Birding East Lothian: Holidays in the sun...

A week away in Alcudia, NE Majorca. Warm, sunny and a great change of scene, not to mention appearing on stage with a "Kool and the Gang" tribute band. But enough of that nonsense. What about the birding?

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Montagu's Harrier, Golden Oriole, Iberian Chiffchaff - all species that turned up and left East Lothian while I was away. Best spring week for years. Bloody typical!

However, two days at S'Albufera marshes got me Eleanora's Falcons, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilts, Audouin's Gulls, Purple Heron, Moustached & Great Reed Warblers, Cattle & Little Egrets, Squacco Heron, Zitting Cisticola, Kentish Plover, Bee-eaters etc. On balance, I think that selection more than wins! Add in a day up the Bocquer Valley, with a Black Vulture mobbed by 14 Eleanora's Falcons, several Marmora's Warblers and passage Red Kite, Honey Buzzard and 100+ Bee-eaters and as well as good food and vast quantities of San Miguel beer it was an excellent trip!

A few piccies...