I
stayed at Son Bou on the south coast of
View of Son Bou marsh from my apartment View of the holiday village from the sand-dunes
The
walk around the Son Bou marsh is about 3 miles round-trip. The section of the
Cami De Cavalls at the western end of the marsh is fantastic; old farms right
on the marsh edge. Then there is a long section along the sand-dunes. At the
east end of the dunes is the only view of open water on the marsh – where
the water runs onto the beach. Climb up the dune here to view a small section
further into the marsh. Finally a walk along quiet roads between the marsh and
the holiday village. It took me about 3 hours to do a circuit.
View from the ‘Cami De Cavalls’ footpath
of the west end of Son Bou marsh
I
visited the Parc Natural de s’Albufera des Grau for an afternoon, which
is on the NE coast. It consists of a large freshwater lake (roughly the size of
Chew Valley Lake) surrounded by rocky hills with sandy scrub. There are three
short, but interesting, walks of about an hour each. The place is amazingly
cost-free ! (Get a free map from the information centre – just follow
signs.) It is also amazingly birdwatcher-free.
(NB. A couple of useful links at bottom of
page.)
Trip List
Greater Flamingo – 3 flying along the coast at Son Bou, heading
east, and then SE out to sea at 8.50am on 27th July.
Purple Gallinule – Shocked to find 3 feeding at west edge of
Son Bou marsh ! In cattle fields on 30th July (am). Then another one in open
section of water at east end of Son Bou on 1st August.
Egyptian Vulture – one first seen at head-height flying across
the marsh on morning of 27th July. (Must admit, I thought it was a type of
Heron until I got my bins on its head !) It gained height and circled around
for 10 minutes. Also seen similarly on 1st August. Two seen circling together
at Mountain near Binimel-La on 30th July (pm).
Woodchat Shrike – pair with 2 juvs at west end of Son Bou
marsh. Also seen occasionally by roadside.
Blue Rock Thrush – adult with juvenile seen regularly on rocky
point where the path meets the coast at west end of Son Bou. Also probables at
farms and cliffs at west end. One also at Binimel-La beach, on headland (30th
July). Amazingly, one also right in the centre of Son Bou village, by the main
round-about !
Thekla Lark – up to 5 among sand-dunes at Son Bou, but
quite elusive.
Pallid Swift – seen regularly over Son Bou marsh in small numbers. Also at
s’Albufera des Grau.
Swift – seen regularly over Son Bou marsh.
Red-Rumped Swallow – c5 with Swallow at s’Albufera des
Grau on 29th July (walking route #1)
Swallow – first seen on evening of 27th when c20 flew
in to roost in Son Bou marsh (not seen during day). Then a few always over Son
Bou after this.
House Martin – a couple at s’Albufera des Grau on
29th July.
Cattle Egret – 18 commuted between cows at west end of Son
Bou and main marsh to roost. Then 31 with cows here on 1st August. 5 at
s’Albufera des Grau on 29th July.
Little Egret – 12 at s’Albufera des Grau on 29th
July.
Audouin’s Gull – in small numbers along every beach.
Yellow-legged Gull – also in small numbers along every beach.
Booted Eagle – seen as per Buzzard in
Osprey – 1+ at s’Albufera des Grau. First seen
overhead. Then perched on posts in water several times.
Balearic Shearwater – only seen on morning of 2nd August, when in mixed flock with Cory’s.
Scop’s Owl – up to 2 heard from hotel at night.
Barn Owl ? – large white bird screeching over Son Bou at midnight; either Barn Owl or an Egret ?
Spoonbill – one at s’Albufura des Grau
Wryneck – one calling on outskirts of Ciutadella town.
Nightingale – Up to 3 seen at west end of Son Bou (but not heard singing).
Turtle Dove – Up to 10 seen at Son Bou mainly in farm fields at west end, but also on lawns at holiday village. Some quite tame. Also c10 at s’Albufera des Grau.
Cetti’s Warbler – seen, and heard, at west end of Son Bou.
Spotted Flycatcher – pretty much everywhere, including right in the centre of Son Bou village.
Shag – one on rocks at Son Bou.
Red Kite – singles seen four times: in coach from airport, Son Bou, at two places near the s’Albufera.
Peregrine – an adult and a juvenile seen at s’Albufers des Grau.
Raven – up to 3 seen at west end of Son Bou. 2 seen elsewhere on island.
Sardinian Warbler – everywhere
Fan-tailed Warbler – constantly heard/seen at Son Bou. Also at s’Albufera des Grau.
Black-winged Stilt – 8 at s’Albufera des Grau, including juveniles.
Little Ringed Plover – adult & juvenile at s’Albufera des Grau (walking route #3).
Common Sandpiper – heard at Son Bou, but never seen. One seen at s’Alburfera des Grau.
Wood
Sandpiper – 3 at s’Albufera des Grau
Water Rail – heard a few at Son Bou and 3 seen at s’Albufera des Grau.
Stonechat – up to 5 at Son Bou
Woodpigeon – not that common
Linnet – a couple at Son Bou
Kestrel – common
Mallard – only duck seen at Son Bou
Coot – a few at Son Bou and 100’s at s’Albufera des Grau.
Moorhen – a couple at Son Bou and at s’Albufera
Yellowhammer/Cirl Bunting – one heard at Son Bou
Corn Bunting – a few seen in farmland when in car
House Sparrow – extremely common
Goldfinch – common
Greenfinch – a few seen at Son Bou
Blackbird – a few on the lawns at Son Bou
Collared Dove – a few seen, but not as many as Turtle Dove
Reed Warbler – only heard singing 6 times in the week at Son Bou, and just one seen – amazing for such a big marsh. Not heard at s’Albufura des Grau.
Purple Heron ? – 4 large herons flew into Son Bou marsh to roost at dusk on 27th July.
Grey Heron – one at s’Albufera des Grau.
NB. No other herons seen at Son Bou marsh despite watching from my apartment all week.
Shoveler – 3 at
s’Albufera des Grau.
Pochard – a male at s’Albufera des Grau.
Little Grebe - c100 at s’Albufera des Grau
Black-headed Gull – 5 at s’Albufera des Grau (NB. No Med. Gull seen all week !)
Blackcap – 3 seen/heard (sometimes singing) around Son Bou. One at s’Albufera des Grau.
Savi’s/Grasshopper Warbler ? – up to 2 heard in marsh at Son Bou, but distant.
Great Tit – one at Son Bou.
Greylag Goose – 6 domestic-types in the stream at Binimel-La beach.
67 species in total.
(Didn’t
see any Alpine Swift or Crag Martin at the high mountain, ‘
Other wildlife:
Clouded Yellow butterfly – common
Painted Lady butterfly – one at Son Bou on 27th July
Gecko – 3 around the apartment
Stripeless Tree Frog – small bright green frog climbed up the
stairs to the 2nd floor apartment one evening !
Lizard sp’s
– bright green lizards in the dunes and others all over island.
Locust – one in the apartment !
Rat – one wondering down a road at Son Bou
Sand Lily (Pancratium maritimum) – in dunes at Son Bou. Large white flowers.
The moon
Useful Links:
http://www.naturalist.co.uk/reports2005/menorca.php
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/balearics/Menorca/index.htm
Copyright.
Last revised: 5 August 2010.