Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Houbara Bustard |
 Blue Chaffinch |
 Canary Islands Chat |
|
 Egyptian Vulture |
 African Blue Tit |
||
Introduction and background
This nineteen-day visit to the Canaries from Australia was designed to see the endemics and near-endemics of the islands. In this it was very successful as we saw all our 13 target species. The relatively low total of 51 species was to be expected as most migrants were absent at this time of year. In working out an itinerary, we wanted to make sure there was enough time for any difficult species with minimal time constraints. In the event, most could probably have been seen over a shorter, albeit more rushed, visit. All the logistics were planned and booked in advance and there were no problems. We chose accommodation away from tourist areas and best suited for visiting the various birding sites.
The following trip reports were very helpful: Lanzarote: Mears (2018), Miller (2012); Fuerteventura: Callagher (2019), Bosanquet (2019), Barfield (2019; Tenerife: Flumm (2018) & Betts & Small (2012). Google maps worked very well on the three islands we visited, and the road systems in all three islands were excellent. Supermarkets are present in all the main towns and there are many very good restaurants. We had a great time, although generally speaking, birds were quite thin on the ground and needed a bit of work.
Logistics
Travel: Madrid – Lanzarote on Ryanair; inter-island flights on Binter; Tenerife – London on EasyJet.
Car hire: Hertz on all three islands. Booked in advance.
Accommodation: All booked in advance.
Lanzarote: Hotel Rural de la Florida (4 days), Finca las Laderas (3 days – self-catering).
Fuerteventura: Hotel El Mirador de Fuerteventura, Puerto Rosario.
Tenerife: Casa Ramon B&B, La Esperanza (Self-catering).
Itinerary
16 June - 22 June: Lanzarote
23 June – 28 June: Fuerteventura
28 June – 5 July: Tenerife
Lanzarote Sites and Birds
Teguise Plain: The first site we visited was as described in Miller’s 2012 report: ‘out of Monique towards Soo, after about 500 metres take the first main track to the right’. Here between 11 and 1 pm we had good views of three Houbara Bustards, several Berthelot’s Pipits, at least a dozen Cream-coloured Courser, a Great Grey Shrike and Pallid Swifts.
The other main site was around the three crosses – close views were had of Houbara Bustard on the track heading towards the main LZ30 road. Plain Swifts were common in this area.
Parque El Bosquecillo: This well-vegetated reserve is adjacent to the large radar domes on the cliffs before descending to Haria. We spent two hours here from first light, but it was disappointing. The highlight was our first Atlantic Canary. Also present were Linnet, Raven, Berthelot’s Pipit and Kestrel.
Haria: We explored the hillside behind the Cesar Manrique Museum. Birds included Eurasian Stone-curlew, Atlantic Canary, Kestrel, Spanish Sparrow, Berthelot’s Pipit, Eurasian Collared Dove, Spectacled Warbler and Common Chiffchaff.
Tabayesco: We followed the directions in Mears (2018): ‘The track is located at the end of Calle el Chafariz, the first road on the right when entering Tabayesco from the LZ‐01’. We walked this track on several occasions and it did not disappoint. Species included Barbary Partridge, Kestrel, African Blue Tit, Trumpeter Finch, Eurasian Stone-curlew, House Martin, Linnet, Spanish Sparrow, Berthelot’s Pipit, Hoopoe and Yellow-legged Gull.
Charco del Palo: Two separate sea watches here gave us large numbers of Cory’s Shearwater (one of our target species) but nothing else.
Salinas de Janubio: This reserve adjacent to the saltworks produced no surprises and species recorded were: Ruddy Shelduck, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Dunlin, Yellow-legged Gull and offshore more Cory’s Shearwater.
Fuerteventura Sites and Birds
Barranco del Rio Cabras: This was the most productive birding site for us, perhaps due to the presence of fresh water in an otherwise very arid landscape. It was only a 15 minute drive from our hotel. We followed the directions in several trip reports and parked near the lone palm tree and walked down to the Barranco. We visited it four times, and on each occasion the endemic Canary Islands Stonechat was easy to locate. At least four Egyptian Vultures perched on the nearby power poles or were seen circling. Other species included: Raven, Common Buzzard, Yellow-legged Gull, Berthelot’s Pipit, Laughing Dove, European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Grey Shrike, Grey Heron, European Roller (one seen on two different days), Spectacled Warbler, Trumpeter Finch, Spanish Sparrow, Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Ruddy Shelduck.
El Cotillo: This is the well-documented Red-billed Tropicbird site, but despite much searching we were unable to locate any – either at the lighthouse site or along the cliffs. It was probably the wrong time of year?
Tindaya Plain: This was another disappointing site. We visited it on two occasions – driving many of the roads crossing it, but there was a marked absence of birds! The only species recorded were: Raven, Kestrel, Trumpeter Finch, Spanish Sparrow and Great Grey Shrike. There were however, plenty of Barbary Squirrels.
Betancuria: This mountain village was touted as the greenest place on the island. Well, it is fairly green, mainly due to exotic trees. We only recorded Eurasian Collared Dove, Kestrel, Spectacled Warber and Spanish Sparrow.
Embalse de los Molinos: This large dam in the hills was at a very low level and only yielded Ruddy Shelduck (at least 30), Black-winged Stilt, Plain Swift and Spanish Sparrow.
Barranco de la Torre: This well-vegetated site looked as though it should be productive, but we only recorded Egyptian Vulture (three overhead), Common Buzzard, Raven, Great Grey Shrike, Spectacled Warbler, Spanish Sparrow and Yellow-legged Gull.
Tenerife Sites and Birds
Mt Teide
The following sites are all along the TF24
Pista los ovejeros- Barranco Hondo, carpark area (visited three times) 10 km marker: Blue Chaffinch, African Blue Tit, Canary Chiffchaff and Blackbird.
Forestal area 15-16 km marker (visited four times): Tenerife Goldcrest, African Blue Tit, Berthelot’s Pipit, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Chaffinch, Atlantic Canary, European Robin.
El Portillo restaurant (closed) area (visited once): Canary Chiffchaff, large numbers of Atlantic Canary, Barbary Falcon and Plain Swift.
Las Lajas
This well-documented site on the TF21north of Vilaflor was visited once. The bird bath at the back of the picnic area gave us close views of many Blue Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Atlantic Canary and African Blue Tit.
La Grimonas
Another well-known site – a small parking area on the busy TF5 from which the adjacent forested hillside could be viewed. At least five Laurel Pigeons were seen sitting in the trees and a single Bolle’s Pigeon was seen flying. Other species were Barbary Falcon, Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Rock Dove. The pigeons all disappeared after about 0830 once the sun was fully on the trees.
Erjos Pools
Water levels were relatively low. We saw African Blue Tit, Atlantic Canary and Barbary Partridge.
Erjos Laurel Forest
An interesting area although we visited it during light rain and mist. We did however, get good views of perched Bolle’s Pigeon. Other species included Canary Chiffchaff, Common Chaffinch, Atlantic Canary and Blackbird.
Anaga Mountains – Llano de los Viejos (just north of Las Mercedes)
Another very interesting mixed forest area. We visited this park three times and on each occasion found Tenerife Goldcrest to be abundant in the laurel trees around the carpark. Also common were European Robin, African Blue Tit, Blackbird and Common Chaffinch.
Summary of key species:
Barbary Partridge: Relatively common on Lanzarote, seen on Tenerife, but not on Fuerteventura.
Houbara Bustard: We only found this species on the Teguise Plains of Lanzarote and could not locate any on Fuerteventura.
Laurel Pigeon: Only seen at the La Grimonas site where seemingly common.
Bolle’s Pigeon: Seen at La Grimonas and Erjos Laurel Forest
Plain Swift: Common throughout the three islands.
African Blue Tit: Relatively common on Lanzarote and Tenerife, but we did not record this species on Fuerteventura.
Canary Islands Stonechat: This Fuerteventura endemic was common at Rio Cabras, but not seen anywhere else on the island.
Berthelot’s Pipit: Common throughout the three islands.
Blue Chaffinch: This Tenerife species was relatively common in the forests of Mt Teide, probably easiest seen at Las Lajas.
Tenerife Goldcrest: Common in most mountain forest areas of Tenerife, but often only heard rather than seen.
Canary Islands Chiffchaff: Only seen on Tenerife where it appears to be widespread in a variety of habitats, including built up areas.
Atlantic Canary: Common throughout the three islands.