by Francisco Javier García Vargas

 

 

On 08/12/2006,  Juan Sagardía Pradera  and  me made  a "one day trip"  to  the  nearly island of Fuerteventura, visiting the freshwater sites at Los Molinos,  Rosa  de  Catalina García and Rosa de Taro. This is the result of our visit.

 

LOS MOLINOS RESERVOIR

Ruddy Shelduck (up to 80 or 90 birds), Common Coot (plentiful), Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint (2 birds), Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Canary Islands Stonechat (up to 7 birds near the shore).

 

RUDDY SHELDUCKS. Los Molinos. Photos: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON COOTS. Los Molinos. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CANARY ISLANDS STONECHAT. Los Molinos. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CANARY ISLANDS STONECHAT. Los Molinos. Photo:J. Sagardía

 

ROSA DE CATALINA GARCÍA

Little Egret, Grey Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill (7 birds), Ruddy Shelduck (another 60 or 70 birds), Eurasian Wigeon (1 bird, female), Eurasian Teal (8 birds, males), Pintail (1 bird, female), Blue-winged Teal (1 bird 1st. winter male), Ring- necked Duck (1 bird, male), Tufted Duck (at least 12 birds, 1st. winter/females), Lesser Scaup (2 birds, 1st. winter males), Osprey (1 bird), Common Coot (plentiful), Crested Coot (2 birds), Common Moorhen (plentiful), Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Common Snipe, Spotted Redshank (3 birds), Greenshank, Yellow Wagtail, Bluethroat (1 bird, male), Canary Islands Stonechat.

 

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Rosa de Catalina García. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RING-NECKED DUCK. Rosa de Catalina García. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER SCAUPS, the most amazing sighting of the trip. Rosa de Catalina García. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER SCAUPS. Rosa de Catalina García. Photos: J. Sagardía

 

CRESTED COOT, a rarity to the Canary Islands. Rosa de Catalina García. Photos: J. Sagardía

 

SPOTTED REDSHANK. No one seen at Lanzarote in the last 5 years, but annual at Fuerteventura. Rosa de Catalina García. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLUETHROAT, near a rarity to the Canary Islands. Rosa de Catalina García. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

 

ROSA DE TARO

We spent only a little time at this site and only Ruddy Shelduck (4 birds), Eurasian Teal (1 bird), Common Snipe (2 birds) and Canary Islands Stonechat.

 

OTHER BIRDS SEEN IN THE VISIT

Egyptian Vulture

Common Buzzard

Cream-coloured Courser

Common Raven

 

*SACRED IBIS Threskiornis aethiopicus

-2006:

2 birds at Arrecife on 12/III, 1 bird at Arrecife on 15/III, 2 birds at Arrecife on 17/III, 1 bird at Arrecife on 25/III (F. J. García Vargas).

4 birds at Arrecife on 27/III, 5 birds at Arrecife on 31/III  (J. Sagardía).

 

SACRED IBIS. Arrecife, march 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SACRED IBIS. Arrecife, march 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SACRED IBIS. Arrecife, march 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*GREATER FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus ruber

-2002/2003:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans since 29/VII/02 until 04/I/03 (F. J. García Vargas).

1 bird at Arrecife on 11/IX/02 (F. J. García Vargas)

 

GREATER FLAMINGO. Janubio salt pans, january 2003. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea

-2005:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 04/I, 1^st for Lanzarote (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

RUDDY SHELDUCK. Janubio salt pans, january 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RUDDY SHELDUCK. Janubio salt pans, january 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*COMMON SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna

-2005/2006:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans since 30/XI/05 until 09/I/06 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

5 birds at Janubio salt pans on 16/XII/05 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

COMMON SHELDUCK. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON SHELDUCK. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON SHELDUCK. Janubio salt pans, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*BLUE-WINGED TEAL Anas discors

-2006:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 22/IV, 1^st for Lanzarote (A. Unquiles Cobos, F. J. García Vargas). The bird is relocated on 01/V at Finca La Mareta, near Janubio salt pans, where remained until 07/V (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Yaiza, may 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Yaiza, may 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Yaiza, may 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*GREATER SCAUP Aythya marila

-2005:

2 birds at Janubio salt pans since 24/XI until 30/XI (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

-2006:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans since 12/XI until at least 03/XII (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos, J. Sagardía).

 

GREATER SCAUP. Janubio salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

GREATER SCAUP. Janubio salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus

-2006:

1 bird at Barranco de Tenegüime on 11/III (A. Unquiles Cobos).

 

*AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis dominica

-2006:

1 bird at La Santa on 15/X (A. Unquiles Cobos, F. J. García Vargas).

 

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. La Santa, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. La Santa, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. La Santa, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*MARSH SANDPIPER Tringa stagnatilis

-2002:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 09/X, 1^st for Lanzarote (F. J. García Vargas).

 

*LESSER YELLOWLEGS Tringa flavipes

-2005:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans since 03/XI until 27/XI (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas)

 

LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*SPOTTED SANDPIPER Actitis macularia

-2005:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 26/VIII (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

-2006:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans (the same?) since 12/I until 18/III (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Janubio salt pans, august 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Janubio salt pans, january 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Janubio salt pans, january 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*TEMMINCK´S STINT Calidris temminckii

-2003/2004:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans since 02/XI/03 until 11/IV/04 (F. J. García Vargas).

-2004/2005:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 30/VIII, 03/IX, 17/X and 2 birds at the same place on 25/X/04 but only 1 bird again on 29/X/04 (F. J. García Vargas). This bird remained in the area until 04/IV/05 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

TEMMINCK´S STINT. Los Cocoteros salt pans, november 2004. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Calidris fuscicollis

-2003:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 02/XI and  2 birds on 09/XI, 1^st and 2^nd for Lanzarote (F. J. García Vargas).

-2005:

with the influx that involved a total of 30 birds to the Canary Islands, 6 birds reached Lanzarote:

a)Los Cocoteros salt pans: 4 birds on 14/X and 16/X, 3 birds on 20/X and 21/X (F. J. García Vargas) and only 1 bird until 03/XI (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

b)Janubio salt pans: 1 bird on 14/X (F. J. García Vargas).

c)Arrecife: 1 bird on 19, 20 and 21/X (F. J. García Vargas).

-2006:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 23/IX (F. J. García Vargas).

 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Arrecife, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Los Cocoteros salt pans, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Los Cocoteros salt pans, september 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Los Cocoteros salt pans, september 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos

-2002:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 29/IX (F. J. García Vargas).

-2006:

1 bird at Puerto del Carmen on 24/X (F. J. García Vargas, A. Unquiles Cobos).

 

PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Puerto del Carmen, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Puerto del Carmen, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Puerto del Carmen, october 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*GREY PHALAROPE Phalaropus fulicarius

-2004:

1 bird at Janubio salt pans on 18/XII and 21/XII (F. J. García Vargas).

-2005:

1 bird at Los Cocoteros salt pans on 24/X and 29/X (F. J. García Vargas).

 

GREY PHALAROPE. Los Cocoteros salt pans, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

GREY PHALAROPE. Los Cocoteros salt pans, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*AUDOUIN´S GULL Larus audounii

-2006:

1 ad. bird at Arrecife on 14/I (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

1 2^nd winter bird at Arrecife since 29/I until 15/III (F. J. García Vargas).

 

AUDOUIN´S GULL. Arrecife, january 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

AUDOUIN´S GULL. Arrecife, january 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*RING-BILLED GULL Larus delawarensis

-2004/2005:

1 1^st winter bird at Arrecife since 26/XII/04 until 05/IV/05 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

RING-BILLED GULL. Arrecife, december 2004. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RING-BILLED GULL. Arrecife, december 2004. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melonocephalus

-2005/2006:

A total of 8 1^st winter birds wintering at Arrecife since 22/XI/05 until at least one on 23/III/06. One of the birds with the ring number M81 was ringed at France on 21/VI/05 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

-2006:

1 1^st winter bird at Arrecife on 27/IX (F. J. García Vargas) and 3 birds until at least 02/XII (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

MEDITERRANEAN GULL. Arrecife, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

MEDITERRANEAN GULL. Arrecife, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia

-2000:

1 bird at Caleta de Famara on 07/III (A. Unquiles Cobos).

 

* UNIDENTIFIED YELLOW-BILLED TERN Sterna sp.

-2006:

1 bird at Arrecife since 31/I/06 until 29/III/06 (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

This bird might be a hybrid Lesser-Crested Tern x Sandwich Tern or an odd bird and the possibility of  Cayenne Tern was suggested. The same bird was relocated at Anglesey (U.K.) on 03/VI/06 nesting amongst Sandwich Terns. (Birding World 19 (6): 237-239).

The bird was relocated at Arrecife on 09/IX with the first little flock of returning wintering Sandwich Terns and seen again at Arrecife on 27/IX (F. J. García Vargas).

 

UNIDENTIFIED YELLOW-BILLED TERN. Arrecife, february 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

UNIDENTIFIED YELLOW-BILLED TERN. Arrecife, february 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

UNIDENTIFIED YELLOW-BILLED TERN. Arrecife, september 2006. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii

-2006:

All records from Arrecife: 1 bird on 13/III, 2 birds on 29/III and 1 bird on 05/IV (F. J. García Vargas).

 

*EUROPEAN SCOPS OWL  Otus scops

-2004:

1 bird at Teguise golf on 01/IV (F. J. García Vargas).

 

EUROPEAN SCOPS OWL. Teguise golf, april 2004. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EUROPEAN SCOPS OWL. Teguise golf, april 2004. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*EURASIAN NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus

-2000:

1 bird found dead at Mala on 25/VI (A. Unquiles Cobos).

 

EURASIAN NIGHTJAR. Mala, june 2000. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos

 

*CHIMNEY SWIFT Chaetura pelagica

-2005:

A flock of 5 birds flying over Puerto del Carmen on 31/X (F. J. García Vargas).

2 birds remained until 01/XI at the same place (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

CHIMNEY SWIFT. Puerto del Carmen, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

The chimney and the swift!!!

 

CHIMNEY SWIFT. Puerto del Carmen, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*CRAG MARTIN Ptyonoprogne rupestris

-2006:

3 birds at Playa Blanca on 12/IV (J. Sagardía).

 

*CITRINE WAGTAIL Motacilla citreola

-2005/2006:

1 bird at Arrecife since 20/XI/05 until 18/I/06, 1^st for Lanzarote and 2^nd for the Canary Islands (F. J. García Vargas, J. Sagardía).

 

CITRINE WAGTAIL. Arrecife, november 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CITRINE WAGTAIL. Arrecife, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CITRINE WAGTAIL. Arrecife, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia

-2006:

1 fresh corpse was found in a feeding place of an Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae at Alegranza islet on 04/IX (J. Sagardía).

 

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. Alegranza, september 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia hortensis

-2006:

1 fresh corpse was found in a feeding place of an Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae at Alegranza islet on 04/IX (J. Sagardía).

 

WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER. Alegranza, september 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*ORTOLAN BUNTING Emberiza hortulana

-2006:

1 bird at Alegranza islet on 06/IX (J. Sagardía).

 

ORTOLAN BUNTING. Alegranza, september 2006. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

*COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus

-2005:

1 bird at Alegranza islet on 01/X, 1^st FOR THE CANARY ISLANDS (F. J. García Vargas).

 

COMMON ROSEFINCH. Alegranza, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON ROSEFINCH. Alegranza, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON ROSEFINCH. Alegranza, october 2005. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

*HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes

-2005:

2 birds at Uga on 16/XII, 1^st and 2^nd for Lanzarote and 2^nd and 3^rd for the Canary Islands (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas).

-2006:

1 bird at Teguise golf on 01/III (J. Sagardía, F. J. García Vargas).

 

HAWFINCH. Uga, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

HAWFINCH. Uga, december 2005. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

 

BULWER´S PETREL Bulweria bulwerii. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BULWER´S PETREL Bulweria bulwerii. (chick). Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CORY´S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea borealis. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CORY´S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea borealis. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CORY´S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea borealis. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis. (chick) Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus majorensis. Yaiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus majorensis. Yaiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus dacotiae. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus dacotiae. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus dacotiae. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus dacotiae. Teguise. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus dacotiae. Arrecife. Photo: F.J. García Vargas

 

ELEONORA´S FALCON Falco eleonorae. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

ELEONORA´S FALCON Falco eleonorae. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

ELEONORA´S FALCON Falco eleonorae. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

ELEONORA´S FALCON Falco eleonorae. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. Famara cliffs. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. Famara cliffs. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. Famara cliffs. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. San Bartolomé. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. South coast. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides. South coast. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY PARTRIDGE Alectoris barbara. Teguise golf. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY PARTRIDGE Alectoris barbara. Los Ancones. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARBARY PARTRIDGE Alectoris barbara. Teguise golf. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

HOUBARA BUSTARD Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

HOUBARA BUSTARD Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

HOUBARA BUSTARD Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

HOUBARA BUSTARD Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae. Famara plains. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus. (nest)  Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

STONE-CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus insularum. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

STONE-CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus insularum. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

STONE-CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus insularum. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER Cursorius cursor. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER Cursorius cursor. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. (chick) Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. (nest) Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur. Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto. Teguise golf. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto. Los Cocoteros. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

LAUGHING DOVE Streptopelia senegalensis. Teguise golf. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LAUGHING DOVE Streptopelia senegalensis. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LAUGHING DOVE Streptopelia senegalensis. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARN OWL Tyto alba gracilirostris. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BARN OWL Tyto alba gracilirostris. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

PLAIN SWIFT Apus unicolor. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

PLAIN SWIFT Apus unicolor. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

PLAIN SWIFT Apus unicolor. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

HOOPOE Upupa epops. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

HOOPOE Upupa epops. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella rufescens polatzeki. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella rufescens polatzeki. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BERTHELOT´S PIPIT Anthus berthelotii. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BERTHELOT´S PIPIT Anthus berthelotii. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BERTHELOT´S PIPIT Anthus berthelotii. Guatiza. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SARDINIAN WARBLER Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra. Guinate. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SPECTACLED WARBLER Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SPECTACLED WARBLER Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

AFRICAN BLUE TIT Cyanistes ultramarinus degener. Tabayesco. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

AFRICAN BLUE TIT Cyanistes ultramarinus degener. Tabayesco. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE Lanius meridionalis koenigi. Los Cocoteros. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE Lanius meridionalis koenigi. Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON RAVEN Corvus corax tingitanus. Timanfaya National Park. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON RAVEN Corvus corax tingitanus. Timanfaya National Park. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON RAVEN Corvus corax tingitanus. Famara cliffs. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LINNET Carduelis cannabina harterti. Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LINNET Carduelis cannabina harterti. Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CANARY Serinus canaria. Tabayesco. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

TRUMPETER FINCH Bucanetes githagineus amantum. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

TRUMPETER FINCH Bucanetes githagineus amantum. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

TRUMPETER FINCH Bucanetes githagineus amantum. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SPANISH SPARROW Passer hispaniolensis. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SPANISH SPARROW Passer hispaniolensis. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

GREY HERON. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

GREY HERON. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE EGRET. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE EGRET. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE EGRET. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

GREY PLOVER. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

GREY PLOVER. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

GREY PLOVER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

RINGED PLOVER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

RINGED PLOVER. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

RINGED PLOVER. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BAR-TAILED GODWIT. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BAR-TAILED GODWIT. Playa Honda. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BAR-TAILED GODWIT. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WHIMBREL. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WHIMBREL. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WHIMBREL. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON REDSHANK. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON REDSHANK. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON GREENSHANK. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON GREENSHANK. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON SANDPIPER. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON SANDPIPER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

RUDDY TURNSTONE. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RUDDY TURNSTONE. La Santa. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SANDERLING. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SANDERLING. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

DUNLIN. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

DUNLIN. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BLACK-HEADED GULL. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SANDWICH TERN. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SANDWICH TERN. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SANDWICH TERN. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

BARN SWALLOW. Puerto del Carmen. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WHITE WAGTAIL. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

YELLOW WAGTAIL. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

YELLOW WAGTAIL. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EUROPEAN ROBIN. Haría. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON REDSTART. Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

NORTHERN WHEATEAR. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SONG THRUSH. Teguise golf. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WILLOW WARBLER. Yaiza. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WILLOW WARBLER. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WILLOW WARBLER. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF. Tabayesco. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WOOD WARBLER. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACKCAP. Tabayesco. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON WHITETHROAT. Tabayesco. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SUBALPINE WARBLER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. El Cable-Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

PIED FLYCATCHER. Mala. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

PIED FLYCATCHER. Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON STARLING. Montaña Blanca. Photo: J. Sagardía

by Francisco Javier García Vargas.

 

This is a little guide of the best places for birders in Lanzarote. For more details is interesting you see "A BIRDWATCHER´S GUIDE TO THE CANARY ISLANDS" (Tony Clarke & David Collins, 1996 Prion Ltd. Perry).

 

 

1.-FAMARA CLIFFS

This beautiful landscape with cliffs up to 600m high is one of the best places in the island for Barbary Falcon. In the appropriate season (late spring and summer), Eleonora´s Falcon can be seen too, and with luck, Osprey and Egyptian Vulture. If you visit the area on migration, this is a good place for passage migrant raptors and passerines, specially a wooded called “el bosquecillo”.

 

               

                      Famara cliffs with the Archipiélago Chinijo. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

 

2.-ÓRZOLA COAST

On the coast of Órzola there is a place called “saladar” that at low tide attracts a good number of waders and other kind of birds. Great Cormorant has been seen here and Osprey and Eleonora´s Falcon can be seen flying over this place. This is the classic wintering area for Spoonbill and the best place of the island for Curlew.

 

              

                                                Saladar at Órzola. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

3.-GARDENED AREAS AT THE VILLAGES

The most gardened villages are Haría, Máguez, Mala and Guatiza at north and Yaiza and Uga at south. These gardened areas are highly attractive to migrants and the more densely planted areas should be checked if there is any indication of migration during your visit. At Mala and Guatiza Laughing Doves can be seen easily.

 

              

                                Gardened areas at Uga. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

4.-LOS COCOTEROS SALT PANS

This small area of salt pans is a very good place for migrant waders and Kentish Plover nests in the area. Some rarities like Common Shelduck, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral and White-rumped sandpipers, Temminck´s Stint and Grey Phalarope have been seen here.

 

                                   

                                             Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

 5.-TEGUISE GOLF

This large area of irrigated grassland is the best place in the island for Barbary Partridge and very good for Laughing Dove too. Very attractive to a wide range of migrants like Bee-eaters, swallows, pipits, warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and Black-crowned Night Heron, Wryneck, Scops Owl and Golden Oriole have been seen here.

 

6.-GARDENED AREAS AT TOURIST COMPLEXES

Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen have many gardens associated with the hotels that are highly attractive to migrants and the more densely planted areas should be checked if there is any indication of migration during your visit. Some passerines like Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Redwing or Starling can be seen on winter.

 

7.-ARRECIFE COAST

The rocky shore and offshore reefs are the best place in Lanzarote for gulls and terns, and herons and waders can be seen in the area too. The Islas Canarias park, next to the Reducto beach attracts a good number of passerine migrants and Cattle Egret nests in the tall trees along the sea avenue. The best place for gulls, terns and other migrant birds is  the reef behind the San Gabriel castle, where Black-crowned Night Heron, Spoonbill, Northern Pintail, Audouin´s, Mediterranean and Ring-billed gulls, Sandwich, Common, Roseate, Little and Whiskered Tern have been seen. Next to the capital, on the beach of El Cable there are dunes where Short-toed Lark and Trumpeter Finch can be seen in good numbers.

 

8.-JANUBIO SALT PANS

The large area of salt pans and specially the tidal lagoon is the best place of Lanzarote for migrant and wintering ducks. The most interesting in this place is the shore of the lagoon, where a good number of waders can be seen and the bushes attracts migrant passerines. Black-winged Stilt and Kentish Plover nest here and rarities like Greater Flamingo, Ruddy and Common Shelduck, Greater Scaup, White-rumped and Spotted Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope have been seen here too.

 

                                         

                                              Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

 

9.-LA SANTA COAST

Here is the other “saladar” of the island, which attracts a good number of herons, egrets, waders, gulls and terns. Spoonbill is frequently seen here too. American Golden Plover has been seen at this site.

 

10.-FAMARA PLAINS

This extensive sandy plain is one of the best sites in the island for Houbara Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser and Stone-curlew. Other species include Short-toed Lark, Hoopoe, Berthelot´s Pipit and Great Grey Shrike. Short-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Skylark and White Wagtail can be seen here on winter.

 

11.-BARRANCO DE TABAYESCO

This barranco has many trees and is the best place in the island for African Blue Tit and Canary. Sardinian and Spectacled Warblers can be seen here too. The trees attract a good numbers of migrating passerines and thrushes, Robin and Blackcap are present on winter. These birds attract Sparrowhawk on winter and Common Buzzard is often present here at this season. There is a little dump where Osprey and Barbary and Eleonora´s Falcons come to drink frequently.

 

NEW ADDITIONS

12.-TÍAS GOLF COURSE

Located next to the LZ-505 road (Tías-Puerto del Carmen). Despite having been built recently, the list of species observed in this golf course is fairly wide. Rare and scarce migrants include Squacco Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Collared Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green and Wood Sandpipers, Whiskered Tern, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Greater Short-toed Lark, Sand Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tree and Meadow Pipits, Grey Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Western Olivaceous Warbler and Woodchat Shrike among others.

Red-throated Pipits have wintered here on several occasions and Eleonora´s and Barbary Falcons often visit the area.

Rarities seen here include Semipalmated and Pectoral Sandpipers, Temminck´s Stint, Calandra Lark, Water Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail and Citrine Wagtail.

 

Tías golf course. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

 

 

 

BLACK-NECKED GREBE. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACK-NECKED GREBE. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

PURPLE HERON. Yaiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SQUACCO HERON. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Mala reservoir. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WHITE STORK. Tahiche. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos

 

WHITE STORK. Tahiche. Photo: A. Unquiles Cobos

 

EURASIAN SPOONBILL. Los Cocoteros coast. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EURASIAN SPOONBILL. Órzola. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EURASIAN TEAL. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EURASIAN TEAL (with two Greater Scaups-see rarities photo gallery). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

NORTHERN PINTAIL. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

NORTHERN SHOVELER. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

NORTHERN SHOVELER. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. Órzola. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EURASIAN DOTTEREL. Haría. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

COMMON SNIPE. Teguise golf. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EURASIAN CURLEW. Órzola. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WOOD SANDPIPER. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

RED KNOT. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RED KNOT (with Grey Plover). Janubio salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE STINT. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

CURLEW SANDPIPER. Janubio salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CURLEW SANDPIPER. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

RUFF. Los Cocoteros salt pans. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

ARCTIC SKUA. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

ARCTIC SKUA (with Sandwich Tern). Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

COMMON TERN. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

LITTLE TERN. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

LITTLE TERN. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

SHORT-EARED OWL. Famara plains. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER. Tahiche. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER. Tahiche. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

TREE PIPIT. Teguise golf. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

MEADOW PIPIT. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EUROPEAN STONECHAT. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN STONECHAT. Alegranza. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

EURASIAN REED WARBLER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WESTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WESTERN BONELLI´S WARBLER. Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WESTERN BONELLI´S WARBLER (with Willow Warbler). Alegranza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

GARDEN WARBLER. Arrecife. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

WOODCHAT SHRIKE. Yaiza. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

WOODCHAT SHRIKE. Arrecife. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

 

CHAFFINCH. Guatiza. Photo: J. Sagardía

 

EUROPEAN GREENFINCH. Teguise golf. Photo: F. J. García Vargas