Lanzarote & Fuerteventura, Canary Islands September 22nd to 29th 2011 by Brian Stretch & Jacquie Whittle

Although not a birding holiday, inevitably a number of birds were seen while touring the island of Lanzarote and a couple of special trips were made to seek out a few of the key species. All species listed below were seen on Lanzarote except for a day trip to Fuerteventura and the birds seen there are mentioned as such. The variety of species present in the eastern Canaries is fairly limited, but some very special birds provided great views and only two species failed to cooperate during the week. Barbary Falcon could not be located at the traditional site of Famara Cliffs and Barbary Partridge was not seen despite searching suitable habitat on both islands. Cory’s Shearwater  Calonectris diomedea borealis One was seen from the Corrajelo to Playa Blanca ferry during the evening of 27th. Buzzard  Buteo buteo insularum On Fuerteventura, a very vocal bird was seen in flight just east of La Oliva on 27th. Osprey  Pandion haliaetus One at El Rubicon circled over the compound along the track east of the LZ2 during the early morning of 28th. Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus dacotiae Encountered daily particularly along roadsides and also along the Famara Cliffs. Spoonbill  Platalea leucorodia  A juvenile flew north-east over Playa Blanca ferry terminal on 27th. Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea On Fuerteventura, one was seen in flight just east of La Oliva on 27th. Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis Noted most days around the centre of the island particularly around Mozaga where a flock of at least 60 were following sheep along the LZ34 at nearby Hoya de Herrera on 25th.                                                                 Cattle Egrets at Hoya de Herrera, Lanzarote. Photo: Jacquie Whittle Houbara Bustard  Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae The undoubted ornithological highlight of the trip. At least seven at El Rubicon were seen from the track east of the LZ2 during the early morning of 28th. The views obtained were far better than originally anticipated with many birds showing well out in the open as they crossed the numerous tracks and a few also showed well in flight. The key to success here is to visit early morning (although it didn’t get light until 7.30am), remain in your car at all times and stay on the main tracks. Although the range of Houbara Bustard extends across North Africa, Lanzarote has the highest population density and the birds at El Rubicon are probably the most accessible.  Houbara Bustard at El Rubicon, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus Eighteen were seen at Laguna de Janubio on 24th. Stone Curlew  Burhinus oedicnemus One at El Rubicon was seen from the track east of the LZ2. Cream-coloured Courser  Cursorius cursor Twelve at El Rubicon were seen from near the west end of the track east of the LZ2 during the early morning of 28th. A few inquisitive birds showed very well. Cream-coloured Courser at El Rubicon, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula One was at Playa Blanca on 25th and two in Arrecife were at Charco de San Gines on 29th. Sanderling  Calidris alba On Fuerteventura, one flew north offshore from on 27th. Turnstone  Arenaria interpres Two were seen: one on rocks at Playa Blanca on 25th; one on Fuerteventura flew around Corrajelo harbour on 27th. Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos One was at Playa Blanca on 25th and two in Arrecife were at Charco de San Gines on 29th. Greenshank  Tringa nubularia Two were seen at Laguna de Janubio on 24th. Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus A very confiding bird was in Arrecife at Charco de San Gines on 29th. Whimbrel at Arrecife, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch Yellow-legged Gull  Larus michahellis The only gull species seen and noted all around the island in small numbers. The largest numbers were noted inland with c80 roosting in fields at the south end of El Jable on 28th. Sandwich Tern  Sterna sandvicensis Three were seen at Playa Blanca marina on 23rd. Rock Dove  Columba livia Several were seen along the Famara Cliffs while feral birds were abundant around towns and villages. Eurasian Collared Dove  Streptopelia decaocto Abundant around towns and villages and far more confiding in nature than in Britain. Common Swift  Apus apus Two were seen at Playa Blanca on 25th and several were noted around Arrecife on 29th. Hoopoe  Upupa epops  On Fuerteventura, one was seen by the roadside at La Oliva on 27th. Lesser Short-toed Lark  Calandrella rufescens polatzeki A flock of around 30 were seen along the LZ404 between Teseguite and the LZ1 on 25th, some of which afforded great views. Also heard at various other sites including El Rubican and El Jable. Berthelot’s Pipit  Anthus berthelotii Seen daily in all habitats and at all altitudes and often found wandering around car parks where they were very confiding. Berthelot's Pipit at Mirador de Rio, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch Canary Islands Stonechat  Saxicola dacotiae Although this species has been reported from southern Lanzarote in recent years, only by visiting Fuerteventura can success be guaranteed when searching for this rare endemic. At least five showed very well just east of La Oliva along the track off the Caldereta road on 27th. Female Canary Islands Chat at La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Photos: Jacquie Whittle Male Canary Islands Chat at La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Photo: Brian Stretch   Spectacled Warbler  Sylvia conspicillata This species was often heard on Lanzarote but rarely seen. Several, far more confiding birds were seen on Fuerteventura in the area east of La Oliva on 27th. Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus One at Playa Blanca was in our hotel grounds on 29th and shared the same small tree as the Pied Flycatcher below. Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula hypoleuca One at Playa Blanca was in our hotel grounds on 28th and 29th. Pied Flycatcher at Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch African Blue Tit  Cyanistes ultramarinus Two were seen briefly around the cultivations south of Haria on 26th. Southern Grey Shrike  Lanius elegans Seen daily all around the island often feeding on the ground and most vegetated areas were patrolled by at least one individual. On Fuerteventura, at least one was seen just east of La Oliva on 27th. Southern Grey Shrike at La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Photo: Jacquie Whittle Raven  Corvus corax A few were noted at Mirador de Rio and around the cultivated valley just south of Haria on 26th while three were seen on Fuerteventura just east of La Oliva on 27th. Spanish Sparrow  Passer hispaniolensis Encountered daily around all towns and villages but by far the most confiding birds were up to three feeding around the tables inside the hotel restaurant on 28th. Male Spanish Sparrow at Jardin de Cactus, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch Linnet  Carduelis cannabina A few were noted along the LZ404 between Teseguite and the LZ1 on 25th and around the lower hairpin bends in the cultivated valley just south of Haria on 26th. Canary  Serinus canaria Around a dozen mobile birds were present around the lower hairpin bends in the cultivated valley just south of Haria on 26th - the only reliable site for this species in the eastern Canaries. Trumpeter Finch  Bucanetes githagineus Several very mobile birds at El Rubicon were heard while watching the Houbara Bustards on 28th.                                                                                    El Rubicon, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch                                                Laguna de Janubio, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch                                              Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote. Photo: Brian Stretch La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Photo: Brian Stretch La Oliva, Fuerteventura. Photo: Brian Stretch Dunes National Park, Fuerteventura. Photo: Brian Stretch Copyright: Birding Today (Copyright of photos remain with the credited photographers).