New bird book for sale

This is the most accurate and comprehensive bird book ever done covering Mallorca, and my book covers 31 different sites all across the island and includes all 340 known species of bird. The new road numbers are included in the book along with information on driving on the island, car hire, accommodation, public transport and much more. I have included some places to eat that I recommend when out and about bird watching all day thus saving the visitor time trying to find a suitable place.

Sites included.

This book covers spring and autumn migration, return migration, winter birdwatching, endemics, a complete species status list and tick list. Sites covered include: Albufera Marsh, Albufereta Marsh, S’Illot, S’Illot waterworks, Boquer Valley, Cap de Formentor, Cases Velles, Alburcutx Tower, Cuber reservoir, Lluc Monastery, Soller, Sallinas de Llevante (the salt pans), Castle de Santuri, Es Trenc, Far de Cap Ses Sallines, La Gola, Puerto Pollensa area, Bee Hive lane, Can Curassa, Albufereta back roads, new viewing platform, Scops Owl sites, Ternelles Valley, Cala San Vicente, Mortitx, S’Amarador, The Arta Mountains, Son Real, Alaro, Paix de Valldemosa, Porto Colom (Dartford and Balearic Warbler sites), Cabrera Island, Dragonera Island and other sites of interest.

I think resident birder Michael Montier sums up how I feel about Mallorca in the foreword which he wrote from the book.   Neville has been visiting Mallorca for so many years he is now regarded as a resident. He has found so many important species and has also been a pioneer in finding many new places to bird watch, often locations that even the locals didn’t know about let alone how good they are. Neville describes these places with his usual enthusiasm and he takes you to where all the species mentioned can be found. Majorca holds many secrets and hidden places where few people venture and Neville has been to them all, expanding our knowledge of this beautiful Island.

Areas like the Central Plain were not even on the itinerary of visiting birders but we now know that many gems are to be found there. Birds like Montagu’s Harriers can be seen, Red throated Pipits and Dotterel are also present during migration times. There are often large numbers of Red-footed Falcons and Lesser Kestrels too.  Neville’s passion for his adopted Island shines from every page and he has an unrivalled knowledge of the treasures that await the visitor. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Mallorca. It will be a constant companion and font of information.

About the book.

This edition dives straight into part one with the main sites and other sites worthy of a visit all covered in full detail with information on exactly where to stop at various points (identified by numbers in each site text), to see the greatest mix of birds on offer. Occasionally, plants of interest and butterflies have been mentioned at some of the sites. The book progresses to cover autumn and winter bird watching along with migration, and offers tips on vehicle hire, getting about, bus times and much more, ending with a complete and concise up to date bird species list, all of which is of interest to not just the first time visitor to Mallorca, but for regular visitors as well.

You will notice that directions to each site start from Puerto Pollensa. The reason for this is that I have always based myself there as it is nearest location to the majority of the main sites. Of course budgets may decide where the visitor may be staying and it is always advisable to purchase a good road map of the island especially if you are hiring a vehicle.

There is a good bus network across the island and there are services available that go to both Cap de Formentor and past Cuber Reservoir .I know of bird watchers for example that catch an early bus that goes to Soller, and get off at Cuber Reservoir, spend some of the day there and get one of the return buses back to Puerto Pollensa (or Alcudia) depending on where they are staying. This can also be done for Cap de Formentor and is an ideal way to cover two very good sites if you are not relying on hiring a vehicle. However, hiring a vehicle is by far the best way to travel around the island and offers flexibility and freedom.

This book has been based solely on my extensive knowledge of the birds and the bird sites throughout the island, and it is this love and passion for Majorca which I want to share with you. For those who already visit Mallorca, you will know what I am talking about, for those of you yet to visit; you will soon understand my enthusiasm and passion for the place.

CONTENTS

Foreword

About the author and the book

Introduction and bird migration

The birds including endemic and sub-species

Spring migration and return migration

The Black Vulture Conservation Foundation

Part One – the main bird watching areas

Albufera Marsh including S Illot and Tucan Marsh

Albufereta Marsh

Boquer Valley including the pine walk

Cap de Formentor including Cases Velles and Alburcutx Tower

Sallinas de Llevante (the Salt Pans) including Es Trenc, Castle de Santuri and Far de Cap Ses Sallines

Part Two  Additional bird watching areas of interest

La Gola wetlands

Bee hive lane

Puerto Pollensa back roads

Can Curassa

Albufereta back roads

Scops Owl site

Puerto Pollensa harbour and beach

Ternelles Valley

Cala San Vicente

S’ Armarador

Arta Mountains

Son Real

Alaro

Paix de Valldemossa

Lluc Monastery

Porto Colom (Balearic and Dartford Warbler site)

Cabrera Island

Dragonera Island

Winter bird watching

Part Three

Accommodation

Vehicle hire

Driving around and public transport website

Food and shopping

Weather

Mobile phone use and useful contact numbers

Part Four

Complete and up to date bird species list and tick list

Flora and Fauna

I would personally like to thank my sponsor for the book Jonny Greenall of BALEARIC HELICOPTERS   Aircraft can cause distress to birds with our noise footprint and also low flying over their respective areas, especially during the breeding season. We at Balearic Helicopters recognise this, and we care about the environment, and do our best to protect the flora and fauna of this beautiful island. Therefore, we avoid low flying over nature reserves and over areas with breeding birds, to allow species to live in their natural habitat without being disturbed, and respect the migration routes. With pilots thinking environmentally, there is no reason that we can’t all fly together in harmony, in the same airspace and enjoy the same stunning scenery. Although helicopters have been around for over eighty years, our feathered aviators have been flying a lot longer and are far better at it than us! 

Balearic Helicopters was setup by Jonny Greenall who has been flying in Mallorca for over 20 years. The company offers flight training as well as sightseeing tours across the island.  Jonny has been flying helicopters for over twenty years, but he first flew with the Air Cadets, in Chipmunks and Vigilant Gliders. He has lived in Mallorca since 1993 and learnt to fly the Robinson R22 & R44 with Sloane Helicopters Mallorca. He then went onto complete his Commercial Helicopter Licence and Instructor Rating with Sloane Helicopters (at Sywell & Mallorca). Jonny also has his JAA Fixed wing licence. He has been flying in Mallorca since 1999, as well as numerous trips around Europe and the UK. Jonny is also a Core Team Member of EHEST - the European Helicopter Safety Team. Additionally, Jonny is a designated CAA Radiotelephony Examiner. As of 2008 Jonny is also a fully qualified EASA Flight Examiner. Jonny holds ratings on the R22, R44, R66 and MD500 and has over 6,000 hour’s helicopter flight time.

Balearic Helicopters

Based in Aerodromo Son Bonet, two miles away from Palma International Airport and five miles north of Palma City, we are next to the motorway and have a train station and bus stop right outside the aerodrome. The weather here is favourable all year with very few days lost to bad weather. We are open and operate 7 days a week, throughout the year. The sightseeing flights range from 15, 30, 45 minutes, 1 hour or even longer if you prefer!  The helicopters we operate are the Robinson R44, which can seat 3 passengers plus pilot, and the Robinson R66, which can seat 4 passengers plus pilot.

Balearic Helicopters is also a fully approved flying school offering the complete flight and ground training to become a licenced pilot, which can be achieved in as little as 5 weeks. All the training and testing can be completed here in Mallorca

Balearic Helicopters  Aerodromo de Son Bonet  07141 Palma de Mallorca  Spain Tel: +34 971 794 132      Mobile: +34 639 702 411   Email: info@balearic-helicopters.com

The book is priced at £12.99 and postage in the UK is £1.32 (overseas prices vary depending on the destination).  For a copy, please email me on wildmajorca@gmail.com