Mallorca Holiday 27th April 2015 : La Gola, Boquer Valley and Pollenca Environs
We woke up to find that it had been raining in the night and that there was a 25% chance of rain during the day. This meant that a possible plan to go to S’ Albufera was put on hold in favour of doing a couple of smaller things within easy reach of cover if it rained. As it happened it didn’t rain at all but we have plenty of time and plenty of options so it didn’t really matter which itinerary we followed on any given day. So we thought we would do our usual walk through the La GOla reserve, on to the by-pass and then up to Casa Boquer and through the valley to the other side.
We started off with a quick look around the back of the hotel to acquaint ourselves with the area that Gosney suggested for Scops Owl but there wasn’t anything obvious to see so we marked it mentally as something to check out later.
We dropped in at La Gola to look for anything interesting but it was so windy and dull that I think a lot of the birds were hunkered down in hope the wind would blow over. Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Mallard, Sardinian Warblers and Stonechats were about it apart from the ever present Greenfinches and Sparrows. We did hear a Cetti’s Warbler as usual but did not see it. A walk around the perimeter road near the “aeroplane roundabout” got us a Serin, a Kestrel and a Woodchat Shrike so not too shabby.
When we reached the Boquer roundabout we took the path up to the Casa de Boquer but it was much quiter than on our previous visit – no doubt due to the high winds. We spoke to several other birders and they all said it had been quiet apart from the inevitable Sardinian Warblers and Stonechats. The weather was looking more certain, however, so we thought we would risk the walk through the valley. It wasn’t too long before we were rewarded with a great view of a male Blue Rock Thrush.
We continued along the track until we saw two photographer taking shots immediately above and behind us. We had just enough time to turn round to see a Booted Eagle (so we were told) flying over our heads and into the distance. This boded well and we continued on. Next was a female Blue Rock Thrush which was a real nice addition to the male.
On we went with the odd Sardinian Warbler distracting us. Eventually we had a spell where we got some distant and then some some really low and overhead views of two Booted Eagles and around half a dozen Eleonora’s Falcons. We did not manage to see the Montagu’s Harrier we were told was around earlier but we really weren’t complaining.
On our way back down we got another Blue Rock Thrush. It was getting time to have some refreshment so we headed back into town through the “Pine Tree Avenue” which was quiet apart from Greenfinches and Sparrows.
Back at the hotel there were the reliable Audouin’s Gulls, Shags and Swifts to entertain us.
Route from Port de Pollenca to the Boquer Valley