Tenerife, Canary Islands.

The day after the day before.

Tenerife Blue Chaffinches (Pinzón Azul de Tenerife / Fringilla teydea).

To my great surprise we were all up and at it first thing and even after the stressful day yesterday we spent a good bit of the time Laughing and enjoying the stunning birds.

Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria).

We started the day with a drive up on to the pine clad slopes of Mount Tiede, on the way up we pulled off at a picnic area and almost instantly we stumbled across the first of a few Tenerife Blue Chaffinches (Pinzón Azul de Tenerife / Fringilla teydea) which was on the ground near some bins.

Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria).

We saw a couple more of these beautiful birds as well as lots of Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), several Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major canariensis), Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia) and whilst we were watching these birds there was a great commotion going on above us between several Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and a silvery looking Barbary Falcon (Halcón Tagarote / Falco pelegrinoides) which was nice.

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

We drove further on and stopped briefly at the parking area for the cable car to the summit bit it was windy and a tad cool so we decided to drop back down to the picnic area via several view points on the way where we took some view shots and saw Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii).

Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Pinzón Azul de Tenerife / Fringilla teydea).

Back at the picnic site we had fantastic views of another Great Spotted Woodpecker which was feeding close to us for a while, as well as 4 more Tenerife Blue Chaffinches and Atlantic Canary.

Up on Tiede.

We dropped down to the hotel having some lunch on the way, we had an hour the to sort out some administration after the big problems of yesterday. At 15.00 we went down to the coast at La Galletas to have another look at the White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis) which we saw earlier in the week. The bird showed well along with it's mates, two Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Up on Tiede.

Whilst there we also had views of Red-veined (Sympetrum fonscolombii) and Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea), Vagrant Emperor (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Green rocks on Tiede.

We walked out on the prom nearby where we eventually found the two regular Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Up on Tiede.

We returned to the van and then we took the windy steep way back to the hotel.

Up on Tiede.

Mick up on Tiede.

Up on Tiede.

Nick on Tiede.

Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Pinzón Azul de Tenerife / Fringilla teydea).

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

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus).

Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Tenerife, Canary Islands.

And we didn't think it could get any worse, the Bastards even stole the imodium.

Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria).

Before breakfast I had a short walk out to the car park and around the garden where I picked up Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Sardinian Warbler (Curruca Cabecinegra / Sylvia melanocephala), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

Birding at Pico de Ingles.

After breakfast we loaded up and headed off North and into the Laurel Forests of An again where we made our first stop at the Mirador de Jardine where we soon found African Blue Tits (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria), Sardinian Warbler, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis), Blackbird, Canary Island Chiffchaff and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

View from Mirador Pico de Ingles.

Next we drove out to the Mirador Pico de Ingles where we parked and spent a good while scanning the tree canopy for the two target Pigeons, almost straight away we had short flight views of a couple of Bolle's Pigeons (Paloma Turqué / Columba bollii) and then shortly after these we had a very nice Laurel Pigeon (Paloma Rabiche / Columba junoniae) sit on the top of a bush for a few seconds showing off his white tail nicely.

Bolle's Pigeons (Paloma Turqué / Columba bollii).

In the same area we had European Robin again, a noisy Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), several Painted Lady's (Vanessa cardui), Cleopatra (Cleopatra / Gonepteryx cleopatra) and Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta).

Bolle's Pigeons (Paloma Turqué / Columba bollii).

We're drove a little further on and made a quick stop adding Canary Speckled Wood (Pararge xiphioides) to the butterfly list before turning around and heading down to Mirador Cruz del Carmen were we had a short walk into the Laurel Forests, here we saw Common Chaffinch again, African Blue Tits, European Robin and several of the local subspecies of Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus teneriffae).

Laurel Pigeon (Paloma Rabiche / Columba junoniae).

Next came a simple lunch before heading back up to Mirador Pico de Ingles were we again had good views of both Bolle's and Laurel Pigeons, Mike picked up an the Canary Speckled Wood butterfly so I went back to the van with Mike to get the other camera out of the bag and this was when we made the disastrous discovery that the van had been broken into via the small window in the sliding door and around €3000+ of our kit had been stolen.  

Canary Speckled Wood (Pararge xiphioides).

We were just 25 or so meters away and the van could be seen. They must have been quite and quick, we suspect we disturbed them when we came back as they had left Mikes bag which had another couple of thousand euros worth of stuff in it.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis).

So again we spent quite a while in the National Police station but this time in Santa del la Curzon and then we had to change the van at the Northern Airport.

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs canariensis).

What a day, we headed back to the hotel where we had a late evening meal before heading to bed totally peeeeeeeeeeeeed off.

European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Three good birds but disaster strikes again but the defiant gang smile and bird on.

As we few out to Tenerife.

Today we were moving Island so I finished packing before breakfast and whilst doing this had the odd quick glance out of the window and finished the hotel list off with Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), African Blue Tit (Cyanistes Teneriffae / Herrerillo canario), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

After breakfast we loaded up the van with our bags and Lynda's kit which was divided up between us and left the Hotel Boutique & Villas Casa Vieja and set off for the airport just adding Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis) on the way.

We checked in, got rid of the cases and went and sat down to wait for the flight which was very good and uneventful.

Came through the Airport at Tenerife North with out any problems except for a car hire guy with a sense of humor.

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

Once the van was loaded up we headed for La Galletas where Eduardo Garcia del Rey had given us some information about a White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis) which had been there for a few days, during the drive we had Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Yellow-legged Gull and Rock Pigeon (Paloma Bravia / Columba livia).

We parked and checked the area out, not the nicest spot but there were some small pools and scrapes in amongst piles of rubble and rocks.

We searched the area but to start with just had 4x Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and lots of Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea), Bob and Ann went back towards the beach but I thought I would check another area and found another pool but still no birds. Just as I was about to turn away three small Waders flew in calling, two were Ringed Plovers (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) but the third was the target White-rumped Sand, Mike had followed me and came over the gravel ridge behind me next closely followed by Judy and Nick.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

After making sure they were on the bird I went and Waved to Bob and Ann so that they knew we had the bird before going back and getting some photos, next thing I saw was Bob and Ann taking photos for two Eastern European guys which I thought was odd but as I started to walk over towards them the two guys headed off and Bob and Ann came over to join us.  Not until later in the evening did Bob discover that his wallet had gone and the only possibility was that these two pieces of scum had targeted them and picked Bob's pocket.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

We went and had some lunch nearby seeing several Cory's Shearwater (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and then walked along the seafront to a spot again given to us by Eduardo where we found two Mediterranean Gulls (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and a Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus) out on the rocks.
Once we had finished taking a few shots of the sleeping Meds the others headed back towards the Van whilst I went in search of a bank in the town. On my way back to the van I had a Great Grey Shrike (Alcaudón Norteño / Lanius excubitor koenigi) and then met the others watching the Sandpiper again.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

We left the site and followed the sat-nav directions up a rather interesting windy, very steep road to the hotel.

Around the hotel we saw and heard Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Canary Island Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Canario / Phylloscopus canariensis), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and our first Atlantic Canary (Serin Canario / Serinus canaria) of the trip which I missed.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Correlimos Culiblanco / Calidris fuscicollis).

We checked in and soon after Bob discovered the thieves had taken his wallet, so we had a rather tense drive down to Las Americas National Police Station to do the report for the crime number with Bob and Ann trying to cancel the debit card that had been in there with the cash.

The police were quite efficient and we were back at the hotel in time to have a late meal.

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

A rest morning and then back to the Northern beaches.

Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis).

Ann, Bob and I decided to have a morning off but after checking in with Judy, Mike and Nick over on Lanzarote I headed to the Airport to ask a few questions about baggage for Lynda and to cancel her flight ticket.

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

I got back and spent the morning pottering around my room and in the gardens seeing Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Spanish Sparrow (Gorrión Moruno / Passer hispaniolensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii), Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and an elusive Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus) which played hard to get. 

Hoopoe (Abubilla / Upupa epops).

At one point I met Ann and Bob out there and we saw Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and a couple of African Grass Blue (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna).

Ravens (Cuervo / Corvus corax).

At 13.30 we headed out to the North to the beaches of Majanicho where we again parked up on the beach and then had a walk out on to the rocky shoreline seeing Kentish (Chorlitejo Patinegro / Charadrius alexandrinus), Ringed (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and Grey Plovers (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

In the same area amongst the many rock pools in the lava flows we saw several Vagrant Emperors (Emperatriz emigrante / Anax ephippiger) and Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii) with some females egg laying in the saline pools.

Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).

We drove up to the port but checked the beach nearby again seeing Yellow-legged Gulls, Little Egrets, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

Berthelots Pipit (Bisbita Caminero / Anthus berthelotii).

Next we drove to the entrance of the port where we parked and then had a drink before Ann and Bob went into the port area for a walk and I did a short sea watch but only picked up a few more Cory's Shearwaters (Pardela Cenicienta / Calonectris diomedea) and a Common Sandpiper.

Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

We met Judy, Mike and Nick and after getting an up date on Lynda's condition we headed back around the coast to the beach at Majanicho but when we arrived we could see the tide was quite a bit lower, this meant that quite a lot of the Waders had gone off to feed. 

African Grass Blue (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna).

However we had two new species for the trip list, a Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) which was out on the rocks amongst some Yellow-legged Gulls and a Little Egret, the other new species was a Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) which flew through very quickly.

African Grass Blue (Nina esmaltada / Zizeeia knysna).

Time was getting on so we headed back down to the hotel where we had another good evening meal.

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluviali squatarola).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) male.

Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina).

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia).

Whimbrel (Zarapito Trinador / Numenius phaeopus).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula).

Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia).