Monday, 4 June 2018

Menorca Birding - 26th May to 2nd June 2018

Day Five - Wednesday PM

After lunch we decided on another trip to Ciutadella.  We checked when the next bus was and walked towards the bus stop, past a small park area.  Simon's birding radar was working great as he spotted a movement at the base of a tree.  Binoculars raised and out came the call - Hoopoe!  Our first Hoopoe of the trip, and after this they became a regular sight around the resort, even flying over the swimming pool at one point.


As ever, on the bus trips, we kept checking the wires at the side of the road for more good birds.  This paid off on the outward journey as we picked out a Bee-Eater sat on one particular wire.  With more time I would have liked to explore the scrub habitat between Cala'n Bosch and Ciutadella.

Within minutes of arriving in the centre of Ciutadella a Red Kite drifted over the central square. 


Today we planned to explore more of the old town and head up towards the old Citadel, now housing a museum about Menorcan history.  As we approached the citadel I turned to Simon and said this looks a great place for Blue Rock Thrush.  Suddenly from the gardens below us flew a thrush shaped bird and landed on the walls.  Female Blue Rock Thrush right above our heads.  Brilliant... but where was the male?



As we scanned the surrounding gardens and walls, there it was! A gorgeous male Blue Rock Thrush on a garden wall just below us...



In fact, even better was to come when the female flew down into the gardens area.  Suddenly it reappeared with a lizard in its beak and proceeded to bash the lizard against the hard paving!  Before the lizard finally succumbed off came its tail... nature at its most gruesome, but brilliant to watch.









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