Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - DECEMBER 2008 LANZAROTE REPORT

by Francisco Javier García Vargas

On a December month without remarkable surprises, we haven´t added any new species to our list.

About rarities, the most interesting was the Mediterranean Gulls (at least 5 birds) detected at Arrecife on November and seen last time there on 12/XII. Probably all the birds or part of them have stayed there into January. A Fieldfare was seen at El Bosquecillo on 07 and 08/XII.

About rare and scarce migrants, Black-necked Grebes have been observed at Janubio salt pans (4 birds on 22/XII, 3 birds on 25/XII, 6 birds (the highest number ever seen) observed by J. Sagardía on 28/XII and again 4 birds on 29/XII), Common Teals were seen at Janubio salt pans too (3 birds on 05/XII, 3 birds on 13/XII, 2 birds on 25/XII, 4 birds on 28/XII and 2 birds on 29/XII), Eurasian Marsh Harrier (1 bird at Haría on 07/XII), Lesser Kestrel (1 bird near Los Cocoteros salt pans and 1 bird at Famara plains (J. Sagardía) on 04/XII and 8 birds at Montaña Blanca (J. Sagardía) on 26/XII), Common Coot (the bird at Tías golf course have remained there into January), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1 bird at Janubio on 22/XII), Red Knot at Janubio, Little Stint (birds at Los Cocoteros and Janubio), Curlew Sandpiper (birds at Janubio), Eurasian Curlew (1 bird at Janubio on 22/XII), Green Sandpiper (1 bird at Arrecife on 07/XII), Great Black-backed Gull (1 1st. c.y. bird observed by J. Sagardía at Arrecife on 05/XII), Meadow Pipits have been observed in low numbers at Tías golf course, Grey Wagtails at Arrecife, Black Redstarts at El Bosquecillo on 07/XII and 3 birds that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII, Redwings at El Bosquecillo, Teguise and Los Valles, European Serin (2 or 3 birds at El Bosquecillo on 07/XII) and European Greenfinch (7 birds near Teguise golf course on 04/XII).

About breeding birds, is interesting the observation made by J. Sagardía of about 30 nests of Little Shearwater and about 60 nests of Madeiran Storm-petrel near El Golfo coast.

DECEMBER 2008 COMPLETE LIST

Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Black-necked Grebe. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Little Shearwater

Madeiran Storm-petrel

Cattle Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Common Teal

Common Teal. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Common Teal. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Eurasian Marsh Harrier

Lesser Kestrel

Common Kestrel

Barbary Falcon

Barbary Partridge

Common Coot

Houbara Bustard

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Black-winged Stilt

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover (partially albino bird). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Ringed Plover (partially albino bird). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Kentish Plover

Grey Plover

Grey Plover. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Red Knot

Sanderling

Little Stint

Little Stint. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

Curlew Sandpiper

Dunlin

Bar-tailed Godwit

Whimbrel

Eurasian Curlew

Common Redshank

Common Greenshank

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Ruddy Turnstone

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Mediterranean Gull. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Black-headed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

Sandwich Tern

Eurasian Collared Dove

Laughing Dove

Ring-necked Parakeet

Hoopoe

Lesser Short-toed Lark

Berthelot´s Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Grey Wagtail

White Wagtail

European Robin

Black Redstart

Black Redstart. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

Fieldfare

Fieldfare. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas (only record shot)

Fieldfare. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas (only record shot)

Song Thrush

Song Thrush. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

Redwing

Redwing. El Bosquecillo-Haría (bird at flight: near Teguise golf course). Photos: J. Sagardía

Spectacled Warbler

Spectacled Warbler. El Bosquecillo-Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

Sardinian Warbler (many singing males that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII)

Blackcap (including 1 female that I observed at Caleta de Sebo-La Graciosa on 21/XII)

Blackcap. Uga. Photo: J.Sagardía

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff. Uga. Photo: J. Sagardía

Willow Warbler

Shouthern Grey Shrike

Common Raven

Common Raven. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

Common Starling

Spanish Sparrow

European Serin

Canary

European Greenfinch

Common Linnet

Trumpeter Finch