Mallorca - Albufera (part two)...

Finally had the time to edit some more photos from Mallorca and on our penultimate full day of the holiday we returned to Albufera. Highlights included a male Little Bittern a few metres away, a Collared Pratincole, Temminck's Stint, 7 Little Stints, 50+ Spotted Redshank, a Water Pipit and a hybrid Little Egret x Reef Heron. We also had a Marbled Duck, but later found out this was from one of the reintroduction schemes taking place over the last few years to boost the population there...

Little Bittern

Cattle Egret

Sardinian Warbler

Black-winged Stilt

Collared Pratincole

Great Reed Warbler

Cetti's Warbler

Little Egret x Reef Heron

Water Pipit

Iberian Yellow Wagtail intergrade (?)

Purple Heron

Marsh Harrier

Second Pratincole of July

After a fairly relaxed trip to Bothal this afternoon which turned up an adult Black-necked Grebe, I wasn't expecting much more excitement. It looked to be that way until we heard that a Collared Pratincole had been found close to home at Castle Island. As soon as we heard the news we were on our way.
We arrived and there it was! There was still a bit of debate as to whether it was a Collared or Oriental, but soon everyone was certain it was an adult Collared Pratincole. After giving some great views on the ground it flew off north-west and out of sight.

About fifteen minutes later it returned and flew around, providing us with some superb flight views and photo opportunities. It even called briefly at one point.

Other birds at Castle Island included a Little Egret, 7 Black-tailed Godwits and at least one Common Sandpiper.

Collared Pratincole