blackbirds, the owl changing its chosen spot in the trees three times until the rumpus eventually died down and the Blackbirds went back to their business. 

It’s a snatched shot just as the owl was looking for a place to roost, away from so much noise and attention. ISO1600 in the poor light and those damned leaves in the way again. 

Tawny Owl

I knew roughly where the owl had flown to and left it in peace. There’d be no point in setting off more commotion by making the poor thing fly again. 

The wood and hedgerows held reasonable numbers of warblers with no obvious fresh arrivals other than a singing Garden Warbler and a song so close to a Blackcap as to be almost identical. I don’t have my own picture of a skulking Garden Warbler other than in the hand - It’s rather like a plain Blackcap but without the coloured cap. Bird watchers have been known to make unkind “jokes” about the Garden Warbler’s plain appearance and its Latin name Sylvia borin - borin = boring, get it? Very unfair. 

Garden Warbler - Photo credit: themadbirdlady - anne cotton / Foter / (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 

There are still at least 2 Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla in the area giving a chance to compare its loud, highly musical song with the more subdued but lengthy song of the Garden Warbler. 

Blackcap

There seemed to be good numbers of the other “Sylvia” this morning, Sylvia communis, the Common Whitethroat, with at least 8 birds seen/heard along Fluke Hall Lane. The Whitethroat is much easier to see than the previous two with Spring the best time to take photographs of the commonest of this family of UK warblers. 

The males arrive during April/early May and quickly set up territories from where they constantly sing their jolting, scratchy song. They use prominent vantage points from which to show off their white throat and pink-washed breast as a way to impress any watching females. 

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

On the ploughed field: 1 Wheatear, 1 Pied Wagtail and several Linnets. 

There was a Kestrel hunting the freshly turned earth and a Sparrowhawk in high circling flight. Both species are nesting at nearby Fluke Hall but as raptors do not compete for food, having different requirements.  The Kestrel takes small mammals and the Sparrowhawk favours small to medium sized birds. 

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Lane Ends to Pilling Water turned up little in the way of migration or new in birds except for a Common Sandpiper. There was a single Little Egret at Pilling Water pool and 2 Wheatear some way out on the marsh. At Lane Ends: 2 Little Grebe, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. 

It wasn’t a bad morning and while some sunshine and better light would have been welcome, the conditions are never, ever perfect for a very demanding birder.