Mallorca and the Spanish Pyrenees, Oct 20 - Nov 4, 2017

Back from a week on Mallorca with Eleonora’s Falcons and another week in the Pyrenees targeting Lammergeiers and Wallcreeper.
In August I suddenly realized that it’s been 10 years since my last visit to Mallorca. I have visited the island, just for Eleonora’s, in the Octobers of 1987, 1997 and 2007 and now, being 2017, I just had to get back not to break the tradition! Although the birds would be the same the equipment has developed in 10 years and what could be more challenging than aiming the gear at these fast flying falcons.
The falcons were easily found around their old haunts, but their season in the Mediterranean was clearly coming to an end. An interesting observation was to find only a few remaining adults, and moreover, all of the documented ones were males! It was pretty clear that the females had already left for Madagascar, while a handful of males were still attending some late broods. Juveniles were still around in good numbers but they were flying freely around and only a few broods were lingering at the breeding sites attended by the males. Fully fledged juveniles from earlier broods were scattered along the northern coast catching flying insects over the slopes and mountain tops, their full crops revealing that they were successful. Over the next days also they would leave on their long flight across the African continent, heading unaided straight towards their winter haunts around Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Migration magic!

A juvenile Eleonora's Falcon practising its aerobatics near the eyrie

One of the juveniles still being fed by its father

In the Pyrenees our main targets were Lammergeier and Wallcreeper. Together with a few other wildlife photographers I had been invited to the launch of two new Lammergeier photo hides, run by my good friend Josele Saiz of Boletas Birdwatching Centre (www.boletas.org). We spent two memorable days in the hides looking at Lammergeiers, Griffons and Red Kites, surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees. Also here the autumn has been unusually warm so there was no snow around, but backlit birds against a backdrop of deep blue valleys guaranteed some incredible shots.

A young Lammergeier of this season is being harassed by a Carrion Crow

Adult Red Kite inspecting our offerings

On the last day we focused on wintering Wallcreepers at the impressive Mallos de Riglos, but it’s a challenge to get close to this tiny bird at this formidable site (if you haven’t been there check Google for images), but even so, also here we got something to take back home.

The Wallcreeper, a stunning creature, but so difficult to capture!

Thanks to Josele Saiz, Esther Diago and Daniel Cazo from Boletas for the excellent arrangements in the Pyrenees and to Markus Varesvuo, Minna Lindroth and Joachim Griesinger for good company.