Birdwatching: The Best Places to Observe Birds
Spring, summer, and early autumn are the best times for birdwatching in Mallorca. Birdwatching has become increasingly popular, with more and more people embracing the calm and patience required to spot birds, observe their behavior up close, and capture their flight through photography.
There are several prime locations in Mallorca for this type of activity, requiring only silence, time, and a pair of binoculars to get as close as possible to these animals without disturbing their routines.
Alcudia's Albufera: The Perfect Spot for Bird Observation
Alcudia's Albuferais a highly significant wetland area in the Mallorcan ecosystem. It covers an area of 1,695 hectares, with 445 hectares of freshwater. It's located very close to the sea, with a system of dunes about 100 meters wide acting as a natural barrier to the ocean.
The mixture of fresh and saltwater, reed beds, cane fields, wetlands, and low scrub forests make this area a convergence point for a wide variety of fish, reptiles, small mammals, and more than 200 bird species.
From strategically placed watchtowers and observation points throughout Albufera, you can spot various species, including grey herons (the most abundant), spoonbills, mallards, tufted ducks, black-necked grebes, and common coots.
Simply follow the guidance from the information center, choose one of the many routes in this natural space, and enjoy an outdoor day practicing birdwatching while likely spotting a reptile or two.
Campos' Salobrar: A Privileged Space
Campos' Salobrar is situated in the south of Mallorca and is the island's second-largest wetland. Thanks to artificial ponds, seawater is trapped here for salt extraction.
Salobrar covers an area of approximately 1,000 hectares and consists of man-made ponds, canals, scrubland areas, and riparian forests. Visitors are often captivated by the presence of flamingos, which can be spotted almost any time of the year.
Additionally, this area is a significant breeding and stopover site for waterfowl and waders, some of which are endangered. Among the 200+ species, you can enjoy sightings of black-winged stilts, ospreys, black-bellied plovers, and sanderlings.
Mallorca's Albufereta: Another Important Natural Reserve
This is Mallorca's third-largest wetland and a congregation point for many migratory birds passing through the island. Located between Alcudia and the port of Pollença, it covers 211 hectares with an additional 290 hectares surrounding it.
Few people know that this is an excellent spot for observing flamingos, especially between October and May. There is an observation tower specifically placed to watch them feeding in the lagoons and taking off in majestic flocks.
In the last 10 years, 183 bird species have been documented here, with notable sightings of flamingos, marsh harriers, and the graceful ospreys.
Birdwatching can be pursued at any age and fosters values such as patience and concentration. To learn more about the birds that pass-through Mallorca each year, there is an ornithological center in La Gola, Pollença, which compiles all the information enthusiasts gather during their birdwatching outings.
