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Saturday, 20 October 2018

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Bad news from the Pelagic group and a day in the Barranco de la Cabras for Ann, Bob and I.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).
During the early hours of the morning we got news from Judy, Mike and Nick that the hospital had kept Lynda in and wanted to do more scans as they were not happy with the head injury so they were all staying on the boat and would find out more today.
Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).
Bob, Ann and I headed out to the Barranco de la Cabras where we had been a couple of days earlier in the trip and started the day off with good views of a fine male Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae) and a very cooperative Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) which showed well and was one of Bob's target species for the day. 
African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).
Then on a bush nearby we got some shots of the Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui) that we coming to nectar there before walking off down the Barranco through the Tamarisk trees seeing the first of quite a few African Blue Tits (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario), a second Spectacled Warbler which showed very well, Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) which didn't show well at all and plenty of the omnipresent Collared Doves (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).
Through the Tamarisk we had Spanish Sparrows (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis),  a Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), several more Laughing Doves, a very confiding male Canary Island Chat and then on our way back to the van the first photographable Lizard species which I think is Atlantic lizard (Gallotia atlantica).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
As we came back out of the trees near to the van we had a Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and a Laughing Dove which sat long enough for me to bang off a couple of shots before it flew out of sight.
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
We moved just down stream a km or so and checked some areas of open water in the deeper parts of the Barranco finding Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) before moving back to a spot nearer to the start of the track where we looked for Dragonflies.
Atlantic lizard (Gallotia atlantica).
In this area of the stream the water was shallow but still flowing and we soon found Sahara Bluetails (Ischnura saharensis), Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) x1M, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), a couple of Vagrant Emperors (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) and one Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator) which posed nicely for us. 
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
At one moment we had three very smart male Canary Island Chats in a bush nearby and a female on the rocky crag opposite which she shared with a Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata), Spectacled Warbler and a couple of African Blue Tits.
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis).
Next came lunch and the we followed some directions which Friends Sharon and John Holian had sent the evening before to another spot nearby on the Barranco. 
Spotted Flycatcher (Papamoscas Gris / Muscicapa striata).
At this point the Barranco had become quite deep but with the good instructions we found a good path down, on the decent we had a flock of around 20 or so Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Buzzard, Green Sandpiper, 2x Ruddy Shelduck (Tarro Canelo / Tadorna ferruginea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and Spanish Sparrow.
Blue / Common Emperor (Anax imperator).
Once we were down at the bottom of the track we found an adult and immature Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius), I continued on along a rather rough trail whilst Ann and Bob scanned the trees near the point were we had descended. 
Plain Swift (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor).
I reached the second bolder barrier and checked the pool on the upper side were there were just a pair of Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and a Spectacled Warbler.
Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus).
We returned to the van and made our way out to the beach near the Salinas del Carmen where Bob and Ann had a walk along the coast and I did a short sea watch but did not see much apart from Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and a few nice Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus). 
Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor koenigi).
Later we headed back North towards the Hotel but made a couple of quick stops, the first was just to call and get some info about Lynda and we had a single Plain Swift (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor) and our second quick stop was at the small man made pool just to the south of El Oliva seeing 15 or so more Ruddy Shelducks, Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), another couple of Spectacled Warblers and another Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor koenigi).
Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata).
We returned to the hotel and contacted the Pelagic group who had been with Lynda in hospital during the day. She was still needing to have a scan so they were not letting her out, so they stayed for another night on Lanzarote.
Ruddy Shelduck (Tarro Canelo / Tadorna ferruginea).
During the night at some point I could hear several Stone Curlews (Alcaraván Común / Burhinus oedicnemus) calling on the fields opposite.

Friday, 19 October 2018

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

A good day with the camera's for Bob, Ann and myself.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).
First thing after breakfast we all headed for the port at Corralejo where Nick, Lynda, Judy and Mike were getting a ferry over to Lanzarote where they were meeting another guide to spend the next two day out at sea looking for pelagic birds. 
Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
We were a little bit early so we checked out a bit of rocky shoreline just before the port.
Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
We scanned the rocks and soon found a couple of Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), a single Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii) and out to Sea several Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and a Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis).
Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
After dropping the Pelagic group off Ann, Bob and I returned to the beach and got some photos of the waders before driving to a cracking spot on the beach at Majanicho where we had a great time photographing the waders there which included large numbers of Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus) and Ringed Plovers as well as two Grey (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone, Greenshank and Whimbrel.
Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
After getting the shots that were needed we dropped south to the northern track out on to Tindaya plains here we headed south not seeing very much until we had almost reached the southern track, where Bob Spotted a couple of distant Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).
We reached the crossroads and turned towards the coast scanning the stoney fields, after just a short distance we had a stunning Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata) even closer to the van than the two we were so please with yesterday, it saw us but only walked away slowly giving us unbeatable views. 
Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).
Well happy we turned around and started to scan the fields again on the way back for more Coursers and just before the crossroads I picked up three that were moving quickly towards the road so we moved in to meet them when they got there and much to my surprise it worked and they walked right up to the van and we again had amazing views.
Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).
Very pleased with our mornings photos we went to a nearby bar and had some lunch before heading south again to the mouth of the Barranco de la Molinos where we again searched the stream for dragonflies and soon found loads of Sahara Bluetails (Ischnura saharensis) including some Rufous females, Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea),  Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Vagrant Emperor (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria). 
Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii).
There were also several Berthalots Pipits on the rocks, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), a couple of Ruddy Shelducks (Tarro Canelo / Tadorna ferruginea) which dropped in on the river upstream and several Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax) overhead.
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
As we drove back to the track out to the Embalse Molinos we had a single Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) fly in front of the Van.
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
At the dam we had a female Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) which flushed all the Little Egrets, Black-winged Stilts (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus) and Ruddy Shelducks
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
We also had the Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which we saw on our last visit, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Greenshank, Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and a calling Barbary Partridge (Perdiz Moruna / Alectoris barbara).
Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
We turned around and started to make our way back towards the hotel where when we were having our evening meal we got a message from the Pelagic group that Lynda had had an accident on board the boat, she had fallen and hit her head so they were steaming for port to get her to hospital. 
Cream-coloured Courser (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
Thanks to regular updates from Nick and Mike at around 11,30 I got the message to say the hospital were not worried about her injuries and we're not keeping her in overnight, great news and a great relief.
Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).
Cream-coloured Coursers (corredor Sahariano / Cursorius cursor).

Thursday, 18 October 2018

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Tindaya Plains, Barranco Cabras, Salinas del Carmen, Barranco del la Torre and Caleta de la Guinea Sea front.

Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
Straight after breakfast we headed out on to the stoney desert areas of the Tindaya plains looking for the elusive Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata), we had see a nice female yesterday but hoped to get better views earlier in the day with out the heat haze.
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
As we made our way out we had two Lesser Short-toed Larks (Terrera Marismena / Calandrella rufescens) fly over the van calling, which was a good start, Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor koenigi) and the the first of two absolutely stunning Houbara Bustards which were much closer than our previous sightings. 
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
We spent quite a long time watching these two birds which were just a km or so apart along the track, we were all very pleased with our views and photographs.
Houbara Bustard (Avutarda Hubara / Chlamydotis undulata).
We made our way off the area and south To the Barranco de la Cabras where we parked and straight away we had a pair of African Blue Tits (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario) fly past and whilst we were getting better views of them we found at least 3x Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) in the same area.
African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).
A good start but it was going to get even better just a short way along the Barranco when Judy and Nick called us to see a group of 11 Barbary Partridge (Perdiz Moruna / Alectoris barbara) which were moving up the slope out of the Barranco.
As we moved around the site we had more Laughing Doves and African Blue Tits along with Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto),  Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae), Great-grey Shrike, Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), a single Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and a Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).
Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae).
We returned to the van and started to make our way back towards the coast but made a stop just down the road to have a look at another stretch of the Barranco which still had a flow of water in it and soon found a Little Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Chico / Charadrius dubius) which flew off calling, Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), a male Canary Island Chat, more African Blue Tits, Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard, Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and back near the van a male of both Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) and Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria).
Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae).
Lunch was the next stop and as we had been happy with the place near the Salinas de la Carmen we stopped there again.  
Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae).
During the stop we recorded Yellow-legged Gulls (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis), Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii) and a couple of Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) which were quite close to shore.
Barbary Partridge (Perdiz Moruna / Alectoris barbara).
After we had finished lunch we went down to the Barranco de la Torre where we parked and did a short sea watch but only picked up a few more Cory's so we continued on up the Barranco and parked.
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We walked a little more and sat at a spot in front of some cliffs where we had had good views of Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) a couple of days earlier and after about 5 minutes the first of around 15 birds came in and sat on the cliff above where we were sat and gave us good views before flying off along the valley again. 
Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).
We walked back to the van and to a then we to look for Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata) nearby but by now the wind had got quite strong and even though we saw the birds they only stayed in view for a second or two at a time.
We moved on again and went just up the coast to Caleta de la Guirra where we had great views of a couple of Plain Swifts (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor) which came too within a couple of meters of us.
Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).
Out on the jetties we again saw a few Waders including a very nice Whimbrel which sat nicely for the cameras, Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Ringed Plover, Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Yellow-legged Gulls and Corys Shearwaters.
Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).
The wind was getting stronger so we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel where we had another superb evening meal.
Plain Swift (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor).

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Heading down South via the East Coast.

Hotel Garden.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
Out in the car park of the hotel we started the day list off with Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus),  Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).
Our first stop of the day was out on the East Coast near the airport where we had views of a couple of Plain Swifts (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor), Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) and the omnipresent Collared Dove.
Barranco de la Torre.
Just a short way down the coast we called in at a shopping centre where we parked to get thought to the beach and out on to a couple of rocky jetties looking for Waders. Off to our right we found Several Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) and Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).
Wild Melon (Citrullus colocynthis).
We also recorded Sandwich Tern (Charrán Patinegro / Sterna sandvicensis), Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and back at the van a single Plain Swift, Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops) and even more Collared Doves.
Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus).
We dropped down South to the Barranco de la Torre where we parked and walked up to and thought the abandoned palm plantation seeing Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Spectacled Warbler (Curruca Tomillera / Sylvia conspicillata), Collared Dove, Ravens, several Egyptian Vultures (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) x11, Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a female Canary Island Chat (Tarabilla Canaria / Saxicola dacotiae), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), the first of several Plain Tigers (Danaus chrysippus) one which we photographed in a Calotropis procera bush as well as lots more Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui) which were very common.
Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus).
I dropped back and collected the van and then bought it up to the group and parked, we continued on along the Barranco on foot looking for Trumpeter Finch (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus). After a few hundred metres I heard some calling birds but the wind and quarry noise made it difficult to get a location on the birds, eventually they flew up and along the cliff a short way to a small cave in the crags where they appeared to be drinking.
Plain Tigers (Danaus chrysippus).
We counted and had good views of around 15 birds before making our way back down to where Judy and Ann had been sat, when we got there they informed us that they had seen 12 Barbary Partridge (Perdiz Moruna / Alectoris barbara) fly into the top of the cliffs and then dropped over the back and out of sight.
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).
Nick and I walked up a gully and up on to the top but we did not find the birds. In this area we also had several plants of Wild Melon (Citrullus colocynthis) growing down in the Barranco.
Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
We drove back along the Barranco and went into the nearby village of Salinas del Carmen where we had some lunch and checked out the rocky bay, we had views Yellow-legged Gulls, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), a flyby Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Little Egrets and out at sea a Sandwich Tern and a Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea).
Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).
We drove inland and took a side road out to an area in the hills where we were looking for and found the uncommon Barbary Falcon (Halcón Tagarote / Falco pelegrinoides) but distantly. We also had a good number of Egyptian Vultures and a couple of Common Kestrels.
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Butterfly.
Our next stop was down on the coast at La Lajita where we were looking for some pools, we found them but the more natural ones were distant and difficult to view, we did find Little Egret,  Yellow-legged Gull and an immature Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe).
Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).
just down the road at Costa Calma we checked the ornamental park for migrants but only found 2 Hoopoes, more Collared Doves, Linnet,  a Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), 2x Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) as well as a single Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Butterfly,  Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) and Small White (Pieris rapae).
Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta).
Our last stop was at the desert areas near La Pared but all we found was a Common Buzzard so we drove back towards the hotel but made a brief stop at a roadside pool seeing a couple of Ruddy Shelduck (Tarro Canelo / Tadorna ferruginea), several Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), 3x Black-winged Stilt (Ciguenela Común / Himantopus himantopus), Green Sandpiper (Andarrios Grande / Tringa ochropus), 2 more Western Cattle Egrets and a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
We returned to the hotel and had another excellent evening meal.
Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina).
Above the Barbary Falcon site.