An amazing day on the incredible Cabrera island off South Mallorca. Cabrera is the migrant and vagrant hotspot of Spain (the Fair Isle of Spain) and it's also a stronghold of two Mediterranean endemics that I needed for my WP list: Balearic Warbler and Moltoni's Warbler. In short, a total success with two bird lifers, a herp lifer and loads of migrants.
Ebird list HERE
Balearic Warblers (above)
Moltoni's Warbler (above) and presumed Moltoni's Warbler (below). The bird above was heard singing and calling- giving the diagnostic short rattle call. The bird below was silent. The salmon pink breast and underparts on both birds is typical of Moltoni's. Moltoni's Warbler reaches its western most part of its range on Cabrera island.
Mediterranean Flycatcher- this recently split species is very similar to Spotted Flycatcher but the white streaks on the head and almost unmarked upper breast are typical features of Mediterranean Flycatcher.
Balearic Woodchat Shrike (badius)- the lack of white at the base of the primaries is diagnostic
Willow Warbler
Female Black-eared Wheatear
Female 'Subalpine Warbler' - could be a female Moltoni's
Tree Pipit
Whinchat
Male Stonechat (on the 'mainland' while waiting for the boat)
Osprey
Balearic Shearwater from the boat on way back. Also Scopoli's seen.
'Mediterranean' Shag
Sanderling and Turnstone on the beach while waiting for the boat
Lilford's Wall Lizard (above and below)- a very variable species with some almost black (below). Another Balearic endemic and one for the WP herp list.
3 comments:
Nice Pics Mr ALfrey! You should visit Dragonera Island too. Good for migrants and Eleonora's breeding colony.
Cheers Jaffa! Had a small colony of Eleonora's off one of the Cabrera islets too. Cabrera is awesome, feels like a mega lurking everywhere.
Hi Peter.
Just seen this great Article.I last visited Majorca in the 1980s. The Birds of the Iberian Peninsular 2015 which I Purchased in a second hand shop the other day lists moltonii as a subspieces of Subalpine. Is now split.
Kind regards Chris Baines. .
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