Field Notes
Mallorca's heat is both beautiful and unforgiving
A morning spent searching for a hoopoe turned into a lesson on heat, judgement, and the rewards of staying alert in the field.
Featured image
Perched briefly with its catch, this European bee-eater offered a quiet moment of stillness against the vibrant greens of Mallorca before continuing the hunt.
Journal entry
The blistering heat of Mallorca can be rather unforgiving for someone who does not cope especially well with that kind of weather. I was out looking for a hoopoe, which I could hear but not see, when I noticed a bee-eater flying between the vegetation and the power lines.
Most of the time I feel perfectly fine when I am out on my own taking photographs. On this occasion, though, despite carrying plenty of isotonic drinks, I could not escape the effects of the heat. It got to the point where I had to ask myself whether it was still safe to continue or whether I should return to base.
Staying a little longer
I decided to stay a little longer, while being fully aware that the heat was beginning to affect my decision-making. I am glad I did. Before long, I saw the bee-eater fly back towards the vegetation once more, this time with a snack it had skilfully snapped out of the sky.
Sometimes you need to suffer a little to see something amazing in nature, but you always need to stay aware of the hidden dangers.
What the heat taught me
I think that was the most important lesson from the morning. The natural world often asks for patience, discomfort, and persistence, but there is a line between commitment and carelessness. Heat can quietly change how you think, and that makes it a risk worth taking seriously.
If I return to Mallorca, I will make sure I bring UV-protective clothing and probably another bottle of isotonic drink as well. I still will not give up on getting a good photograph of a hoopoe, and perhaps I already did.