Dragonera land of the Eleonora’s Falcon

Whilst visiting Mallorca recently I have been lucky enough to get some close up views of Eleonora’s Falcons (Falco eleonorae) Halcón de Eleonora. The 3 places I saw them were the Formentor Penisula, Boquer Valley whilst climbing the Cavall Bernat ridge and a 2 hour trip to the island of Dragonera to fill in a few hours before the flight home.

A word of advice when going to the Formentor Peninsula its worth getting off the path and sitting quietly away from the tourists, you will for sure be visited by one of these magnificent falcons.

Eleonora's Falcon with prey at Formentor

Im lucky enough to mix climbing/scrambling/mountaineering into my days in Mallorca which sometimes puts you in position for some close encounters with wildlife. This trip was no exception, whilst scrambling on the Cavall Bernat ridge in the Boquer Valley we were visited by no less than 7 Eleonora’s falcons, most likely more over the day, but we counted 7 in the air in one go. Even if your not a climber, its worth the 3/4hour slog up hill to get you onto the ridge where you too will get a close encounter. Word of warning, do not climb along the ridge unless you have the right equipment with you.

Eleonora's Falcon flying by whilst we were climbing on the Cavall Bernat Ridge

With a few hours to kill before our flight home, we drove down to Sant Elm and got a short boat ride across the water to Dragonera. As you get off the boat you are greeted by hundreds of the endemic Lilford’s Wall Lizards. Being the beginning of September we were a little early for the main spectacle in Autumn which is the gathering of hundreds of Eleonora’s Falcons waiting to pick off the exhausted migrating birds. Although we were early in the season I have to say it was an incredible place with plenty of the falcons about even to the point of not knowing which way to look. To see it at its height would be an amazing sight.

One of many Eleonora's Falcons hunting on Dragonera

Eleonora's Falcon on Dragonera

One of the many hundreds of endemic Lilford's Wall Lizards

A seagull having a good luck at me as he flys over head. Not sure what type it is so if you know please let me know