Fuerteventura, 20th March- 27th March 2004

Introduction:

As there are many trip reports on the Canaries, this one will give you just a few recommendations on some areas (which are quite well covered by Gosney's and Clarke's guides and many trip reports) visited during our holiday. It's fairly unnecessary to give information on what flights, car etc. we booked, because there are lots of websites about it on the internet. I think it's clear that Fuerteventura is a rather cheap destination.

Itinerary:

20th March- Day of arrival, no birding
21st March- Costa Calma Plains (Isthmo de la Pared), Rosa de Catalina Garcia, Los Molinos
22nd March- Costa Calma Plains, Costa Calma Forest, Barranco de la Torre, pools nearby road FV-2
23rd March- Playa de Sotavento, Puerto del Rosario, Rosa del Taro, plains near Triquivijate (see also Gosney), La Lajita
24th March- Corralejo, Rosa de Los Negrines, La Vega de Rio de las Palmas, Rosa de Catalina Garcia
25th March- Playa de Sotavento, La Lajita Zoo
26th March- Costa Calma Plains
27th March- Day of departure

Birding Sites:

Costa Calma Plains- very good site for all of the desert species. Come here in the early morning because of disturbing walkers (especially dog-walkers), joggers etc. We found this area both nice and productive, but failed to see Stone Curlew. Very common species are Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike and of course Lesser Short-toed Lark. Quite easy to see are also Houbara Bustard and Cream-coloured Courser.

Rosa de Catalina Garcia- we found this to be the best wetland-site on Fuerteventura. Highlights were Purple Heron, Collared Pratincole, Ruddy Shelduck with chicks and a variety of waders (see also systematic list).

Los Molinos- this site was rather disappointing though we had Canary Islands Chat, Ruddy Shelduck, Egyptian Vulture and some waders as well as Barbary Falcon and a huge flock of swifts and hirundines. But the vegetation was dead (see also earlier trip reports) and no Marbled or other ducks around.

Costa Calma Forest- as this is one of the few "green" sites, birds here mainly include passerines like Goldfinch, Linnet and some warblers.

Barranco de la Torre- a very nice landscape with some good birds. Trumpeter Finch and Canary Islands Chat are both seen with ease. We had no Barbary Partridges and Egyptian Vultures here, but lots of Barbary Ground Squirrels.

Near the FV-2 cutting the Barranco there's a restaurant with a nearby pool. When we appeared at the pool it held some waders, hirundines and a pair of Ruddy Shelduck.

Playa de Sotavento - situated between Casas Risco del Paso and Hotel Sol Gorriones and so one of the best sites for gulls, terns, waders etc, but it is essential to come in the early morning to avoid flocks of tourists instead of birds.

Puerto del Rosario - the little "lagoons" at the harbour district can be good for waders, roosting gulls/terns. Furthermore seawatching is a good alternative as we had some Cory's Shearwaters coming very close to the shoreline.

Rosa del Taro- this little pool with its reedbed and nearby trees near Triquivijate hosted some interesting passerines. Red-throated Pipit, Song Thrush, Redwing, Subalpine Warbler, Blue Tit were all observed here.

Area around La Lajita/Barranco- we looked for Barbary Partridge here without any results. We had Laughing Dove and possible African Collared Dove (domestic form).

Rosa de Los Negrines- this site near La Oliva produced good views of Houbara Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser and Trumpeter Finch.

La Vega de Rio de las Palma - a beautiful valley with nice birds. A must for Fuerteventura-Visitors! Although the Embalse at the end of the river is dry this site is worth at least one visit. Birds here included Egyptian Vulture at a regular roosting-site in the cliffs, many Turtle Doves, Barbary Partridge, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blue Tit, Robin etc.

Systematic birdlist (also escapes/not mentioned the various Fuerteventura-subspecies)

Species Lists

1. Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)- 4-5 ind. at Puerto del Rosario on 23rd Mar

2. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)- Seen with up to 7 birds at several places

3. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)- Not that common, but also in good numbers (9 birds at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 24th Mar)

4. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)- Surprisingly 4 ind. at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 24th Mar as a result of strong easterly wind

5. Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)- 1 ind. at Playa de Sotavento on 25th Mar

6. Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)- On 24th Mar 3 birds flew over StellaCanaris/Jandia

7. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)- One adult and a young bird at Playa de Sotavento on 23rd and 25th Mar

8. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)- Seen at various wetlands with a pair with 10 chicks at Rosa de Catalina Garcia and a peakcount of 17 birds at Los Molinos

9. Northern Shoveler (Anas platalea)- A female roosting at Salinas del Carmen near Barranco de la Torre on 22nd Mar

10. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)- This sought-after bird was seen with a displaying pair near Los Molinos on 24th Mar and one roosting and soaring ind. (mobbed by a Common Buzzard) on 24th Mar. as well as one bird near Barranco de la Torre on 27th Mar

11. Montagu's Harrier/Hen Harrier (Circus pygargus/Circus cyaneus)- A very distant male of one of this species was shortly seen at Costa Calma Plains on 21st Mar

12. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)- Seen in single figures at lots of places

13. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)- See above. One male at Costa Calma Plains showed indications to Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)

14. Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides)- Seen once at Los Molinos on 21st Mar

15. Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)- Just one bird was observed at La Vega de Rio de Las Palma on 24th Mar

16. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)- Abundant at several wetlands just as Los Molinos and Rosa de Catalina Garcia

17. Coot (Fulica atra)- Common at all wetland-sites

18. Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)- Well observed with 2 birds on 22nd Mar and 2 other birds on 26th Mar at Costa Calma Plains and one bird at Rosa de Los Negrines on 24th Mar

19. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)- Sightings at Rosa de Catalina Garcia with at least 5 birds and at several other mudflats

20. Cream-coloured Cursor (Cursorius cursor)- We saw this exciting bird at Costa Calma Plains mainly with up to 10 ind. on 26th Mar. Appeared also at Rosa de Los Negrines on 24th Mar

21. Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)- This very unexpected bird took a break at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 24th Mar. 5 roosting breeding-plumaged ind.

22. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)- The commonest Plover of the island seen on nearly all days at different locations from coastal habits to inland-pools

23. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)- Also quite common at various sites, but not in that numbers Little Ringed Plover was represented.

24. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)- The total count lies between Little R. and Ringed P. Good observations at Playa de Sotavento and Rosa de Catalina Garcia

25. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)- Seen only in singles or little parties together with Turnstone. Always at coastal habits like Salinas del Carmen or Puerto del Rosario

26. Sanderling (Calidris alba)- Quite impressing flocks at Playa de Sotavento on 23rd and 25th Mar (about 100 ind.) but even in Puerto del Rosario with 50 birds near the harbour

27. Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)- Little flocks and singles at coastal sites as Salinas del Carmen etc.

28. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)- Seen at Rosa de Catalina Garcia mainly with about 20 birds on 24th Mar. Also Playa de Sotavento. Partially breeding plumage

29. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)- See above but no breeding plumage

30. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)- Only one single bird at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 23rd and 24th Mar

31. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)- A few birds at Rosa de Catalina Garcia, Los Molinos and a little pool beside the FV-2 near Barranco de la Torre

32. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)- Also a few ind. at inland locations, but not that numerous as Wood S.

33. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)- Very regular at various sites but not very numerous

34. Redshank (Tringa totanus)- Was found at Rosa de Catalina Garcia with 5+ birds

35. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)- One winter-plumaged individual at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 23rd and 24th Mar

36. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)- Several sightings at Rosa de Catalina Garcia, Los Molinos and the little pool near Barranco de la Torre

37. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)- One bird at Los Molinos on 21st Mar and another bird at Playa de Sotavento on 23rd Mar

38. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)- A regular flock of 25 birds at Playa de Sotavento on 23rd Mar and small parties at the shore along the island

39. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)- Only seen at Los Molinos and Rosa de Catalina Garcia with 1-2 birds

40. Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)- A single bird at Rosa de Catalina Garcia on 23rd Mar. Next day 4 birds at the same place

41. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)- Singles were observed especially at Playa de Sotavento

42. Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)- A beautiful bird in full breeding plumage at Playa de Sotavento on 25th Mar together with a Black-headed Gull

43. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)- Ubiquitous even in dry areas

44. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)- Singles of graellsii or intermedius at coastal sites and Rosa de Catalina Garcia

45. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)- Common at shoreline with a huge mixed flock of about 1000 birds at Playa de Sotavento on 25th Mar

46. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)- Singles along the coast and tens of birds in a huge flock of terns (see above)

47. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)- Only about 10 birds in the group of terns on 25th Mar

48. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)- Good observations only at Costa Calma Plains but quite common here. Seen not just in flight but also sitting on the ground

49. Rock Dove (Columba livia)- Some birds seemed to be of the original form (Barranco de la Torre, La Vega de Rio de Las Palma) but also lots of domestic races

50. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)- Common throughout urban areas

51. African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)- A little whitish dove at La Lajita zoo on 25th Mar might have been of this specimen probably of the domestic form

52. Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)- Only recorded at La Vega de Rio de Las Palma on 24th Mar with 10 birds

53. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)- A single bird at La Lajita on 23rd and 25th Mar

54. Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)- Not that common we expected. Singles around Jandia beach and Rosa de Catalina Garcia

55. Plain Swift (Apus unicolor)- Quite common at several sites. Many birds at Los Molinos with some possible Common Swifts

56. Hoopoe (Upupa epops)- Very common at desertial sites just as Costa Calma Plains

57. Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)- Only near the 'Palm Garden' in Jandia with about 5 birds.

58. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)- Same place as specimen above, but more numerous. Recorded all days

59. Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)- Commonest bird at arid places

60. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)- Single birds were seen together with other hirundines over pools on 22nd and 24th Mar

61. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)- Not uncommon over pools (Los Molinos, Rosa de Catalina Garcia) in low numbers

62. Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)- Maybe because of easterly wind a few records of this bird. 2 ind. at Los Molinos on 21st Mar, 2 ind. at the pool near Barranco de la Torre and 1 ind. at Los Molinos on 24th Mar

63. House Martin (Delichon urbica)- Noted at pools (see above) all over the island, but just single birds

64. Berthelot's Pipit (Anthus berthelotii)- Common at various sites especially near hotelgrounds and Costa Calma Plains

65. Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)- One surprising first-winter bird at Rosa del Taro on 23rd Mar

66. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)- Single birds near Los Molinos and Rosa de Catalina Garcia on several visits

67. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)- Two birds at Los Molinos and Rosa de Catalina Garcia were adult males of ssp. iberiae

68. Robin (Erithacus rubecula)- Only one bird at La Vega de Rio de las Palma on 24th Mar

69. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)- 5 birds at Costa Calma Plains on 26th Mar. Two birds might have been of the ssp. leucorhoa

70. Canary Islands Chat (Saxicola dacotiae)- Not uncommon at dry places with scrub. Even at Los Molinos without its tamarisks we observed 2,1 ind. Typical barranco-bird

71. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)- One bird at Rosa del Taro on 23rd Mar and another ind. at La Vega de Rio de las Palma in flight

72. Redwing (Turdus iliacus)- One ind. together with Song Thrush at Rosa del Taro

73. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)- A few ind. at La Lajita zoo, Costa Calma Forest and La Vega de Rio de las Palma

74. Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)- This nice bird was only recorded at La Vega de Rio de las Palma, but in good numbers here

75. Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata)- Typical and common bird of dry plains with low scrub. Fairly easy to see near the Hotel Sol Gorriones, where we also had...

76. Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)- Surprisingly we had this nice bird (exceptional adult males) not just once but threetimes at Sol Gorriones, La Vega de Rio de las Palma and Rosa del Taro. Very good observations!

77. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)- Some birds at La Vega de Rio de las Palma, Costa Calma Forest and Sol Gorriones

78. Western Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli)- A further surprise! A very tame bird at La Vega de Rio de las Palma on 24th Mar was an unexpected highlight

79. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)- Similar to Willow Warbler

80. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)- Not as common as expected and only in wooded areas like Costa Calma Forest, but also Rosa del Taro and a feeding pair at La Vega de Rio de las Palma

81. Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)- Common in suitable habitat

82. Raven (Corvus corax)- Voice and size differs from these of european birds. Common, but avoids human contact

83. Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)- Common all over the island, but shy

84. Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)- Few birds at Costa Calma Forest and near Sol Gorriones

85. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)- Much more common than other finch-like species, especially at Costa Calma Forest

86. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)- Only one bird flew past at Costa Calma Forest on 22nd Mar

87. Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus)- Several sightings at Rosa de Catalina Garcia, Barranco de la Torre and Los Molinos with up to 30 birds

88. Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)- Singing males at Costa Calma Plains, Rosa del Taro and near La Oliva