This was a family holiday so the amount of time devoted to bird watching was limited. We were centred in the resort of Corralejo, which is being very heavily developed. Other resorts in the island are suffering a similar fate and there are plans for many new developments.
A Birdwatchers Guide to the Canary Islands by Tony Clarke & David Collins is very helpful (currently being updated and reprinted).
We had a hire car for 7 of the 14 days and you can use local bus service, although this may restrict you to some extent. The hire car was a great hide and avoided disturbing birds. Following unusual rains/storms in February there was a fair amount of surface water so much greening (temporary) and mosquitos!
The sun was very strong even at this time of year and it is essential you have plenty of protective clothing including a hat, sun cream with a high factor and drinking water. Mobile phone communications were good throughout much of the island. Birding for some species is usually best well before 10.00am and after 4.00pm because of the heat haze. Some of the plains birds seem to have a very long siesta!
Species seen
Cory’s Shearwater – (Colonectris Diomeda Borealis)
Seen occasionally offshore.
Manx Shearwater – (Puffinus Pussinus)
Good passage on 29.3.05.
Little Egret – (Egretta Garzeta)
Seen regularly on coastal rocks feeding on the shoreline and at freshwater sites.
Grey Heron – (Ardea Cunerea)
1 seen flying near Vega del Rio Palmas 20.3.05
Ruddy Shelduck – (Tordorna Ferruginea)
6 Embalse de Los Molinos 19.3.05
3 Presa de Las Penitas,Vega de Rio Palmas 20.03.05.
Egyptian Vulture – (Neophron Percuopterus)
3 adults at Las Penitas, Vega del Rio Palmas (Viewpoint) 20.3.05
Buzzard – (Buteo Buteo Insularum) **
1 Rosa de Los Negrines, La Oliva 17.3.05 & 18.3.05
3 Las Penitas, Vega de Rio Palmas (Viewpoint) 20.3.05
3 Barranco de le Torre 22.3.05
Kestrel – (Falco Tinnunculus Dacotiae) **
Present in small numbers throughout island.
Barbary Partridge – (Alectoris Barbara)
1 El Cotillo Plain 19.3.05 standing on rocks and seen/ heard elsewhere.
Quail – (Coturnix Coturnix)
2 Rosa de los Negrines 17.3.05.
Moorhen – (Gallinula chloropus)
2 Barranco de le Torre 22.3.05.
Coot - (Fulica atra)
Present at fresh water sites such as Embalse de Los Molinos .
Houbara Bustard (Chlamyditis Undulate Fuerteventurae) **
1 male on dry plain looking from track near Rosa de los Negrines, La Oliva towards Montana Oliva. 17.3.05.
1 male at El Cotillo plain 19.3.05.
Essential to stick to roads/tracks and use car as hide to assist in seeing the birds well and avoid disturbing them, particularly in the breeding season. With patience, I had excellent and long views!
Stone Curlew – (Burhinus Oedicnemus Insubrum) **
1 Rosa de los Negrines area, La Oliva 17.3.05
2 Las Penitas, Vega de Rio Palmas 20.3.05.
Cream-Coloured Courser – (Cursorius Curso Bannermani) **
4 El Cotillo Plain 19.3.05. Using car as hide on track, long and close views obtained.
Ringed Plover – (Charodius Dubius)
Present in small numbers along the coast.
Kentish Plover – (Charadius Alexandrinus)
Present in small numbers at Las Salinas and elsewhere around coast.
Grey Plover – (Pluvialis Squatorola)
Present in singles on coastal rocks numbering 10 individuals.
Knot – (Calidris Canutus)
2 Bajo de los Picachos 23.3.2005.
Sanderling – (Calidis Mauri)
2 on coastal pools, Corralejo 28.3.2005.
Little Stint – (Calidris Minuta)
3 Bajo de los Picachos 23.3.2005.
Curlew Sandpiper – (Calidris Ferruginea)
4 Las Salinas 22.3.2005.
3 Bajo de los Picachos 23.3.2005.
Dunlin – (Calidris Alpina)
A total of 7 scattered around the island.
Bar-Tailed Godwit – (Limosa Lappanica)
1 Corralejo rocks 20.3.05.
Whimbrel – (Numerius Phoegrus)
Always present around coast feeding in rock pools either in singles or groups of up to four birds.
Redshank – (Tringa Tetanus)
2 at saltpans, Las Salinas near Barrenco de la Torre 22.3.2005.
Greenshank – (Tringa Nebularia)
1 seen on Correlajo rocks 20.3.2005.
2 Embalse de Los Molinos 19.3.2005.
Green Sandpiper – (Tringa Ochropus)
2 Barrenco de la Torre 22.3.2005.
Common Sandpiper – (Actites Hypoleucos)
9 individuals seen around the island.
Turnstone – (Arenaria Interpres)
Up to 20 birds at all times around Corralejo. Small parties also seen elsewhere around coast.
Audoin’s Gull – (Larus Audouinii)
2 on coastal rocks near saltpans, La Salinas 22.3.2005.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull – (Larus Fuscus)
3 on rocks Las Salinas 22.3.2005.
Yellow-Legged Gull – (Larus Cachinuous Altantis) **
Common.
Sandwich Tern – (Sterna Sandvicensis)
2 Las Salinas 22.3.2005.
Black-Bellied Sandgrouse – (Pterocles Orientolis)
Flocks of 10 and 12 birds La Pared Plain 20.3.2005.
Rock Dove – (Columbis Livia)
Common.
Collared Dove – (Streptopelia Decaota)
Present throughout island.
Turtle Dove – (Streptopelia Turtuer)
Present in small numbers wherever habitat permitted.
APUS species not seen in any large numbers or in good conditions for positive identification. However, excellent and close views obtained of a mixed party feeding at Watchpoint high above Betancuria 20.3.2005:
· Plain Swift – (Apus Unicolor) 7
· Common Swift – (Apus Opus) 3
· Pallid Swift – (Apus Pallidus Brehmorum) 12
Hoopoe – (Upupa Epops)
Seen occasionally around cultivations total of 5 birds.
Short-Toed Lark – (Calandrella Brachylactyla)
1 El Cottillo Plain 19.3.2005.
Lesser Short-Toed Lark – (Calandrella Refescens Polatzekin) **
Common throughout.
Barn Swallow – (Hirundo Rustica)
2 seen over Corralejo during our stay.
Red-Rumped Swallow – (Hurindo Daurica)
3 Vega de rio Palmas 18.3.2005.
6 Corallejo feeding over gardens 27 –28.3.2005.
Singles elsewhere.
House Martin – (Delichan Urbica)
Only six seen over Carralejo throughout our stay.
Berthelot’s Pipit – (Anthus Berthelotii Berthelotii) **
Present throughout in scrub, plains and cultivations.
Common Bulbul – (Pycnonotus Barbatus)
1 Corralejo 16.3.2005.
Whinchat – (Saxicola Mubetra)
1 La Oliva 19.3.2005.
Canary Islands Chat – (Saxicola Dacotiae) **
8 (4 pairs) La Oliva, head of Fimapaire Valley 19.3.2005.
6 Barranco de la Torre 22.3.2005.
2 base of Volcano near quarry, Corralejo 28.3.2005.
Sardinian Warbler – (Sylvia Melanocephola)
Only seen at Betancuria, Barranco de la Torre and public park in Pajara.
Spectacled Warbler – (Sylvia Conspicillata Orbitalis) **
Present in scub or cultivation areas such as Barranco de la Torre, Las Penitas, Rosa de los Negrines .
MelodiusWarbler - (Hippolais polyglotta)
1 Barranco de la Torre 22.3.2005.
OlivaceousWarbler – (Hippolais pallida)
1 Barranco de la Torre 22.3.2005.
Chiffchaff – (Phylloscupus collybita)
1 in Hotel grounds of large Hotels outside of Corellajo 19.3.2005.
Blue Tit – (Porus Caeoruleus Degener) **
2 Betancuria 20.3.2005.
Southern Grey Shrike – (Lanius Excubitor Keonigi) **
A total of 12 individuals were noted.
Raven – (Corvus Corax Tingitanus)
Occasionally seen in rural and hilly areas.
Spanish Sparrow – (Paroser Hispaniolensis)
Present throughout in towns, villages and cultivated areas
Rock Sparrow – (Petrovia Petrovia Modeirensis) **
1 Embalse de La Molinos 2
3 barranco de La Torre 22.3.2005.
Linnet – (Acanthis Canabina Harterti) **
Seen in small numbers.
Trumpeter Finch – (Budanetes Githagineus Amantum) **
Seen in numbers at Barrenco de la Torre and Corallejo volcano and smaller parties or singles elsewhere.
Corn Bunting – (Miliaria Calandra)
Only seen occasionally in singles around cultivations.
Butterflies
Various species seen including blues, whites, painted lady and African Monarch. Also some unidentified!
Mammals
Algerian Hedgehog
Rabbit
Barbary Ground squirrel
Reptiles & Amphibians (non positively identified as specific species)
Frogs
Lizards
Roger Puxley
22.5.2005