Give me 5 Green Sandpipers with Lewis and Carter

High 5's today at Maple Lodge as we tried too emulate Sir Geoffreys claim and so it came to pass in the Kingfisher hide so aptly named Paul and I grilled the low water levels in search of waders.

Here's three of the five on show but to be fair it took 2 hrs to confirm there were 5 as they were fairly mobile.

This was the closest bird but nice to see a party of them,however the elusive Kingfisher showed on arrival briefly and again 2 hrs later giving stunning views .

Not quite perfection this female did not stay too fish for the Sticklebacks below her.

Thanks for the show of two splendid birds at the Lodge.

Late August Puerto Pollensa Majorca

A wedding anniversary and birthday was a long weekend in Majorca ,the weather was fine as we arrived in Palma arriving at our hotel early evening in time for dinner.The hotel Ill D Or had changed since we were here 31 years ago.

 

On  the Saturday I walked the Boquer valley it was fairly birdless just a few joggers and one birder as I reached the end of the valley the view was about the same alas no Marmoras warbler.

The warblers name has now changed to Balearic warbler,today I had to be content with the more common Sardinian Warbler another red eyed skulker.

Making my way back another bird this time possibly a migrant showed well it was the spotted flycatcher a couple of hours prior to breakfast well spent.

We relaxed in the sun at this lovely hotel over the next few days.

This superb hotel is great for requirments and the excellent staff catered for our needs,plus the weather proved lovely but hot at times.

This is how it was in the late 50's still going strong with its fantastic Lobster paella.

Another mornings birding at Albufera marsh before leaving ,a taxi to English Bridge I entered the reserve at 9 am.

My first bird was Cetti's warbler calling followed by a roosting Night heron.

A long walk to get a permit from where I visited some hides the mosquitoes were out in abundance I stayed a while and noted the now common Purple Gallinule,this beautiful bird hunted by Romans and Egyptians now prolific at Albufera.

Some more species of note ie Wood Sandpiper and Kentish Plover and a number of Little Egrets obliged before I succumbed to the mosquitoes and returned to Puerto Pollensa.