Mallorca : 17th October 2015 : S’Albefura Bird Ringing

Mallorca : 17th October 2015 : S’Albefura Bird Ringing

Surprising ourselves after a very long day the day before, we did get up in time to get to S’albufera for the bird ringing that Cristina had told us she was leading even though we missed the first quarter of an hour or so. As we arrived Cristina, our guide from the previous day, was explaining to the family groups the purpose of ringing, the scientific methods used for sexing and aging birds, the measuring and weighing of them etc. Not surprisingly the first two birds were Robins but even though they are very familiar birds to us, it is fascinating to see them in the hand. There was a lot more to come including a “life tick” “in the hand”.

The next bird pulled out of the bag was not familiar at all; in fact you are more used to hearing it than seeing it, and you hear  lot of it around S’albufera – a Cetti’s Warbler. The team of experienced and trainee ornithologists went through all the measurements again and gave everyone a chance to get photographs for themselves.

After these birds were ringed, measured and then released, we were all taken round to the location of the mist nets to see what had been trapped since the first lot. This produced a great pair of birds; a Kingfisher and a Moustached  Warbler. There was also an extremely irritable  Great Tit. The team went all the way through the same routine with these birds, weighing, measuring, sexing and aging them and explaining it all to the assembled familites. Altough it was in Spanish we could still follow some of it and Cristina made a point of showing the birds to us and describing what they were doing in English. To see the Kingfisher in the hand was great but to see a Moustached Warbler,  a tiny bird and a” life tick”, in the had was brilliant.

We went back to the nets for a third time but the only birds were ones we had already seen so we thanked Cristina and drifted off to the Es Cibollar hides where it was business as usul – an Osprey and a bunch of photographers hogging the hide! We did manage to get in eventually and it was rather similar to our previous visit. What was new was that we saw three Kingfishers. Added to the one we had seen ringed that gave us four for the day!  As mentioned, the Osprey was there again and all the usual suspects.

We headed off for the Sa Roco hides and these turned out to be surprisingly empty. We got a Cattle Egret, great views again of the Swamphens,  some Kentish Plovers, a pair of Marsh Harriers and other familiar birds.

We had a look again at the pasture to the left of the first Sa Roca  hide and there we found six Stone Curlew keeping cool under the big tree over to the left. As we watched these appear then disappear, a Hoopoe appeared on the right side of the field -quite a duo of species.

Elsewhere around the site we saw Red-knobbed Coot, heard a Water Rail and saw a Blackcap. On our way back down the main track we stopped to admire the Night Herons again and then it was off home. S’albufera  is always great but the bird ringing had made it even more of a unique birding day in Mallorca.

Bird Sightings : S’Albufera Bird Ringing & Environs

Bird Sightings : S’Albufera : Sa Roca Pools

Bird Sightings : S’Albufera : Ses Pardes Hide

Bird Sightings : S’Albufera : Es Cibollar Pools