Mallorca’s an ideal destination for dedicated birdwatchers, as well as for those who wish to combine birdwatching with other family activities.
And in all Mallorca, Alcúdia’s the obvious choice when it comes to enjoying all these and many other attractive features. Along with top-class tourist amenities, it also has over 200 bird species, some of them of very high conservation value: flamingos, Cory’s shearwaters, purple herons, osprey, Eleonora’s falcon, cranes, Kentish plover, scops owl, bluethroat, Balearic warbler and many more
It’s always impossible to predict when we’ll get to see the rarest and most elusive specimens; and when we do see them, they may be somewhere other than indicated here. Nevertheless, on this map we present some of the most worthwhile areas for birdwatching with a fair probability of success. Within each area we’ve marked out the three best birdwatching spots - an additional guide for those who are visiting these birdlife-rich areas for the first time.
Download Alcudia birdwatching map hereS’Albufereta is a Nature Reserve. It’s a coastal wetland with mainly brackish waters, with awe-inspiring tamarisk woods, channels and lagoons, small beds of rushes and well-preserved dune systems. It’s surrounded by traditional arable farmland, where birds are also abundant. For all these reasons, s’Albufereta is one of the places in Mallorca where one can see a high number of species.
Alcúdia’s highest talaia (look-out point), 445 metres high, has spectacular views over Pollença and Alcúdia bays and the whole of Mallorca’s northern coastline. As you gain height, the pine woods give way to large tracts of càrritx (Ampelodesmos mauritanica, a giant bunchgrass) and bluffs of bare rock. From La Victòria you can go on a pleasant hike to Sa Penya Rotja, with fine views over the Cap des Pinar area.
The trail runs through a coastal area whose most distinctive feature is the islet with Alcanada lighthouse. Being a low-lying coastline with few ups and downs, one can take children on this walk and the going is easy. The coastline is mainly rocky, although the trail runs very close to the occasional small beach where one can cool off in the sea if the heat gets too much.
Prat d’Alcúdia, also known as Maristany or Albufera de Cas Ferrer Nou, is a small wetland covering a few tens of hectares which, despite its small size and the fact that it’s surrounded by built-up areas, possesses a truly incredible wealth of bird life. From a central point, by going along a track used by residents, one can watch most of the waterfowl that congregate there.
Despite its moderate height (258 metres), Puig de Sant Martí makes a de luxe observatory for viewing practically the whole of the municipality of Alcúdia, as well as the lovely coastal wetlands of northern Mallorca. Its lower reaches are covered with pine woods of varying densities, whilst on the upper part, low-growing vegetation predominates.
6 km. from Alcúdia you can visit the biggest and best-known of Mallorca’s wetlands. The Nature Park has a high diversity of environments and species, and a large number of trails and observatories which enable visitors to watch close-up, and photograph, a good number of birds.
About 14 km. from Alcúdia is Son Real, one of Mallorca’s best-preserved coastal areas, primarily rocky but with a few dune systems and a good presence of very well-preserved garrigue and pine woods. At Son Real farm we find fig and almond trees, traditional dry-stone walls and grassy fields where various domestic animals graze. This farm also has an interesting interpretation centre which we recommend you visit.
The Formentor Peninsula, just 10 km. from Alcúdia, is famous for its vertiginous cliffs, tucked-away coves, coastal pine woods and spectacular lighthouse. It’s one of Mallorca’s most picturesque landscapes, and is much visited. But it’s also known for its birdlife, which attracts thousands of ornithologists from various countries each year.
