Quality not Quantity

First time out for a while. Went to a survey site this morning. Didn't have very much there but we did have brilliant views of a Green Woodpecker. We also had a nice singing Tree Pipit and also Woodlark. A few Orchids starting to appear too so should be able to get some good photos next visit.

Robust Orchid

Just found out from a forum that I had photographed Robust Orchid Anacamptis robusta in Mallorca.

This Orchid is only found in a handful of locations throughout the world. More information can be found here http://www.nandoperettifound.org/en/page.php?project=424

Mallorca 2013

I've just compiled a quick summary of our week in Mallorca. 94 species seen plus Turtle Dove, Wren, Great Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting just heard.  I will try and get a full report done soon.

1. Little Grebe - several seen at Tucan Marshes 
2. Cormorant - several seen on breakwaters in Pollensa Bay 
3. Shag - several seen on breakwaters in Pollensa Bay 
4. Night Heron - several seen at S'Albufera 
5. Great White Egret - 1 seen at S'Albufera and one see at Albufereta 
6. Cattle Egret - several seen at S'Albufera 
7. Squacco Heron - 3 seen at S'Albufera 
8. Little Egret - many seen at various sites 
9. Grey Heron - 1 seen at La Gola in Puerto Pollensa 
10. Purple Heron - several individuals seen at S'Albufera, Albufereta and Ca'n Cuarrassa 
11. Shelduck - a few seen at S'Albufera 
12. Mallard - many seen at various sites 
13. Gadwall - 2 seen at Tucan Marsh, 2 at S'Albufera an 2 on Torrent de Sant Jordi 
14. Shoveler - several seen at S'Albufera 
15. Marbled Duck - 2 seen at S'Albufera seen on Es Cibollar 
16. Teal - 2 seen at S'Albufera on Es Cibollar 
17. Pochard - 1 seen at Tucan Marsh 
18. Red-crested Pochard - several seen at S'Albufera 
19. Osprey - 1 seen at S'Albufera and several seen over Pollensa Bay 
20. Booted Eagle - 1 pale phase seen at Boquer Valley 
21. Marsh Harrier - many seen at S'Albufera and Albufereta 
22. Montagu's Harrier - 1 male seen in fields at bottom of Boquer Valley 
23. Kestrel - 1 seen at Ca'n Cuarrassa and 1 seen in Boquer Valley 
24. Eleonora's Falcon - 1 seen in Boquer Valley 
25. Red-legged Partridge - 2 seen in field in Alcudia and 4 seen at Boquer Valley 
26. Pheasant - 1 seen in field in Alcudia 
27. Moorhen - several seen at various sites 
28. Coot - several seen at various sites 
29. Red-knobbed Coot - several seen at S'Albufera 
30. Purple Swamphen - several seen at S'Albufera 
31. Oystercatcher - 1 seen on coast road between Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia 
32. Black-winged Stilt - many seen at S'Albufera 
33. Stone Curlew - 2 seen in field in Alcudia, 2 at Boquer Valley, 2 at Albufereta and 2 at Ca'n Cuarassa 
34. Little Ringed Plover - 1 seen at S'Albufera 
35. Ringed Plover - several seen at S'Albufera and a several at Albufereta 
36. Kentish Plover -several seen at S'Albufera and a several at Albufereta 
37. Curlew Sandpiper - several seen at S'Albufera 
38. Little Stint -1 seen at S'Albufera and 1 seen at Albufereta 
39. Wood Sandpiper - 1 seen at S'Albufera 
40. Common Sandpiper - several seen at various sites 
41. Redshank -1 seen at S'Albufera 
42. Spotted Redshank - 2 seen at S'Albufera 
43. Greenshank - several seen at S'Albufera and 1 seen at Albufereta 
44. Black-tailed Godwit - 1 seen at S'Albufera 
45. Ruff -1 seen at S'Albufera and 1 at Albufereta 
46. Yellow-legged Gull - many seen at various sites 
47. Audouin's Gull - several seen around Puerto Pollensa 
48. Common Tern - several seen at S'Albufera 
49. Wood Pigeon - many seen at various sites 
50. Collared Dove - several seen around various fields 
51. Scop's Owl - pair seen on back lane near Hotel Pollensa Park 
52. Common Swift - many seen at various sites (huge movements on 28th April) 
53. Hoopoe - 1 seen in field in Alcudia 
54. Bee-eater - several small flocks seen at S'Albufera 1 flock of c.40 at La Gola 
55. Wryneck - 1 seen at the Boquer Valley 
56. Sand Martin - many seen st Tucan Marsh 
57. Crag Martin - 2 seen at Boquer Valley 
58. Swallow - many seen at various sites (huge movements on 28th April) 
59. House Martin - many seen at various sites (huge movements on 28th April) 
60. Yellow Wagtail (iberiae) - several seen at various sites 
61. Nightingale - several seen at various sites 
62. Redstart - many seen at various sites 
63. Wheatear - 1 seen in field Alcudia and 1 seen at Albufereta 
64. Whinchat - many seen at various sites 
65. Stonechat - many seen at various sites 
66. Blue Rock Thrush - 1 seen at Boquer Valley 
67. Song Thrush - 1 seen in the Avenue of Pines 
68. Blackbird - several seen at various sites 
69. Sardinian Warbler - many seen at various sites 
70. Whitethroat - 1 seen at Boquer Valley 
71. Moustached Warbler - 1 seen at S'Albufera 
72. Fan-tailed Warbler - many seen at various sites 
73. Cetti's Warbler - many seen at various sites
74. Willow Warbler - several seen at various sites 
75. Wood Warbler - several seen at various sites 
76. Bonelli's Warbler - 1 seen in Puerto Pollensa 
77. Chiffchaff - 1 seen in the Avenue of Pines 
78. Blackcap - 1 seen in trees around Formentor Beach 
79. Firecrest - several seen at Formentor Beach 
80. Spotted Flycatcher - many seen at various sites 
81. Pied Flycatcher - many seen at various sites 
82. Great Tit - 1 seen at S'Albufera 
83. Blue Tit - 1 seen at Formentor Beach 
84. Woodchat Shrike - 1 seen at Albufereta and 1 at S'Albufera 
85. Raven - several seen at Boquer Valley 
86. Spotless Starling - small flock at Ca'n Cuarassa 
87. House Sparrow - many seen at various sites 
88. Goldfinch - many seen at various sites 
89. Chaffinch - several seen at Formentor Beach 
90. Greenfinch - many seen at various sites 
91. Linnet -1 seen in fields along Puerto Pollensa bypass and one at Ca'n Cuarassa 
92. Serin - many seen at various sites 
93. Cirl Bunting - 1 seen at Boquer Valley 
94. Corn Bunting - several seen at Albufereta

Return from Mallorca.

We arrived home today from Mallorca after a week of mixed weather. We totalled 94 species seen and all without a car. Pretty pleased with the total. Will compile a full species list and trip report soon. Meanwhile, back to work tomorrow.

Cracking day!

Started at our survey site for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust this morning and had some fantastic new site species.  Common Crossbill (c.25), Siskin and Redpoll were all new. We were also pleased to see the Woodlark were back, displaying and singing. Other birds that had returned were Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Swallow. All in all a nice morning's birdwatching.

First House Matins!

Had my first House Martins today. Unfortunately, I only heard them as I was in a built up area, but still, they're back. Spring has finally sprung for me.

Hello!

Hi, my name is Rachel and I hope you will enjoy my blog. I may not update very often but I hope you will find it interesting anyway.

My main interest is birdwatching but I enjoy all aspects of wildlife. I am also a keen photographer (although, not very good at the moment) and will share my results on here.

I am going to Mallorca on holiday in the next few days for a week so this will be my first major blogging experience. I hope to update daily, wifi access permitting, otherwise it will be as and when I can.

I first visited Mallorca about 5 years ago and loved it, so am interested to see how it has changed. I am really looking forward to doing some walking and birdwatching whilst there and hopefully it will be well into the migration period whilst we are there. I am following this thread with much interest and I will also post on here whilst away.

Thank you for reading (and hopefully following too)

Rachel