Menorca has the only resident population of Egyptian vultures in Europe (around 100 pairs) and so it would have been disappointing not to see them. We walked along the gorge from Santa Galdana on the south coast with wild flowers adorning the route to a backdrop of dramatic limestone cliffs and birdsong all around. We had sightings of booted eagle and black kites on our way and were well rewarded with good views of Egyptian vultures at the end of the gorge.

Egyptian vultures

Booted eagle

Black kite

On the return journey we also saw a kestrel, more views of booted eagles and kites and even a pair of little egrets. The most stunning aspect of this walk was the birdsong; we had no difficulty in recognising Cetti’s warbler but were grateful to some birders who pointed out nightingales and Siberian chiffchaff. The nightingales were everywhere and filled the valley with their birdsong. Not that we saw them; most of the small birds were quite elusive except for house sparrows nesting in the cliffs and spotted flycatchers.

Spotted flycatcher

Kestrel

Little egret

There has been a lot of rain in Menorca recently and the meadows are quite lush and the wildflowers amazing. We regularly saw three types of butterfly (wall, brimstone and a blue one), dragonflies, and an amazing grasshopper the size of a locust.

Lush meadows

Amazing wildflowers

The end of the walk brought us right in to the resort of Cala Galdena on the long distance walk of Cami Cavalls part of which we had walked the previous day.

The Cami Cavalls (long distance footpath) follows the coast of Menorca.

Cala Galdana

Cala Galdana

Views of Cala Macarella on the Cami Cavalls long distance route on Saturday 5th May