A quick look at the ploughed fields to the rear of the villa at sunrise produced a gorgeous ♂
Whinchat and an unmistakable purring call alerted me to my first
Turtle Dove of the visit, perched across on the phone wires. Although
Stone Curlew had been calling while I was enjoying my coffee before leaving the villa, there was no sign of last nights birds. A five minute drive and my now regular morning walk at Can Cullerassa provided a few new additions to my local list with
Spotted Flycatcher,
Night Heron and
Purple Heron.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D0YEn-IS4EdxbIbYZtb7MiSiH1AeVh0pvZ-6qzqLePdKYynsiTfQW9Cjxa0VM42_Jtpy-_Zsr1lbJcVYiEz7TPPLWxqJifUdxNokCdR6r_Fj88m1tf734uyTbVAKrE70fKEM8GRQPswy/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG) |
Purple Swamphen - One of the main attractions at S'Albufera |
After breakfast Dee, Dave and I headed for S'Albufera, probably one of the best known and internationally recognised natural areas in Majorca, around a 15-minute drive from the villa. Although it was quite busy it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, this being a mayday bank holiday on the Island.
First birds of note were
Cattle Egret and
Little Egret, along with a single
Night Heron in the trees overhanging the channel that leads along the 1.2 km walk to the visitor centre. A singing
Great Reed Warbler was also heard along the boardwalk that leads up to the centre. In fairness to Dee and Dave I only made them complete the walk from the centre along to the Es Colombars Hide and back (
information and reserve map HERE) but we ended up with quite an impressive tally and Dee and I will complete other areas next week, hopefully a little earlier in the day!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjNayaJh88cSFt7O1w_u-wgJ2ZXLdAejX9B3Xkev3bH8Z9_wFrAFvq34-ye3jrdPsBM4tMnxwrx72mvC1c3YdCIqCzAJxI1D4LgfMpiWMHm04_cv7ai_0eU8wNKkRXAcLA3zFCaA8rW_P/s1600/_MG_0051.JPG) |
Purple Heron over S'Albufera |
Pausing at the bridge which overlooks the main channel
Red-knobbed Coot,
Purple Swamphen and several
Red-crested Pochard. Overhead the cracking sight of
Eleanora's Falcon and
Osprey was one of the holiday highlights for me thus far! Apparently the bridge is also a good place to see
Little Bittern too but sadly not during our visit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0eg20I8g43x0_A1bYmh9IvCkmRGi85UzSUkdqOO6YyZxTPxAcXAOkvTX4rJwR2UxC-lUGo0BbGtTj7glz5LBewR_KG52GAcWjog2-dtG1BhUYldzuKrP4xGhIb4m6cfRU7W4ldwuvzII/s1600/_MG_0078.JPG) |
Kentish Plover - One of many today. |
Further up the track there are several places to overlook the reserve, including a designated raised platform area. From here the brief song of
Moustached Warbler rang out from the reedbed but we never managed to connect. A
Marsh Harrier was quartering in the distance and a flyover of
Purple Heron,
Peregrine and once again
Eleanora's Falcon. The pools held
Kentish Plover,
Ringed Plover,
Little-ringed Plover,
Wood Sandpiper and
Black-winged Stilt.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YhlO20j_RneFmt6vM5E0UA1i3AkTly9GvxbMHX0c0IHmyLRFUKAtU5a0NLPNasWtmFh66HmZnv1tHGcoYH4nfmvMxkDzHfF9Bi7JbAmx7xcOQjLeBywtcT5um4WO-K3o2fArI8notOs0/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG) |
Greenshank on the Es Cibollar Pool |
The Es Colombars Hide, which overlooks pools near to the power station was relatively quiet with a couple of
Redshank,
Great-crested Grebe,
Little Grebe and I was surprised to still see several very pristine ♂
Pochard, plus a pair of
Shoveler. The main highlight was a
Water Rail, one of Dee's nemesis birds, which thankfully showed very well for her during our stay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZhZnyBxjpeUOOphML_fRBz9HKvNrTeMtBkRH5PHiLP7xetAJ5Z-UG1YJ7C7ZNh6bErxDw0hXZhvFuIK4RtfYm9XpiGE2gdAVgwv1JrI4f3CD1kkYOQBBC6j6BhH9JPSBpVuaP0drrPyk/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG) |
Dee's record shot of Temminck's Stint |
Finally, a stop at the hides overlooking the Es Cibollar Pools, which offer close range views of a number of species provided an excellent wader count with:
Greenshank,
Spotted Redshank,
Wood Sandpiper,
Curlew Sandpiper,
Dunlin,
Little Stint, and a couple of
Temminck's Stint to end the day.