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Page 2 Site 5 Rare waterbirds have been reported at Malpalomas Pond, at the southern tip of the island (Blue-winged Teal, winter 2005–06), Aldea Blanca on the west coast (American Wigeon, March 2005) and the Barranco de Tirajana in the centre of the island (Blue-winged Teal, March 2007). Laughing Dove has been reported breeding at 'the golf couse' and birders have taken pelagics from Puerto Rico (south-west coast) in May and had exciting seabirds including Red-billed Tropicbird, White-faced, Madeiran, Bulwer's and Wilson's Petrels, and Little and Sooty Shearwaters (Birding World). Page 4 Site 1 Following the Yellow-browed Warbler sighting in December 1994 (see page 26), another was seen in January 2007 (Birding World). There was a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the beach in September 2006 (Birding World). Site 2 In Birding World and elsewhere, this site is referred to as the Salinas del Carmen. Recent rarities here have included Audouin's Gull (Feb 2005), White-rumped Sandpiper (Oct 2005) and Marsh Sandpiper (Jan 2007). New sites on Fuerteventura The botanic gardens at La Lajita have nesting Monk Parakeets (Frances Gatens). The small town of Betancuria is a site for Canaries, with up to 15 seen there last winter (2006–07). The trees and bushes here can also be good for migrants such as Pied Flycatchers (Frances Gatens). Page 7 Frances Gatens reports that the main track described is now impassable, but other tracks in the area could still be productive. She particularly recommends the track south from Triquivijate towards Las Pocetas. She counted 27 Egyptian Vultures coming to roost on the pylons here and had 7 Cream-coloured Coursers and a Dotterel in a walled field marked by a red fuel tank. A couple of miles north of Triquivijate, next to the FV430 road, she found a small wetland called La Rosa del Taro with small numbers of stilts, Coots and Moorhens, 4 Indian Spotbills of unknown origin and a flock of 40 Cattle Egrets. Nearby was a flock of 100 Lesser Short-toed Larks and 27 Black-bellied Sandgrouse. Page 8 There have been mixed reports of the reliability of this site for Houbara Bustards. It's clear that they are most easily seen in August–September; it has been suggested that this is because they actually use the orchard as a source of food and visit it most when the figs have fruited. At least in August–September you should expect to see several birds at close range if you follow the guidelines described. Frances Gatens visited the island in October 2006 and was told the bustards were very hard to find because it was the shooting season. Page 10 The Marbled Ducks seem to have gone from this site but it now holds impressive numbers of Ruddy Shelduck (max. 77—Frances Gatens) which have bred here since 1996. In September 2006 both American Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper were found here (Birding World). Page 12 Site 1 Recent surveys have revealed larger numbers of breeding seabirds on these islands including at least 10 pairs of White-faced Petrel, 50 pairs of Little Shearwater, 70 pairs of Madeiran Petrel, 185 pairs of Bulwer's Petrel, over 300 pairs of European Storm Petrel and almost 9000 pairs of Cory's. Plus 66 pairs of Eleonora's Falcons (BirdLife International). A boat goes daily to Isla Graciosa from Orzola but isn't necessarily useful for seeing the seabirds. Christine and Derek Jakeman have regularly had Trumpeter Finch at the port and herons and waders along the coast to the south of the port (including a Spoonbill in Feb 2006). Site 2 Christine and Derek Jakeman suggest that the saltpans are best viewed by driving down a track along the south edge of the Salinas then walking north along the black beach. They've had Black-necked Grebe here in three successive winters and a Lesser Scaup in Feb 2007. Black-winged Stilt bred here in 1996 (the first breeding record for the Canaries). Other rarities here in the spring of 2006 included a Spotted Sandpiper (paired with a Common Sandpiper) and a Blue-winged Teal (Birding World). Site 4 There was a Yellow-browed Warbler here in November 2005 (Birding World). Site 5 Christine and Derek Jakeman have found Houbaras as follows: take the LZ402 north from Teguise towards Famara and park at the beginning of the first left-hand track. Walk east down this track to a ridge giving views across a valley. On three February visits they've seen up to 5 Houbaras either before or from this ridge. They also recommend driving on to Caleta de Famara to check the rocky coast for waders. New sites on Lanzarote Los Cocoteros This is another area of saltpans that can be good for waders. There was a White-rumped Sandpiper here in September 2006. Arrecife There's a colony of at least 30 Cattle Egrets in the trees beyond the bandstand at the north end of the seafront. The rocks around Castillo de San Gabriel can be good for waders, terns and gulls (Christine and Derek Jakeman). Montana Cuervo The rim of this volcano (off the LZ76, west of San Bartolome) appears to be a breeding site for Barbary Falcon (Christine and Derek Jakeman). Page 14 Site 2 In December 2005, Eric Roualet saw and heard Bolle's Pigeon from here on two visits but the only place he recorded White-tailed Pigeon, in 5 days on the island, was at the nearby Mirador de El Rejo (between sites 1 and 2) – and even then he only heard them, 2-3 birds singing in the fog. At least two Bolle's Pigeon were calling there too. Site 3 Eric Roualet reports that the path down to the picnic area has numbered points. He found that the best area for Bolle's Pigeon was between points 5 and 9 (at least 6-7 were heard here) and he had his best views from the 'balcony' at point 9. He didn't find any White-tailed Pigeon here. New site In December 2005, Eric Roualet found that the coast at the end of the Valle Gran Rey was good for various shorebirds including Little Egret, Turnstone, Whimbrel, etc. The best bird he found though was an adult Laughing Gull, roosting at the port of San Pedro, where he also had many Yellow-legged Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. (He also found a Slender-billed Gull at the mouth of the Barranco de la Villa at the main ferry port of San Sebastian.) Page 16 Site 2 Look out for Ring-billed Gulls in the harbour—up to 2 birds have been seen regularly in winter. New site A few miles north of Los Christianos, there are some reservoirs near Armenime which, in March 2005, had 11 Night Herons and a Little Crake (Birding World). To reach them, follow the roads towards the coast from Armenime to El Puertito and Playa Paraiso. Page 18 Site 3 Roger Smith comments that due to continued development of this area he was unable to locate this site. I'd welcome any details that anyone could provide to clarify how to find sites 3, 4 and 5. Site 5 This site continues to attract rarities, especially Ring-necked Duck, with up to 4 seen regularly. Other reports in 2005-07 included Ring-billed Gull and Blue-winged Teal in winter and Wilson's Phalarope and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers in September 2006 (Birding World). Site 6 Roger Smith reports that it is no longer possible to drive up to this pool and that it is now much more disturbed by holidaymakers. Page 22 New sites on Tenerife Roger Smith reports that as well as the Cory's Shearwaters that can be seen and heard calling on the cliffs close to Los Gigantes (a resort on the west coast), he also heard the calls of another shearwater which he is confident was Little Shearwater. He also reports that he had Bolle's Pigeon at a site in the north of the island near Puerto de la Cruz. The site is called the Mirador El Lance and is found on route TF221 between Los Realejos and Icod Alto. He says the site has commanding views and the pigeons can be seen flying down the obvious mountain ridge towards the coast. Page 24 It is getting harder to see the laurel pigeons here. On my last visit (August 1999) I had far fewer views of Bolle's Pigeons and no White-tailed Pigeons. The trees have grown up around 'Hornbuckle's Rock' making it harder to see them even from there. Dave Smith reports that these woods have escaped the ravages of the 2007 forest fires on the island but that cars are no longer allowed along the road I describe. Indeed, the latest report from David Tomlinson (March 2008) comments that due to the installation of pipework in this area, access is completely barred from this track, even on foot. However, he comments that you can still walk to the radio masts and "about 100 metres beyond the masts there is a bit of 'agricultural' land - a few potato plots - and a track off to the right of the main track runs past them. If you follow this track it takes you along a ridge and eventually (about 150 metres) you emerge with a clear view over laurel forests. We had three Bolle's from there, plus good views of Plain Swift just overhead. Even better was a subsequent visit to the ponds just to the south of the village. On the water there were only Coot and Moorhen, but mid-afternoon several Bolle's Pigeon came to drink and then just sat around in the trees by the ponds. We couldn't get very close because of the topography, but the birds were not nervous and we got some decent pictures. Obviously I don't know whether we were lucky with an isolated event, but they seemed to be quite purposeful and, given the paucity of fresh water, I suggest that this might be regular behaviour." Page 27 The site at Rosa Catalina Garcia has proved to be possibly the best site for rarities in the Canaries with both Ring-necked Duck and Lesser Scaup regularly present, at least in winter, when Blue-winged Teal and Crested Coot have also been seen. Other rarities in 2005–07 included Glossy Ibis, Spotted Crake, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron and up to 21 Ruddy Shelduck (Birding World). Even if there are no rarities, there's usually a good selection of waders and herons, including Spoonbills. Look out too for Ospreys (Frances Gatens). |
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