Birding Fuerteventura, Canary Islands 10 April 2016

Typical semi-arid landscape of Fuerteventura

A birding trip to the Spanish Canary Islands would not be complete without a visit to Fuerteventura (Strong Winds). I did a day trip from Tenerife and managed to see all of my ‘European desert’ and Canaries endemic wish list: Houbara Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Egyptian Vulture and Fuerteventura Stonechat with my excellent local guide, Marcelo Cabrera. In all, a total of 33 species were seen, of which 13 were lifers for me (marked in bold type). Itinerary: Early morning (07:15) flight on the inter-island airline, Binter (Euro 180 r/t). Return the same day at 20:30 to Tenerife (TFN). My ornithologist guide, Marcelo, came highly recommended and can be contacted at: [email protected] Areas visited: (i) Triquivijate (Antigua), (ii) Llano del Diviso, (iii) Llano de la Vega Vieja, (iv) Tachablanca, (v) Tiscamanita, (vi) Llano Grande, (vii) Los Morros, (viii) Cortijo de los Arrabales, (ix) Salinas del Carmen (seabirds), (x) Rosa del Agua (Houbara site), (xi) Puerto Lajas (shorebirds).

Marcelo on the lookout for Egyptian Vultures

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Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto decaocto – common throughout Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis canariensis – common, males in breeding plumage Cream-coloured Courser, Cursorius cursor bannermani – various pairs, one with chick Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis – quite common in some places, feeding on the ground Barbary Partridge, Alectoris Barbara – a pair of this beautiful bird seen at very close range; controversy if spontaneously occurring in the Canaries, or introduced by early Spanish settlers for hunting Berthelot’s Pipit, Anthus berthelotii lanzaroteae – relatively frequent but much more common on Tenerife Lesser Short-toed Lark, Calandrella rufescens polatzeki – the most common bird, found in large numbers throughout, mostly ground-dwelling, some males conducting aerial courting displays Raven, Corvus corax canariensis – common and much more frequent than on Tenerife Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius meridionalis koenigi – common perched on low shrubs Hoopoe, Upupa epops epops – at least a dozen seen; found at most locations visited

Prickly Pear and other cacti, many introduced are a feature of the island flora

11. Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea ferruginea – several groups in flight. Recently occurring on the island 12. Trumpeter Finch, Bucantes githagineus amantum – seen at two sites; quite elusive, but trumpeting call heard frequently 13. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea cinerea – seen twice near wetlands 14. Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra – seen only once 15. Sardinian Warbler, Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra – one of only three resident warblers; and the species most commonly encountered

Delicious lunch of Tapas (and cold beer) at a local tavern (and super economical!)

16. Spectacled Warbler, Sylviaconspicillata orbitalis – a tough bird to see well, keeps to low cover. Eventually, a singing male was spied on a thorn bush, later two females seen diving for cover 17. (Common) Linnet, Carduelis cannabina harterti – several seen; at one site only 18. Eurasian (Common) Buzzard, Buteo buteo insularam – 4 seen during the day 19. Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus majorensis – several seen at feeding site; the species has recovered from 50 pairs to over 200 in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote 20. (European) Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur – fairly common at most greener, canyon sites

Birding pals of the moment, Marcelo and the author

21. Plain Swift, Apus unicolor unicolor – several seen, but much more common on Tenerife 22. Canary Island (Fuerteventura) Stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae – the sole Fuerteventura endemic can be easily seen at several sites in the south of the island 23. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica – one seen

24. Yellow-legged Gull, Larus michahellis atlantis – very common along the coast 25. (Eurasian) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus phaeopus – small groups observed on shoreline 26. Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius curonicus – one seen at old salt drying pans on the coast

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Salinas del Carmen, an historic salt drying site from the 18 century

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Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos – three seen Cory’s Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea borealis – in large number off-shore Greenshank, Tringa nebularia – one seen Redshank, Tringa totanus totanus – one seen (Common) Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula – 4 on rocky flats by the ocean Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres – the first time I’ve seen it in full breeding plumage, ready to migrate north

Marcelo at the Houbara Bustard site, a lot of hard work finally paid off!

33. Houbara Bustard, Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae – finally seen (one) at the end of a hard day’s searching. Chapeau to Marcelo for his persistence in finding the species for me….

Coastal site near the airport

Leaving Fuerteventura

David McLachlan-Karr, 12 April 2016 [email protected]