SPANISH STALKING AND BIRDING....

So here is a shortish update on the highlights of a predominantly 'couple-y' week on Majorca with my lovely 'missus' Ellen - this week was predominantly her holiday before she has to knuckle down to her work placement!!

 Firstly, and most impressively, I managed not 1 but 2 celebrity hand-shakes!!

 Prepare to be amazed at my audacity in grabbing the might mitts of not only former England and Chelski left-back MR GRAHAM LE SAUX but also Spandau Ballet crooner MR TONY HADLEE!! I know, its hard to believe but i snared the pair of grubby paws within 48 hrs of each other on the same street - it seem Pte Pollensa is a real A-lister hangout although I think Ellen was somewhat bemused by my excitement!!

I also did a bit of birding, mostly locally and due to the drought conditions, time of year and heat my total list was a rather modest 74.

 I also had the honour of finally hooking up with long term Twitter buddy MR Jonny Rankin A.K.A @jonny09jonny for a couple of belting birding sessions sandwiching an awesome afternoon/evening birthday celebration that may have medical conditions later in life......

So these were some of the highlights.

Audouins Gull. Regular and frequent on all beaches and waterfronts.
Eleonoras Falcon. Seen several times at various points in the higher ground, Boquer, Formentor etc.
Black Vulture. c10 seen at and around Cuber Res.

Balearic Warbler. seen regularly in Boquer Valley.
Tawny Pipit. 1 seen near entrance to Cuber Res.
Blue Rock Thrush. Regular in Boquer and other mountainous terrain.
Crested/Red-nobbed Coot. seen on canals at Albufera.
Purple Swamphen. as above although more numerous.

Night Heron. Only c4 on canal at Albufera, far fewer than in previous years. this was true of all herons, ducks and waders here - presumably due to drought conditions.
Red-rumped swallow. 1 Seen at Albufera.

Also, the small Salinas near Can Picafort were excellent for waders with a single visit providing 12 species including Curlew Sand, Temmincks and Little Stint, Wood Sand and Avocet. Elsewhere, Stone Curlew were numerous with c30 on the dried out main scrape at Albufera and several seen in other areas.

BETTER PHOTOS

Just a quick update from todays last patch visit before i go to Majorca for the week tomorrow !

Firstly the juv Little Gull is still present and showing well between bouts of snoozing, caught it fast asleep on the north bank of the Main Lake early this morning and got some better shots....

Also had some amazing views of an adult Hobby hunting dragonflys and feeding in flight over the wetlands reedbed at 10.15 - 10.30am, easily my best ever views of the species! Had a call from IB later in the day with news of a flock of 6 Greenshank on the reserve lake - presumably a record count for Pugneys!?....

A LITTLE BIT OF AUTUMN

The paucity of updates lately is directly linked to several factors..

1; The Olympics. God only knows what I will watch when its all over - been a dribbling fool for 2 weeks (if not longer......)!
 2; On the odd visit i have made to the patch i have seen pretty much nothing of real note or quality!
 3; MF, the Barnsley low-lister, keeps persuading me to go twitching.

So, the highlights of late are summarised here along with todays more productive efforts.

20th July. 3 Dunlin.
21st July. Curlew NW.

5th Aug. Goosander, 2 Snipe and a Red Kite NW(3rd of year - slowly incresing locally?).
11th Aug. 3 Snipe.

In between these scant highlights I saw my 3rd UK Stilt Sandpiper at the lovely Low Newton in Northumberland - A nice adult moulting out of summer plumage. Also had quality time with some local Hobbies and saw some good waders in the Dearne valley including Wood Sand, Blackwit and Green Sands.

12th Aug. A better day on the patch, probably due to a bit more effort and time expended!

1 juv LRP.
1 Ringed Plover NW.
3 Golden Plover SW.
11 Teal NW.
1 Shelduck E.
23 LBBG NW.
2 Common Gull NW.
2 Common Tern.
c120 Goldfinch.

And to top it of a stunning juvenile LITTLE GULL dropped in at c10am. Showed really well in flight from the Soap Tip hawking about in the usual fashion and still present at 12.30. Presumably one of the 2 birds seen earlier at Anglers cp. Bit of artwork to follow here....

Want a really crap record shot?.. You got it!! Actually saved wrong format on camera and so worse than normal if thats possible!!

In the words of the mighty Rolf " can ya tell what it is yet?!"

Sweet spot....

Anyhoo.. of to Majorca for a weeks R&R with Ellen on 15th so hopefully be sumat worth waffling about on my return !! Adios!!