We visited Tenerife from 12th-26th February 2010 mostly to get some winter sun but also to try and see several birds which we had not tried for on an earlier visit and to see and photograph as many endemic butterflies and dragonflies as we could. Unfortunately, perhaps owing to the wet winter and the torrential rain on at least one day of our first week, insects were hard to find but we did manage a few.
We stayed between Costa Adeje and La Caleta which is a lot quieter area than Los Christianos/Playa de las Americas just down the road, but has the same parking problems, i.e few hotels have dedicated parking, which meant in practice once we had left the hotel we couldn’t return till at least 4.00pm when some staff left. Not a problem in good weather but difficult when it closes in.
Birds
Common birds around the resorts were Yellow-legged Gull ssp atlantis Spanish Sparrow, Collared/African Collared Dove and lots of Chiffs.
We saw both pigeons at Erjos by walking 1.4km along the track into the laurel forest to where it turns sharp left. A footpath goes straight on and after about 20m opens out to look over the trees. We visited twice and saw 2 Laurels and 3 Bolles the first time and 2 Bolles the second. Each visit was about midday and we didn’t stay for more than 3/4hr. All pigeons were very close, 50m maximum, though views were brief.
Walking the track also produced Tenerife Robin, Tenerife Goldcrest, tintillon Chaffinches, Canaries, Sardinian Warbler, Buzzard and a newly arrived flock of Plain Swifts
Nearby Erjos Ponds had several Coots and a surprise young male Wood Duck first noted in autumn 2009 apparently.
Our first visit to Las Lajas picnic site was in wet cold weather but we still managed Canaries, African Blue Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. We had to wait for a second visit in slightly better conditions to see Blue Chaffinch but we then saw 7 males and a female, at least two of the males sporting shiny metal rings on their right legs.
Other than the above Berthelots Pipit is still a relatively common bird in open country, we saw 2 Barbary Partridges randomly crossing the road and Canary Island Chiffs were common, calling and singing. On at least one occasion we heard what may have been Iberian Chiff singing and several birds seen and heard calling looked to be from northern European populations.
We only saw Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe and Spectacled Warbler on some rough hillside near Adeje, though they are likely to be easier later in the season
We also believe that both Collared and African Collared Doves are meant to occur but they take some sorting out and we wondered if they were hybridising anyway. We also saw long tailed, dark faced parrots especially at the Las Americanas Golf course (good for Moorhen and Little Egret) which may have been Monk Parakeets.
Butterflies
Generally scarce when we were there, we only saw Monarch (scarce) and African Grass Blue (common on open grassy areas) around the resorts, which was disappointing as we were expecting others including Bath White and African Migrant. We found lots of Small Whites and one Canary Speckled Wood at a small botanical garden near Adeje but the only good butterfly watching was along the Erjos track with Canarian Red Admiral and Speckled Wood, as well as Small Copper. Several Painted Ladies were seen around and about but none stopped for any length of time.
Dragonflies
Scarlet Darters were found in small numbers in dry coastal habitat and there were several Emperors seen, mostly at Erjos Ponds where egg-laying was noted. The only (perhaps) endemic seen was Atlantic Darter with several along the Erjos track, mostly by the stream but also at the pigeon site.
Orchids
We went with little information on local orchids available unfortunately apart from knowing they are in the Sanatiago/Masca area. We did find Gennaria diphylla in full flower (such as it is) along the Erjos track perhaps 500m after the pigeon site.
Other stuff
One prominent feature of the fauna were lizards and we saw at least two species, Canary Lined Lizard and Tenerife Spotted Lizard, the latter at Erjos. We also heard Tree Frog at Erjos Ponds
Sites
Apart from those mentioned we did want to walk the Barranco del Infierno track for Barbary Falcon and Partridge plus dragonflies and butterflies. Unfortunately it was closed for track refurbishment and may not open any time soon because of the recent floods.