THE LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER AT TÍAS GOLF COURSE, FIRST FOR LANZAROTE

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Francisco Javier Garcia Vargas

by Francisco Javier García Vargas

On 19/IX, I was at Tías golf course when I saw that the Buff-breasted Sandpipers and the Pectoral Sandpiper were still present.

A Ruff was joining them and I saw another wader feeding at the pond, so I approached it.

And for my joy, I could see that it was a Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus.

It was a spectacle to see three species of nearctic waders at the same time.

This will be (if accepted) the first record of Long-billed Dowitcher for Lanzarote and the eastern side of the Canary Islands.

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

Long-billed Dowitcher-Limnodromus scolopaceus-Agujeta escolopácea

Tías golf course. Photo: F. J. García Vargas

THE PELAGIC TRIPS AT NORTH OF LANZAROTE ON 10 AND 11/IX/2011

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Francisco Javier Garcia Vargas

by Juan Sagardía Pradera

On 10 and 11/IX, I arranged two pelagic trips to the North of Lanzarote.

A total of 26 birders enjoyed the trips, being some of them from the island and the most of the group coming from mainland Spain.

We travelled to about 60 miles to the North, and the trips were very productive, observing four new species for our list.

The bigger and astonishing surprises were: Black-bellied Storm Petrel (1 bird seen on 10/IX at 40 miles of Lanzarote, flying at 20 or 30 metres of the ship. This will be (if accepted) a FIRST FOR SPAIN.) and South Polar Skua (a total of 4 birds, watching 3 at about 57 miles of Lanzarote and a fourth at about 15 miles of the island. These birds will be (if accepted) the FIRST FOR SPAIN too).

The other first for our list were: Wilson´s Storm Petrel (a number of between 10 and 15 birds seen on 10/IX and 10 birds seen on 11/IX) and Long-tailed Skua (8 birds seen on 10/IX and 7 birds seen on 11/IX, first for Lanzarote).

Another highlights of the trips were: Great Shearwater (more the 50 birds seen both days), Manx Shearwater (10 birds on 10/IX and 15 birds on 11/IX), Sooty Shearwater (3 birds seen on 10/IX), Red Phalarope (1 bird seen each day), Pomarine Skua (1 bird seen on 10/IX and 3 birds seen on 11/IX), Arctic Tern (a number of between 15 and 20 birds seen on 10/IX and 13 birds seen on 11/IX) and Black Tern (2 birds on 10/IX and 1 bird on 11/IX).

Without any doubt a beautiful experience enjoyed by all the assistants.

I would like to thank Miguel Rouco for providing us his picture of Black-bellied Storm Petrel.

SPECIES	NUMBERS OF	BIRDS
	10/IX/2011	11/IX/2011
Calonectris borealis	>100	>100
Puffinus gravis	>50	>50
Puffinus puffinus	10	15
Puffinus griseus	3	-
Bulweria bulwerii	>100	50
Hydrobates pelagicus	2	1
*Oceanites oceanicus*	10-15	10
Oceanodroma castro	25-30	15-20
Pelagodroma marina	5	5
*Fregetta tropica*	1	-
Falco eleonorae	1	-
*Phalaropus fulicarius*	1	1
*Stercorarius maccormicki*	-	4
Stercorarius pomarinus	1	3
*Stercorarius longicaudus*	8	7
*Sterna paradisea*	15-20	13
Sterna hirundo	7	6
Chlidonias niger	2	1

■ FIRST FOR SPAIN ■ SPANISH RARITY ■ RARITY FOR THE CANARY ISLANDS

PHOTOGRAPHS