Gran Canaria - March 6th - 12th 2008

Published by Urban Lundström (urbanbirds AT hotmail.com)

Participants: Urban Lundström

Comments

On vacation with family and I was just equipped with a pair of bins. We were based in Meloneras on the south coast, which is a calm tourist location just south of nearby Maspalomas, which is more lively - both birdwise and otherwise. Maspalomas has both a nice reserve, La Charca, and a gay scene.. (Thank God for the Kentish Plovers, which I focused hard on when I was approached by some Dutch guy pretending to be interested in birds, haha) Show our flying friends your interest, and no one should bother you. I say no more..

A couple of times, we also went to San Augustin further north. From there we walked southwards to Playa del Inglés on the nice beach walk. That´s about it.

Species Lists

Cory's Shearwater Occasional birds seen from places such as Faro the Maspalomas or other places along the beach walk Meloneras-Maspalomas or San Augustin-Playa del Inglés.

Little Egret 1 foraging at Meloneras on 8th and 1 at La Charca reserve, Maspalomas on the 11th.

Grey Heron I at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Spoonbill 3 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 11th

[Muscovy Duck 2 at La Charca, Maspalomas]

Teal 2 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Kestrel Probably daily, I didn´t really look for it that much, common for sure

Moorhen Probably around 40-50 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 8th-11th

Coot Over 100(?) at La Charca, Maspalomas on 8th-11th

Black-winged Stilt 1 at La Charca, Maspalomas 11th

Grey Plover 7 foraging at Meloneras on 9th

Ringed Plover Several birds at Meloneras and La Charca, Maspalomas

Kentish Plover 4 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Sanderling 10 at Meloneras on 8th and 40+ at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Common Sandpiper 1 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Redshank 1 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 8th

Greenshank 1 at San Augustin on 11th

Ruff I male at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th and one female on 11th

Whimbrel Here and there, single birds and smaller groups, for instance 7 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Yellow-legged Gull Small numbers during day-time, large flocks of hundreds of birds flying west over Meloneras at dusk.

Sandwich Tern 10 Meloneras on 8th, 1 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 9th

Feral Pigeon Here and there, not that interesting to count

Collared Dove Very common, I saw more Collared Doves than Feral Pigeons it felt like!

Monk Parakeet 10 in Playa del Inglés on 7th, 10 Maspalomas on 9th + other flocks.

Plain Swift Common

Swift 1 at Meloneras on 11th

Hoopoe 2 permanent territory at Meloneras all week, 1 at Maspalomas on 11th

Berthelot's Pipit Here and there, common

Spanish Wagtail 2 at La Charca, Maspalomas on 11th

Blackbird Very common, all over the place

Sardinian Warbler 1 at Iglesa Sueca, San Augustin and one at Playa del Inglés on 7th

Canary Island Chiffchaff Very common, heard and saw numbers of them

Spanish Sparrow Very common, one of the first birds you´re likely to encounter on a visit..

Canary No high numbers seen, for instance 2 flying by at Playa del Inglés on 7th, 1 forage San Augustin on 11th and some heard birds here and there.

[Purple Glossy Starling 2 at Playa del Inglés on 7th. Origin unknown. Escapes?]