Menorca Birding - 26th May to 2nd June 2018

Day Seven - Friday

Our last full day of the holiday and an opportunity to try and catch up with a few more local specialities.

A 6.30 start before breakfast saw myself and Simon exploring the scrub area to the east of the resort again.  Could we get some views of Nightingale?  Could there be other migrants in the area?  Sardinian Warblers were as vocal as ever but at this early hour they were much more visible, allowing some opportunities for better photos.

Again, at least 3 Nightingales were singing but alas, apart from one seen in flight, decent views did not happen.  Then a strange thrush like song and rattle from the bushes ahead.  A bird flew up into a tall bush ahead.  My first thoughts, based on its size, were a shrike species.  Simon however had the binoculars on it first and said Sardinian Warbler.  Far too big I replied, are you sure?  Then we noticed the lack of a red eye and my thoughts turned to Western Orphean Warbler.  Another check and yes, the eye was definitely not red!  At this point it flew off never to be seen again despite a lengthy search.  A quick check of xeno-canto confirmed suspicions, exact matches of the call just heard, Western Orphean Warbler!

Tawny Pipit continued to be very vocal in their presence, as well as family parties of both Linnet and Stonechat.

After about a mile we arrived at a lovely rocky cove with caves, in which numerous swifts were flying in and out.  A mixture of Common and Pallid Swifts, but unlike in the towns, here the Pallid Swifts were more numerous.

Similar butterflies were seen as per other days, with the addition though of Painted Lady and Bath White.

The plan for the afternoon was a boat trip to Cala Galdana, further down the east coast.  Here we hoped for Alpine Swift, a speciality of this resort.

The boat trip was wonderful.  As we headed east the coastline changed from flat to one of magnificent cliffs.

Numerous Swifts occupied coastal caves, whilst Shag, Yellow Legged Gulls and a few Audouin's Gulls occupied cliff ledges.  As we approached Cala Galdana, the cliffs continued to grow in size and we soon picked up our first (of many) Alpine Swifts.  Even better was a large falcon making its way towards us along the cliff line.  In the binoculars the all dark profile of a dark phase Eleanora's Falcon was a delight to see.  It was gone to soon though as it headed past a headland and out of sight.  Shortly after we docked for a couple of hours in Cala Galdana.  The skies above the resort were filled with numerous Swifts.  All 3 island species were present in good numbers, with the Alpine Swifts dominating the sky with their size.

Finding some height allowed scanning up the gorge to the north.  Both Booted Eagle and Egyptian Vulture could be picked up drifting over the trees of the gorge.  Then an Egyptian Vulture flew straight over our heads in the actual resort.  This was a great chance to see one up close but my camera annoyingly chose now to not focus on a moving bird and it got away before a picture.  More compliant was a Mediterranean (Spotted) Flycatcher that landed on a rock nearby.

Overall a great final full day's birding with an excellent range of birds seen and in good numbers.