A week long trip to the island, although not primarily a birding holiday, I managed to get out into the field most mornings and for the majority of the Wednesday (23rd). We stayed in Correlajo, on the northern tip of the island and rented a car for the whole of the week.
Weather during the trip was mostly sunny with cloud in the afternoon on the first two days. There was a relatively strong north westerly wind from the 18th until the 23rd swinging around to a very strong easterly wind for the last two days (this was reflected by the increased number of migrants seen particularly the large number of swallows around the island on the 25th).
Most of the sites visited were from the Clarke and Collins guide to the Canary Islands. Although this book is now relatively old and many of the sites have changed in some way (as well as some species status in the region, particularly Ruddy Shelduck), this guide was invaluable and is seriously recommended if anyone is planning to visit the region.
A total of 49 species were seen during the week plus 5 escapee.
A brief warning to anyone visiting the region is if you find something out of the ordinary that could potentially be of suspect origin (particularly in the south of the island) it is more than probably an escapee. The two zoo’s on the island appear to have an ‘open doors’ policy with their bird collections. Saying that the island also does have a good reputation with regards to American vagrants, so do not discount everything unusual, and being an island, anything could turn up.
18/4/08
Coach journey form airport to Correlajo:
A small group of 5 Pallid Swift were seen from the coach as well as the local race of Kestral.
Correlajo:
A short walk around the town and harbour produced a small group of Turnstone and a Whimbrel
19/4/08
La Olivia:
Fiampire valley – The area where the track forks was very good producing 1 pair of Canary island Chat, a pair of Southern Grey Shrike, 3 Trumpeter Finch, numerous Birthalot’s Pipit, 1 Spectacled Warbler and 5 Barbary Partridge.
Beginning of track to Fiampire valley – As you pull onto the track 1km from the church, stop and view. The track begins next to an area of cultivation which was very productive. In 15 mins managed to pick up 2 Trumpeter Finch, 10+ Lesser Short toed Lark, 3 Corn Bunting, 3+ Linnet, 3 Birthelot’s Pipit and a Hoopoe.
Rio de Nagres – Cultivations had potential but there was very little when I was present, probably due to lots of disturbance for trucks passing through the centre of cultivation. However did manage to pick up a pair of Southern Grey Shrike, 3 Hoopoe and a Birthelot’s Pipit.
El Cotillo:
Town and beach to north – Small conifer plantation at top of beach on northern side looks very promising for migrants. Lots of waders on beach although lots of disturbance. 30+ Spannish Sparrow, 2 Trumpeter Finch, 5+ Linnet, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper. Also of note while walking along the beach, on a streach of shoreline of 60 meters there was one of each Rock Dove, Avocet and Cory Shearwater washed up on the beach. Upon a brief inspection there was no obvious causes of death although the three species in very close proximity appeared very strange particularly with regards to the fact that Avocet is regarded as being a very rare migrant to the Canaries in the Clarke and Collins guilde.
20/4/08
El Cotillo:
Plain to the south. Although this area was productive, the two target species of Houbara and Courser were not seen. It appears that this area has been developed since the Clarke and Collins guide was written, although there probably are both Bustard and Courser in these areas there may have been an effect on populations by the increased cultivations and disturbance to the area. However the area is still worth a visit. In an hour an a half I picked up 2 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, 4 Barbary Partridge (including adult with 2 chicks), 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 1 S G Shrike, 2 pairs of Stone Curlew, 1 LST Lark and 5 Birthelot’s Pipit.
Small brannco to south of village:
2 Spectacled Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 30+ Yellow legged Gull.
Offshore – 4 Cory’s Shearwater
Correlajo:
Sand dunes and beach to the south – 1 Greenshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25+ Sanderling, 8+ Ringed Plover, 5 Kentish Plover
21/4/08
Los Molinos:
The track that runs along the length of the pool is now fenced off and therefore access is restriced. On my visit the pool was only checked from the dam end, however the whole lake can be viewed from here with the use of a scope. Also the Tammerisks described in the Clarke and Collins guide are long dead and therefore Marbled Duck is probably very unlikely at the site. However I still seriously recommend a trip to this site. Upon turning down the track towards the pool from the goat farm I was greeted by 11 adult Ruddy Shelduck sat in amongst the goats!! The area downstream from the dam was productive with a pair of Canary island Chat, 2 LST Lark, 3 Hoopoe, 3 Raven and 3 Trumpeter Finch, 3 Black-winged stilt and a pair of Ruddy Shelduck with 5 chicks. The dam its self held many Birthelot’s Pipit, and there is a sizable colony of Spannish Sparrow in the area. The lake held 1 Little ringed Plover, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Sandpiper and at least 7 adult Ruddy Shelduck with around 30 chicks. Kestrel was present in the area and two flocks of Swift were present at each end of the pool numbering a total of around 80 birds. The majority of birds that were close enough to be checked were Pallid. Although Plain Swift was looked for, there were no birds in either flock that stood out.
Northern end of road FV221 in Porto del los Molinos - Road ends by a small shallow pool. 2 Little Egrets were present in amongst the local farms collection of Muscovy ducks.
22/4/08
La Lajita:
Area around Oasis park – 1 Monk Parakeet was present around the African savanna enclosure. It was believed that this bird was from the nearby colony and not just an escapee from the park.
Costa Calma:
Woodland on landward side of main road through town – 7 Goldfinch, 5 Linnet
23/4/08
La Paired plain:
Very good area, best strategy is to park at a good vantage point and wait. Just after parking 5 Cream-coloured Courser’s ran up the hill right past the car. After a further wait of 20 mins 2 Houbara Bustard wondered out of a gully at the bottom of the slope and walked up the hill to a range of about 20 meters before joining group of Courser’s and wondering off into another gully. Also 5+ LST Lark, 1 Trumpeter Finch and several Black-bellied Sandgrouse heard only. The Sandgrouse drinking site in the nearby village was also checked however the drinking pools were all dried up and hence there were no Sandgrouse present.
Punta del Matorral:
The area seems over run with exotics and escapee’s. In the palms along the main road there is a large colony of both Monk and Ring-necked Parakeet which is well established. The zoo in which the colony borders appears to have no control over its birds. A brief walk past the entrance and around the nearby town produced 3 White ibis flying over the zoo and 2 Crowned Crane on the strip of land by the beach.
Catalina Garcia:
Beware the track to this site is extremely rough in places! The site however must not be visited on foot as the area is very open and birds are sensitive to being flushed. The site was visited only briefly, however this area looks very promising for wetland species. In a 20 minute visit I had a pair of Black-winged Stilt, 1 adult Ruddy Shelduck with at least 5 chicks, 5 Little Egret, 2 YL Gull, 3 Kentish Plover, 2 Little ringed Plover and 10+ Coot. Highlight of the site however was when turning onto the track towards the lake I had to make almost an emergency stop as a Cream-coloured Courser ran onto the track. After waiting for the bird to walk to the side of the track I drove along side it, to watch it run 5 meters or so to join another 4. Two of the Courser’s then began displaying to each other before the group moved off north.
Las Penitas:
Viewpoint above lake – 3+ Birthalot’s Pipit, 2 Raven, 1 Buzzard
Road along eastern edge of lagoon – 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Blue Tit. Note the lake had dried up on my visit.
Betancunia:
I made a brief check for Blue Tits and none were found, however I did not make a concerted effort having just seen 2 around 15 mins before. The small shallow brannco next to the main car park on the south side of the village is worth a quick check. I had a female Sardinian Warbler feeding just a few meters from the car park and Turtle Dove.
24/4/08
El Cotillo:
Small brannco on south side of town – 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Spectacled Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff.
Area around lighthouse – 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Swallow, 2 Grey Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Kentish Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Egret, 3 Trumpeter Finch, 8 Birthelot’s pipit.
Correlajo:
Sand dunes to south of town – 1 House Martin, 2 Stone Curlew
Town and port – 1 Whimbrel, 20+ Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20+ YL Gull
25/4/08
Corrlejo:
50+ Swallow, 1 House Martin
Species list:
Cory’s Shearwater
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Ruddy Shelduck
Buzzard
Kestrel
Barbary Partridge
Coot
Houbara Bustard
Black-winged Stilt
Cream-coloured courser
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Sanderling
Dunlin
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Yellow-legged Gull (Atlantis)
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Rock Dove
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Monk Parakeet
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser short-toed Lark
Swallow
House Martin
Birthelot’s Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Canary island Stonechat
Spectacled Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit (degener)
Southern grey Shrike
Raven
Spanish Sparrow
Goldfinch
Linnet
Trumpeter finch
Corn Bunting
Escapee’s:
Crowned Crane
Minor species 1
Minor species 2
White Ibis
Village Weaver
Mammals:
Rabbit
Barbary Ground Squirrel
Dragonflies:
Emperor dragonfly
Scarlet Darter
Migrant Hawker
Butterflies:
Clouded Yellow
Common Blue
Long-tailed Blue
African grass Blue
Bath white
Reptiles:
Haria Lizard
Pic's from my trip can be found on the following link http://lee111.fotopic.net/c1407296_1.html
Brings back happy memories for me except I did it in winter and failed with Barbary Partridge. African Grass Blue would have been appreciated too. Thanks for sharing.