Ferry from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria to Morro Jable on Fuerteventura and Morro Jable, La Oliva on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

Transferring to Fuerteventura.

Deb and Ian, Day Twenty Three. 

Ebird List for Las Palmas - Morro Jable ferry. 

Ebird List for Morro Jable. 

Ebird List for La Oliva. 

 

We left the accommodation and headed up to the Port in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria where I dropped Deb and Ian off with the kit before going into town to drop the car off, this turned out to be a bit of an experience I do not want to repeat.

I found the office but nowhere to park so on my third loop I just stuck it up on the pavement and went i and got some directions for a nearby car park where I had to drop the car off at.

The car park was by far the hardest, steepest and tightest I have ever encountered but I eventually got a parking space and then dropped the keys off and walked back to the Port. 

Goodbye Gran Canaria.

We got onto the ferry for Fuerteventura but it wasn't as good as the last one as there was only a very small outside area and the smokers were all there so we just watched through some not so clean windows but we did see several Bulwer's Petrels (Petrel de Bulwer / Bulweria bulwerii), Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta Canaria / Calonectris diomedea borealis), Common Tern (Charrán Común / Sterna hirundo) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

We got to Morro Jable port on Fuerteventura where Deb picked up a couple of Peregrine / Barbary Falcons (Halcón Peregrino de Berbería / Falco peregrinus ssp pelegrinoides) up over the cliffs above the Port.

I was picked up by one of the Cicar staff and taken up into town where I got the car and went back for Deb and Ian, whilst doing this I saw two Hadada Ibis (Ibis Hadada / Bostrychia hagedash) and Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

I went back to the Port and picked Deb and Ian up and we headed to our accommodation which was up at the other end of the island in the Vallebrón near La Oliva, on the way we saw our first Ruddy Shelducks (Tarro Canelo / Tadorna ferruginea) and a group of Trumpeter Finches (Camachuelo Trompetero / Bucanetes githagineus) on the way.

We arrived and we were met by the owner who showed us around and explained thing which was very helpful.

The accommodation was great and we were soon settled in and sat out on the terrace with a beer.

Playa El Puertillo, Bahia de Arinaga, Los Espinales Este, Playa del Inglés / Parque Romántico and Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain.

An early start pays off with two American Waders, both Spanish Lifers.

Deb and Ian, Day Twenty Two.

Ebird List for El Puertillo. 

Ebird List for Bahia de Arinaga.

Ebird List for Los Espinales Este.

Ebird List for Playa del Inglés / Parque Romántico.

Ebird List for Maspalomas.

El Puertillo Rocks where the Plover was seen.

We were up and out slightly earlier than planned but this worked out well as we were up at El Puertillo early and it was very quiet and the tide was low so we were hopeful but all we found on the first sweep of the beach and rocks were Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis). 

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Just as we were about to find a way around to the next beach I glanced back and saw something move on the nearest rocks which I assumed was going to be a Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) but when I got the scope on it I was pleased to see it was the target Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus) which over the next 40 minutes or so disappeared a few time but also showed extremely well for us.

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover (Chorlitejo Semipalmeado / Charadrius semipalmatus).

As we sat on the rocks waiting for the bird which dropped between the boulders and ridges to show we also saw several Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta Canaria / Calonectris diomedea borealis) out to sea.

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba).

Very happy we headed for a second American wader which had been around for a while on the rocks at Bahia de Arinaga which was down on the SE corner of the Island, we parked and walked around to the seafront where almost straight away Ian picked up a small wader which was soon confirmed as being the Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius) we had come for so we walked further along the Prom to a point where we could get out to the beach.

Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius).

Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius).

Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius).

Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius).

Spotted Sandpiper (Andarrios maculado / Actitis macularius).

There were a few Guys out on the rocks collecting Seafood so we walked out a short way and watched this stunning little bird feed happily amongst the rocks in front of us, we also saw a couple of Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling and Yellow-legged Gull.  

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Very happy again we walked back up the Prom and had a late breakfast at Restaurante El Salón de la Sal and then headed off to a less pleasant spot nearer the Airport amongst a large area of abandoned plastic green houses with loads of waste plastic lying around, a mess to say the least.

Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

We checked out one of the Irrigation pools but didn't find anything of interest so we started to leave the site but picked up a couple of Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño Koenigi / Lanius excubitor koenigi) as well as lots of Bath Whites (Pontia daplidice) x30+.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria).

Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria).

Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala).

We headed back towards the accommodation but thought that we would give the Sudan Golden Sparrow (Gorrión Dorado del Sudán / Passer luteus) another hour or so even though it was by now quite warm, we didn't see the Sparrow but we did get Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) before we headed just up the road to another spot.

Monk Parakeet (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus).

At this spot I was 100% sure I would not find the Desert Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus) which Paul Selby had told me about as I was way too late in the year but thought I would look at the site, whilst there we had a flock of Monk Parakeets (Cotorra Argentina / Myiopsitta monachus) and a few European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis) before we headed for the accommodation for some nibbles.

The Nibbles.

Later we went for a walk to the bar and had a few beers and then walked around the Feria area before heading back for a noisy night of not much sleep. 

Playa del Inglés/Parque Romántico, Mirador Astronómico de la Degollada de las Yeguas, Fataga Pueblo, Mirador Degollada de la Cruz Grande, Llanos de la Pez, Bailico, Barranco de la Virgen, Playa del Inglés/Parque Romántico again in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Up high on Gran Canaria.

Deb and Ian, Day twenty one.

Ebird List for Playa del Inglés/Parque Romántico.

Ebird List for Llanos de la Pez.

Ebird List for Bailico.

Ebird List for Barranco de la Virgen, Valleseco.

 

Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

We first of all headed down to the coast about 15 minutes from the accommodation to a spot where there had been a male Sudan Golden Sparrow (Gorrión Dorado del Sudán / Passer luteus) but in the hour or so we were there we did not find it but we did see Eurasian Collared (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and African Collared Dove (Tórtola rosigris / Streptopelia roseogrisea), Eurasian Hoopoe (Abubilla Común / Upupa epops), Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Waxbill (Estrilda Ondulada / Estrilda astrild), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

African Collared Dove (Tórtola rosigris / Streptopelia roseogrisea).

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

We drove up into the hills stopping at Mirador Astronómico de la Degollada de las Yeguas where we did a short roadside walk seeing several plant species including Canary Island Spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), Fagonia cretica, Erysimum virescens, Canary Island Sage (Salvia canariensis), Canarian Bean Caper (Tetraena fontanesii) and Nanorrhinum scoparium.

Canary Island Spurge (Euphorbia canariensis).

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Canary Island Sage (Salvia canariensis).

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Mirador Astronómico de la Degollada de las Yeguas.

Mirador Astronómico de la Degollada de las Yeguas.

Further on we stopped for Coffee and cake in Fataga Pueblo where we added Plain Swift (Vencejo Unicolor / Apus unicolor) and a Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) before continuing on up to Mirador Degollada de la Cruz Grande where we parked and straight away I picked up a flying Gran Canaria Grayling (Hipparchia tamadabae) which was a lifer and when it landed for a while I was even happier.

Gran Canaria Grayling (Hipparchia tamadabae).

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

Other species seen in this area included  Cistus symphytifolius, Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Cistus symphytifolius.

We moved on and parked at Llanos de La Pez where our main target was the extremely rare Gran Canary Blue Chaffinch (Pinzón Azul Gran Canaria / Fringilla polatzeki) but we were a little late and there were already quite a few people setting up picnic and we dipped here.

African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario).

Canary Island Red Admiral (Vanessa vulcania).

We did however see several Canary Islands Chaffinches (Pinzón de Canarias / Fringilla canariensis), African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), Canary Island Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis), European Turtle Dove (Tórtola Europea / Streptopelia turtur), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo insularum), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) and Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa).

Spotted Rock-Rose (Tuberaria guttata).

Canary Island Red Admiral (Vanessa vulcania).

Canary Island Red Admiral (Vanessa vulcania).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Bath White (Pontia daplidice).

Were we also saw my first Canary Island Red Admiral (Vanessa vulcania) before we dropped back down the road we had come up on to Zona de Acampada de Bailico where we did a short walk seeing  Spotted Rock-Rose (Tuberaria guttata), more Bath Whites and Canary Island Red Admirals, Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Canary Speckled Wood (Pararge xiphioides) and Canary Blue (Cyclyrius webbianus). 

Canary Island Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

Canary Island Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis).

Canary Islands Chaffinch (Pinzón de Canarias / Fringilla canariensis).

Birds included African Blue Tit, Canary Islands Chaffinch, Canary Island Great Spotted Woodpecker and then as we were walking back to the car Deb shouted to Ian and Myself to come back as she had found a stunning male Gran Canary Blue Chaffinch which was showing quite well but kept on the move, the female was with him but she remained in the grass on the ground and difficult to see. 

Gran Canary Blue Chaffinch (Pinzón Azul Gran Canaria / Fringilla polatzeki) Male.

I was over the moon that Deb had picked this species up for two reason, firstly it had been a species I had long wanted to see (thanks to Yeray Seminario from Birding the Strait for the site) and secondly I was happy that I didn't have to drive the road up there again as it was a bit of a challenge.

Looking across to Tenerife.

Pericallis webbii.

The closer view.

Once we had returned to the car we dropped down to the Northern side of the island to a couple of spots along the Barranco de la Virgen, Valleseco, on the way we stopped at a viewpoint where we could see across to Mount Teidi on Tenerife, here we also saw Pericallis webbii and Adenocarpus foliolosus.

Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis).

Canary Islands St. John's Wort (Hypericum canariense).

Once we were down in the Valley along the Barranco de la Virgen where we soon started to find good numbers of Laurel Pigeon (Paloma rabiche / Columba junoniae) and had up to 4 birds sat on a dead branch at the same time.

Laurel Pigeon (Paloma rabiche / Columba junoniae).

Laurel Pigeon (Paloma rabiche / Columba junoniae).

We also recorded Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), African Blue Tit, Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Curruca melanocephala), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula cabrerae) and Canary Islands Chaffinch.

Laurel Pigeon (Paloma rabiche / Columba junoniae).

Laurel Pigeon (Paloma rabiche / Columba junoniae).

We also added Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum) and Canary Islands St. John's Wort (Hypericum canariense).

Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum).

We dropped down the Valley to the North Coast and drove back South to the spot for the Sudan Golden Sparrow where we had started this morning but the results were the same and we added nothing new before heading back to the accommodation and then later went and had a few very enjoyable beers and some good food in Terraza La Central.