Menorca Birding - 26th May to 2nd June 2018

Day Five - Wednesday morning

A study of google maps (satellite view) showed that the area to the east of the resort looked good for birds.  A mixture of scrub and trees suggested some new trip birds could be discovered.  After another hearty breakfast Simon and I headed east...

Sardinian Warblers really were now everywhere with there seemingly sounding like one in every bush!  Turtle Doves purred and called from the trees.  Then the first burst of that magical sound that is the Nightingale.  Three different birds called during the walk but none were visible.  Then a strange call... vaguely reminiscent of Green Woodpecker it was higher pitched and lacked the 'laughing' tones.  A quick check on xeno-canto confirmed my suspicions... in the scrub nearby a Wryneck was lurking.  A search unfortunately did not reveal the bird.  

As the path moved from the scrub towards more open habitat by the coast, Tawny Pipit dominated the sounds being heard.  Two more birds were located, this time showing well from perches on top of bushes.

There were also plenty of butterflies at this time of the morning.  Both Holly Blue and Southern Common Blue were seen, as well as our only Swallowtail of the week.  Clouded Yellow were very common in this scrub habitat, as well as Large and Small White's as well.

As we returned towards the hotel, a group of Starlings were flying around one of the other hotels.  They appeared very dark for Starlings and this got me thinking.  We are in the Mediterranean... what about the distribution of Spotless Starling?  A few years ago Spotless Starling colonised Menorca and were now a relatively common breeder in some parts of the island.  Common Starling is quoted as being more of a winter visitor in Menorca.  Having just dismissed them earlier in the week, a closer inspection of the birds revealed black bodies with no spotting.  Spotless Starlings indeed.