We were back in Majorca once again, for the second time. We had visited 4 years earlier, just before the pandemic in 2019, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Well, except the mosquitoes. However, this time was a little different. Our Grandparents had arranged this one, and they flew out with us towards Palma Airport. That is how we found ourselves driving north in the rental cars (one for us, one for them) towards Pollenca. It took patience, a SAT NAV and many phone calls between the two vehicles to reach the long winding road towards our villa home for the next week. But as we rumbled down the lane in a two car procession, a small, striking bird hopped onto a wire fence beside us. A stark, rusty red head and nape, with contrasting black and white down its back, and a white breast and stomach.
A summer visitor to the Balearics, a male in full breeding plumage. This was a handsome Woodchat Shrike, a vagrant to Britain, a mainstay down here. And a new bird. It seemed a good omen as we pulled into the drive of Villa Rico. Of course, it was dusk at that time (10:30) and there wasn’t much else after. But the birds we would, in due course, hear from our home away from home, may come as a surprise. It did to me. In fact, I can actively be heard swearing (sort of) on a recording of a very special raptor. But that will all be available later on. For now, more posts are forming. Stay tuned.
The Bovey Birder 