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Couldn’t resist another opportunity to revisit the S’Albufera on yet another baking hot day. After the previous visit we made a real effort to start a little earlier however it was still 29C by mid-morning. Great to finally catch up with the Stone Curlews. Supposedly fairly common in Mallorca their cryptic camouflage makes them difficult to spot in their normal habitat of dry, stony fields. Fortunately on the sun-baked edges of the marsh their camouflage isn’t quite as effective. |
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Squacco Heron enjoying a spot of fishing on the Gran Canal. Another superb bird with several more seen within the Herony. |
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A pair of Little Ringed Plovers. Whilst considered to be a rare summer migrant back home again surprisingly common in the marshes and along the coastline of Mallorca. |
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| The closely related Kentish Plover. |
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Purple Swamphen also known as the Purple Gallinule. Re-introduced from the Spanish mainland great to see the Swamphen succeeding at S’Albufera. Hopefully the chicks will continue the recolonisation of the marshes. We were also fortunate to see one at the nearby S’Albuferata. |
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Black-winged Stilt. Again one of the classic and most frequently seen waders of Mediterranean marshlands. |
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A young, immature Black-winged Stilt. Even at this stage they’re quite happy to search for food whilst Mum keeps a watch out from close by. |
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The unmistakable Avocet. On this occasion relatively few in number. Presumably the majority head north to enjoy the longer daylight of northern Europe. |
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| Immature Little Egrets sailing down the Gran Canal on a raft of reeds and driftwood. |