by Francisco Javier García Vargas
On February-March 2012, two new species were added to our list of birds observed in Lanzarote: Common Pochard (1 female detected by our friend David Pérez at Tías golf course on 25/III and seen there the same day (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos). The bird remained at the same place until 27/III (F. J. García Vargas).
The second addition will be without any doubt the highlight of the season: African Desert Warbler (1 bird found by Michael John, a birdwatcher on holidays in Lanzarote, on 24/III in bushes of a little sandy beach near Punta Mujeres, where was seen again on 25/III (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos). Despite the efforts of other local birders, the bird was not seen again. Besides the pictures showed in this entry, a special photo page of this rarity (if accepted, first for Lanzarote) can be seen here.
About another rarities, the Ring-billed Gull found at Arrecife on January 2012, was relocated at Puerto del Carmen on 11/II, where remained until at least 08/III (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos, J. Sagardía).
1 Eurasian Scops Owl was found dead on a road at Tahíche on 12/III (J. Sagardía).
On a spectacular year for Bluethroats, a little influx of this species produced the arrival of unprecedented numbers of birds to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Here in “our” island, the first bird was found during the afternoon of 10/III at Tías golf course by our friend Julio Rodríguez Martínez and I could see the bird in the evening of the same day.
The bird remained there until at least 20/III (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).
Two new birds were detected at Montaña Blanca on 11/III (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas), staying at the same place on 12/III (J. Sagardía).
1 Grasshopper Warbler was found at Montaña Blanca on 12/III (J. Sagardía) and another was seen at Teguise Golf the same day (J. Sagardía).
And surprisingly, the Little Bunting at Teguise Golf was relocated there by J. Sagardía on 09/III.
About scarce migrants, 1 Ruddy Shelduck was present at Janubio salt pans on 27/III (F. J. García Vargas) and 1 Shoveler was seen at Tías golf course on 06/III, joined by a second bird on 09/III, staying there together until 11/III (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos, J. Sagardía). Another bird was observed in the farm at Famara plains by J. Sagardía on 08/III.
2 Manx Shearwaters were seen flying North form La Santa coast on 07/III (J. Sagardía), when many Northern Gannets were seen at the same place (J. Sagardía).
Another 3 birds were seen from Arrecife on 10/II (F. J. García Vargas), where more than 100 birds where counted on 30/III (F. J. García Vargas).
The Great Cormorant at Arrecife was seen last time there on 03/III (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas), 1 Black-crowned Night Heron was seen flying over Puerto del Carmen on 07/III (F. J. García Vargas), another bird was found at Teguise Golf on 09/III (J. Sagardía) and a third bird was present at Tías golf course on 11/III (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).
1 Purple Heron was at Tías golf course on 07/III (J. Sagardía), another bird was seen inside theGuacimetaAirport on 13/III (J. Sagardía), a new bird was seen flying over Tías golf course on 15/III (F. J. García Vargas), seeing another at Teguise Golf the same day (F. J. García Vargas). By last, another Purple Heron was at Janubio on 27/III (F. J. García Vargas).
The Spoonbill at Arrecife was seen still there on 30/III (F. J. García Vargas) and 4 were present at La Santa on 07/III (J. Sagardía), 1 Western Marsh Harrier was observed at Famara plains on 01/II (J. Sagardía) and another at Zonzamas rubbish dump on 07/III, 1 Hen Harrier was at Famara cliffs on 06/II (J. Sagardía) and 1 Common Buzzard was seen at Zonzamas rubbish dump on 09/III (J. Sagardía).
The Spotted Crake at Tías golf course was seen last time there on 11/III (J. Sagardía), where a Moorhen was present the same day (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía) and where the Coot stayed until 11/II (F. J. García Vargas).
A beautiful flock of 6 Avocets was found at Janubio on 27/III (F. J. García Vargas), Little Ringed Plovers were seen at Tías golf course, Janubio and the farm at Famara plains, where the bigger flock seen until the present day, of 9 birds, was seen on 20/III (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Northern Lapwing was seen at the same farm at Famara plains on 06/II (J. Sagardía), 1 Knot was seen at Janubio on 27/III (F. J. García Vargas), Wood Sandpipers were present at Tías golf course and Janubio and Green Sandpipers at Tías golf course, Janubio and the farm at Famara.
1 Black-tailed Godwit stayed at Tías golf course until 25/III (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos, J. Sagardía), another bird was seen at Arrecife on 09/III (F. J. García Vargas), and a third was found at Janubio on 27/III (F. J. García Vargas).
1 Common Snipe was found at Tías golf course, 3 of the Mediterranean Gulls at Arrecife were seen there last time on 10/II (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Wood Pigeon was at Teguise Golf on 08 and 09/III (J. Sagardía), Sand Martins have been present at Tías golf course, where at least 3 Red-throated Pipits have stayed until April, 1 Stonechat was at Montaña Blanca on 01/II and some birds were at Teguise Golf on 08/III (J. Sagardía).
1 Redwing was seen at Teguise Golf on 08/III (J. Sagardía) and unprecedented numbers of Sedge Warblers were recorded during March: 3 were seen at Tías golf course on 09/III, when at least 7 were found at Teguise Golf (J. Sagardía), many birds were at Tías golf course on 10, 11, 12 and 20/III (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía), 1 bird was at Montaña Blanca on 12/III (J. Sagardía), another was inside Jardín del Cactus on 17/III (F. J. García Vargas) and by last many birds were seen in the farm at Famara plains on 20/III (F. J. García Vargas).
1 Western Bonelli´s Warbler was seen near Teguise Golf on 31/III (F. J. García Vargas), 1 Woodchat Shrike was found at Teguise Golf on 09/III and another was seen the same day at Famara plains (J. Sagardía), some Common Chaffinches were observed at Teguise Golf on 08/III (J. Sagardía), where at least 1 bird was still present on 15/III (F. J. García Vargas) and where some Goldfinches were on 08/III (J. Sagardía) and on 15/III (F. J. García Vargas).
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2012 COMPLETE LIST
Ruddy Shelduck
Shoveler
Shoveler-Anas clypeata-Cuchara europeo
Tías gof course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Shoveler-Anas clypeata-Cuchara europeo
Tías gof course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Shoveler-Anas clypeata-Cuchara europeo
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Pochard
Common Pochard-Aythya ferina-Porrón europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Common Pochard-Aythya ferina-Porrón europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Common Pochard-Aythya ferina-Porrón europeo
Tías golf course. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Barbary Partridge
Cory´s Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Northern Gannet-Morus bassanus-Alcatraz atlántico
Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Northern Gannet-Morus bassanus-Alcatraz atlántico
La Santa. Photo: J. Sagardía
Great Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron-Nycticorax nycticorax-Martinete común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Black-crowned Night Heron-Nycticorax nycticorax-Martinete común
Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Purple Heron-Ardea purpurea-Garza imperial
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Purple Heron-Ardea purpurea-Garza imperial
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Spoonbill
Western Marsh Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier-Circus aeruginosus-Aguilucho lagunero occidental
Zonzamas rubbish dump. Photo: J. Sagardía
Hen Harrier
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard-Buteo buteo-Busardo ratonero
Zonzamas rubbish dump. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Buzzard-Buteo buteo-Busardo ratonero
Zonzamas rubbish dump. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Kestrel
Barbary Falcon
Spotted Crake
Spotted Crake-Porzana porzana-Polluela pintoja
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Moorhen
Moorhen-Gallinula chloropus-Gallineta común
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Avocet
Avocet-Recurvirostra avosetta-Avoceta común
Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Avocet-Recurvirostra avosetta-Avoceta común
Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas
Cream-coloured Courser
Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover-Charadrius dubius-Chorlitejo chico
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Grey Plover
Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing-Vanellus vanellus-Avefría europea
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Redshank
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper-Tringa ochropus-Andarríos grande
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Green Sandpiper (with Little Ringed Plover)-Tringa ochropus (with Charadrius dubius)-Andarríos grande (con Chorlitejo chico).
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper-Tringa glareola-Andarríos bastardo
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull-Larus delawarensis-Gaviota de Delaware
Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ring-billed Gull-Larus delawarensis-Gaviota de Delaware
Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía
Ring-billed Gull-Larus delawarensis-Gaviota de Delaware
Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Wood Pigeon
Wood pigeon-Columba palumbus-Paloma torcaz
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Wood pigeon-Columba palumbus-Paloma torcaz
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Eurasian Collared Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Eurasian Scops Owl (corpse)
Plain Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Hoopoe
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Berthelot´s Pipit
Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit-Anthus trivialis-Bisbita arbóreo
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit-Anthus cervinus-Bisbita gorgirrojo
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Red-throated Pipit-Anthus cervinus-Bisbita gorgirrojo
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Yellow Wagtail
“Italian” Yellow Wagtail-Motacilla flava cinereocapilla-Lavandera boyera “italiana”
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Bluethroat
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía
Bluethroat-Luscinia svecica-Ruiseñor pechiazul
Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Redstart
Common Redstart-Phoenicurus phoenicurus-Colirrojo real
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Stonechat
Stonechat-Saxicola torquata-Tarabilla común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear-Oenanthe oenanthe-Collalba gris
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Redwing
Grasshopper Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler-Locustella naevia-Buscarla pintoja
Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler-Acrocephalus schoenobaenus-Carricerín común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sedge Warbler-Acrocephalus schoenobaenus-Carricerín común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sedge Warbler-Acrocephalus schoenobaenus-Carricerín común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sedge Warbler-Acrocephalus schoenobaenus-Carricerín común
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sedge Warbler-Acrocephalus schoenobaenus-Carricerín común
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler-Acrocephalus scirpaceus-Carricero común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Spectacled Warbler
Subalpine Warbler
Subalpine Warbler-Sylvia cantillans-Curruca carrasqueña
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Subalpine Warbler-Sylvia cantillans-Curruca carrasqueña
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Subalpine Warbler-Sylvia cantillans-Curruca carrasqueña
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Sardinian Warbler
Sardinian Warbler-Sylvia melanocephala-Curruca cabecinegra
Near Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
African Desert Warbler
African Desert Warbler-Sylvia deserti-Curruca desértica africana
Coast of Haría. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
African Desert Warbler-Sylvia deserti-Curruca desértica africana
Coast of Haría. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
African Desert Warbler-Sylvia deserti-Curruca desértica africana
Coast of Haría. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
African Desert Warbler-Sylvia deserti-Curruca desértica africana
Coast of Haría. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
African Desert Warbler-Sylvia deserti-Curruca desértica africana
Coast of Haría. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos
Common Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat-Sylvia communis-Curruca zarcera
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Western Bonelli´s Warbler
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Southern Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Woodchat Shrike-Lanius senator-Alcaudón común
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Woodchat Shrike-Lanius senator-Alcaudón común
Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Starling
Common Starling-Sturnus vulgaris-Estornino pinto
Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía
Spanish Sparrow
Common Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Goldfinch-Carduelis carduelis-Jilguero
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Common Linnet
Trumpeter Finch
Little Bunting
Little Bunting-Emberiza pusilla-Escribano pigmeo
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Little Bunting-Emberiza pusilla-Escribano pigmeo
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
Little Bunting-Emberiza pusilla-Escribano pigmeo
Teguise Golf. Photo: J. Sagardía
