This was not primarily a birding trip, since I was in Lanzarote to accompany a party of Year 13 A level Geography students on a field trip, so any opportunities for birding were fitted in around the main activities of the trip. My coverage of sites was therefore not complete, and time available at sites visited was limited. I did use a copy of the 'Prion' guide by Clarke and Collins, and, although probably in need of revision / updating (published 1996), was useful in identifying key sites and likely species. Local drivers did seem remarkably tolerant of my clumsy attempts to navigate a left hand drive minibus around the Island whilst mainly using the correct side of the road, although going by the even more lamentable attempts of some other tourists driving hire cars they must be well used to it, and wisely keep well back!
28.10.04 El Rubicon c17.00hr - I took the left turn off the old road from Playa Blanca towards the desalination plant, and parked up after c 200m. A wander along the track to the N of the road quickly produced Berthelot's Pipit (5-6 in all). Viewing N across the dry river / stream valley located a Houbara Bustard. As I returned to my vehicle, I saw a small flock of Lesser Short-toed Lark (about 30 in all) - very active and vocal.
28.10.04 Arrecife Airport (nearby)c18.30hr - feeding on irrigated grass adjacent to the Airport car park were c 60 Cattle Egret. Kestrel hunting alongside road from Airport to Puerto del Carmen.
30.10.04 Arrecife Harbour & Boca de Juan Rejon c13.30 - 14.00hr - The guide noted this site as being good for waders, and it did hold a fair number. Mixed flocks of waders included Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Common Sandpiper & Turnstone. Also 2 Whimbrel, which kept to themselves. Grey Heron and Little Egret near the Harbour mouth, and plenty of Yellow-Legged Gulls. Sandwich Terns present also (3). The surprise here was a duck seen swimming quite close to the Harbour Wall and the causeway to the 'Boca', which proved to be Long-tailed Duck - I believe a first winter female. Presumably this is somewhat unusual for this area, but I am reliable on identifying these from about 10m. I did try ringing the number in the guide for Tony Clarke to inform him, but was told that he was in the UK. 5-6 Plain Swifts were hawking over the derelict wsrehouses and roadside palms to quite low levels.
30.10.04 Spanish Sparrows in Costa Teguise. These could be surprisingly difficult to see when buried deep in the crevice of a palm trunk.
31.10.04 Playa Blanca Harbour - Yellow-legged Gulls and Sandwich Terns (2)
31.10.04 Charco de Clicos(?) - Berthelot's Pipit (3) and Yellow-legged Gull
1.11.04 Saw Kestrel in Macher, and Spanish Sparrows in Haria.
2.11.04 Timanfaya National Park 10.00 - 12.30hr - Around the Visitor Centre there were Linnets and Berthelot's Pipits (3). These pipits seem to behave in the manner of Pied wagtails in the UK in there habit of running about on tarmaced areas. The walkway to the N of the Centre rpoduced a covey of 10+ Barbary Partridge on the lava field close to its boundary with the cultivated land. A walk up onto the cultivated land onthe hillside opposite produced very little.
Around the Restaurant (from where the coach tours leave) there were more Berthelot's Pipits, and two Ravens flying around above the restaurant.
2.11.04 Salinas de Janubio 16.00-16.30hr - Here, apart from Yellow-legged Gull, there were several waders, including Black-winged Stilt (1 juv), Greenshank (1), Redshank (2-3). Also Berthelot's Pipit.
3.11.04 Barranco de Temin - An impressive bit of scenery, crying out for raptors - but none. Did see Great Grey Shrike (1) and Berthelot's Pipit. Also this last species present as Los Helechos viewpoint. At the second hairpin below Mirador de Haria (this seemed closed - chained off - every time I went past it) a brief view of 2 Barbary Falcon, and more Berthelot's Pipit.
3.11.04 Guinate - Great Grey Shrike.
3.11.04 - Mirador del Rio (nearby) - 2 Raven, Kestrel, Berthelot's Pipit.
Flew back on the Thursday 4.11.04.
Yellow-Legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Turnstone
Common Sandpiper
Sanderling
Whimbrel
Redshank
Greenshank
Black-winged Stilt
Houbara Bustard
Long-tailed Duck
Barbary Falcon
Kestrel
Berthelot's Pipit
Linnet
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Great Grey Shrike
Raven
Barbary Partridge
Spanish Sparrow
Collared Dove
Hoopoe