Diary of a Birder Majorca April 1981

A package tour to Majorca to go birdwatching did not seem very ornithological to your work mates who
conjour up topless beautys at Magaluf.
However on a more serious note Dave Cole and I arrived in Palma in pouring rain to be greeted by a 52 seater coach for 6 people.
It poured down as we travelled North to Puerto Pollensa,arrived 18.00hrs we explored briefly beforedinner.

The following morning the weather had not improved much as we set off for the Boquer valley,roughly a 30 minute walk,after climbing through the rocks we were rewarded with views of Peregrine and Blue Rock Thrush.
Later that afternoon we cycled to Albufereta and Albufera marsh,near Alcudia at Tucan pool we saw a pair of Garganey,further on at Albufera we imitated the calls of Hoopoes (UPPUPOOP) which is part
of their Latin name ie "Uppupa epops".
That evening  Dave and I met Ann and Bob Scott's RSPB Group and Pat Watkinson the local rep for the island,also a young American called David Rosanne.
We wangled our way on to the tour bus visiting the Northern mountains,also on board were two Maple Lodge stalwarts Gill and Greta,up through the ascending mountains and boulder strewn landscape.

The coach stopped at Torrent view,at an altitude of 664 metres we saw a pale phase Booted Eagle.
Our next stop was Lluch monastery,scenic views with Firecrest and Wryneck and in the surrounding orchards Cirl buntings and Robins.
A packed lunch at Cuber res,more raptors here including Black vulture.

That night we heard Scop's owl before going to bed,the following morning we took the bus to Albufera marsh Black winged stilts were everywhere but the real surprise was a Marsh sandpiper.
Over the next couple of days we visited Albufereta and the adjacent farmland,meeting Dave Rosanne again noting Short toed larks ,warblers and wagtails,another trip to the Ternelles produced more raptors including Black Vulture,finally a visit to Salinas de Levante with Pat Bishop,thetwo Daves and yours trulyprovided waders and terns,last call for a first year Slender billed gull at Albufereta marsh on our final day.