Menorca Birding - 26th May to 2nd June 2018

Day Four - Cap d'Atruix

After breakfast, Simon (eldest son and fledgling birder) and I walked towards the lighthouse at the Cap d'Atruix - the most south-westerly point of the island.  Overnight cloud had disappeared to leave a glorious morning.

Sardinian Warblers called from almost every bush we walked past.  Mediterranean (Spotted) Flycatchers flew from roofs and aerials, whilst Greenfinch, Goldfinch and House Sparrow were common.  As we approached the lighthouse compound a Tawny Pipit could be heard.  Then up it flew completing a song flight before landing in the scrub.

The Tawny Pipit continued to call and display the whole time we were there, but apart from another pair of Mediterranean (Spotted) Flycatcher the lighthouse area was quiet.  Majorca was visible in the haze across the sea, whilst a few Cory's Shearwater flew offshore.  Audouin's Gull flew by regularly.

As we walked back towards the resort Simon picked up a large raptor circling overhead.  As binoculars were raised it became apparent it was not alone.  One...two...three... eighteen...nineteen...twenty!  Twenty (mainly pale phase) Booted Eagle were soaring in the thermals.  Then Simon picked up another raptor - lower down and with a forked tail.  First thoughts were Red Kite which are common on the island (one later in the week flew over the pool at our hotel), but slowly realisation dawned that this was darker with no rufous colouration and weaker pale patches on the wings.  Gradually it soared higher into the sky mixing with the Booted Eagles.  The southerly winds had brought a Black Kite into our airspace.