Natural Mallorca 21: Cala Figuera-Rafaubetx / Els Malgrats

 Cala Figuera-Rafaubetx 

Heathland, cypress, and fragrant jasmine dominate the natural landscape of Cala Figuera. The pine forests are still dense. Cliffs plunge vertically into the sea opposite Els Malgrats, craggy islets populated by striking gulls, including terns and black-necked stilts. Occasionally, a falcon flies by, nesting on nearby cliffs. Black-headed gulls, stilts, warblers, white-tailed bream, and cuckoos are the most representative birds of the area, declared a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). Audouin's gulls are also a common sight along the coast. The area, partially closed due to military use, can be accessed on foot from Portals Vells.

Els Malgrats 

The colony of blue-mantled gulls on Els Malgrats is one of the most important in the Balearic Islands. During breeding season, the site, with its rugged terrain, is also noisy and frenetic. The gray gulls flatten themselves against the ground to hide, motionless. The common viper, the black-crowned night heron, and the cormorant also nest here. Endemic lizards seek out crevices to feed on. Living conditions on the islets are very harsh: fresh water is scarce, the soil is lean and rocky, and the vegetation is sparse, thorny, and dry for much of the year. The typical botanical and zoological communities of the marine rocky landscape are found in the underwater crevices of the Illots. Further on, El Toro and Dos Pans are the last crags of the Mallorcan mountain range.