Fuerteventura Mon 6th Sun 12th Nov 2017

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1 Limosa Holidays Trip Report Canary Islands Fuerteventura Mon 6th Sun 12th Nov 2017 Trip photos (clockwise from top left): Barbary Falcon Laughing Dove African Blue Tit Canary Islands Stonechat Houbara Bustard Southern Grey Shrike. tour leader Stephen Daly/Limosa Holidays Report compiled by: Stephen Daly Limosa Holidays, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham Norfolk NR12 9EJ tel: +44 (0) fax: +44 (0) website:

2 Canary Islands Fuerteventura Tour Leader: Stephen Daly Tour Highlights - Cream-coloured coursers before breakfast! - Barbary Falcon harrying Ravens and superb view of another juvenile bird - Super views of Houbara Bustards - Some rare northen migrants, Hawfinch, Redwing, Siskin and Song Thrush and - Desert Wheatear at La Oliva. Day 1. Monday 6th November 2017 With an early evening arrival from London, the sun had already set as we drove to our hotel in the north and after a welcome drink we took a meal before retiring for the night. Day 2. Tuesday 7th November We had an early start just before first light and drove to the outskirts of La Oliva, where Berthelot s Pipits and a few Trumpeter Finches were present. In a bare, dried out field surrounded by mud walls, two Cream-coloured Coursers were standing just a few meters from the group. What a brilliant start to the tour! The birds took off and flew over the roadway right in front of us and we could see their lovely dark underwings. They landed a short distance away in a well-grazed field of alfalfa and began running around and feeding. The sun was just rising slowly and more strands of dawn sunlight lit up the volcanic ridges and valleys across the red-brown landscape, where Ravens and Yellow-legged Gulls were flying. A few Hoopoes flew in and started feeding close to the coursers, then we spotted a very pale wheatear, flitting about in the undergrowth between the field and open ground. The bird turned out to be a Desert Wheatear! We managed to get the bird in our scopes, although it was scurrying about on the ground without doing the typical wheatear perching on a rock or any other highpoint. It was obviously feeding as it dashed around and before long was lost from sight. On a little pond we found Moorhens, Spanish Sparrows, White Wagtail, a small flock of eight Cattle Egrets, a single Grey Heron and another flock of Black-winged Stilts with a single Green Sandpiper. We walked for a while on the track around the agricultural enclosure and found some Common Linnets, a few Southern Grey Shrikes and a very smart looking Spectacled Warbler. Driving around to the other side of the enclosure we found some local Corn Buntings feeding around a very white and almost statuesque Camel. Back at breakfast we were all quite elated at our wonderful birding start. Later we took a look around the coastal hamlet of Majanicho where the contrasting black volcanic rock has a horseshoe ring of white coral that serves as a beach with some houses close to a small, natural harbour. Here in the receding tide we found several waders that include Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Little Stint. Several Whimbrels were also dotted around the pools and three Little Egrets were seen further out near the surf. Ingrid spotted a Rock Pipit feeding on the coral beach with a few Berthelot s Pipits and, as we left the area to walk back to our minibus, Ade spotted an adult Barn Swallow that flew very close overhead. We took a drive through El Cotillo and south across the dry and stony landscape, eventually coming through the barranco (or gorge) that leads to the Tindya plain. Searching unsuccessfully for the well-camouflaged Houbara Bustards, we did better in finding more Ravens, lots of Berthelots Pipits and many Southern Grey Shrikes as we continued for lunch at Los Molinos. After our break we drove around Tefia, stopping often and finding more Trumpeter Finches, White Wagtails and a flock of over 200 Ruddy Shelducks, sitting on the ground close to where goats came for hay. Five Common Buzzards were seen feeding on something unidentifiable at the far end of a goat farm, as four Egyptian Vultures flew across the landscape. Black-bellied Sandgrouse were seen sitting on a track and took to the air when we set up our scopes. Several more pairs and small groups of sandgrouse were seen and heard in the area as we stayed to watch the buzzards and vultures. A Laughing dove was calling from the back of our hotel as we got ready for dinner. Day 3. Wednesday 8th November A quite windy start for our pre-breakfast look around the hotel gardens was fairly productive, with Canary Islands Stonechat, European Robin, Black Redstart, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Collared Doves, Raven and close views of an overhead pair of Common Kestrels and a male Spectacled Warbler in a neighbouring garden. A skulking thrush with very bold breast markings was seen at the base of a banana tree and could have been something very interesting, but it flew out the back of the tree and we couldn t get a good look at it. 2 Limosa Holidays

3 After breakfast we called in to look at the Cream-coloured Coursers once more and found them to be just as confiding as the previous morning - as were the Hoopoes! The wind was quite strong and we headed for the mountains above Betancuria. Stopping at a few miradors, or viewpoints, we found some very endearing and confiding Barbary Ground Squirrels, more Berthelot s Pipits, Spanish Sparrow and lots of Ravens. The wind was quite strong, but much calmer as we walked through the barranco at the town of Betancuria. Here we had great views of African Blue Tits calling from a flowering Bougainvillea bush. At a small pool we found a single Grey Wagtail drinking with Spanish Sparrows. A little further on we saw more Southern Grey Shrikes and a single female Black Redstart on the rocky slopes of the gorge. Next on our list of birds was a male Sardinian Warbler which, although active, remained a bit shy. Some Common Blackbirds were seen at the potato fields further on. Driving south, we stopped at Pajara and took a delicious home-made lunch at a local restaurant before heading down towards the coast, where we stopped at another restaurant to walk through a quiet wooded area, set aside for barbecues with lots of shade from a small plantation. Several Rose-ringed Parakeets called from the palms near the hotel and a good number of Common Linnets were feeding with Spanish Sparrows. One Song Thrush was also seen in the company of a Redwing; both are good birds to find so far south on the Atlantic islands. We drove along the coast and stopped to watch a juvenile Barbary Falcon that passed overhead and began to mob some Ravens high over a large mountain ridge. Several Common Buzzards came in to the fray and we eventually lost site of the Barbary Falcon as two Egyptian Vultures then came close by. One of the vultures was a very clean looking adult bird and the other was a second to third year dark juvenile. Driving past Las Salinas we saw two Sandwich Terns with heads down, hunting close to the shore and then we headed back to our base to relax after an excellent day. Day 4. Thursday 9th November Our pre-breakfast trip involved an early morning search for Houbara Bustards at Tindaya, which proved successful, with great views of one bird very close to the track. The bustard seemed quite unperturbed and, although watching us closely, it continued to slowly walk off, feeding as it went. The early dawn was lighting up the bird s beautifully cryptic plumage and we could see amazing detail of the large feet with their padded toes, evolved to cope with extremely hot desert temperatures and sharp stones. A few Berthelot s Pipits were also seen, as were Southern Grey Shrikes, some Trumpeter Finches in flight and Common Linnets. Driving back to La Oliva we spotted a large falcon very close to the town at the side of the main road. Quickly we turned the minibus around and took a small track parallel to the road and slowly approached the bird that was on the very top of an electricity pylon. We inched towards it and managed to get excellent and long views of this young Barbary Falcon that eventually took off and flew out of sight. Another special bird to get, especially before breakfast! Back at the hotel, some had a little tour of the gardens and some had good views of male Blackcap, European Robin, Chiffchaff and a Redwing. We then set off to check other birding sites and, sure enough, the two Creamcoloured Coursers were there with five or six Hoopoes, feeding in the first field very close to the track. We had some wonderful long views as Trumpeter Finches, Common Linnets, Spanish Sparrows and Berthelot s Pipits came and went. Black-bellied Sandgrouse flew past, calling their distinct bubbly call. At the little pond we found the usual Black-winged Stilts, Cattle Egrets, Moorhens and a single Grey Heron and, as we were scanning back from that corner, we saw a Northern Wheatear feeding in the rough grass. From there we drove north to Lajares and on to Majanicho village on the coast. A Curlew Sandpiper was a new bird for the tour and Greenshank, Turnstones, Greater Ringed and Kentish Plovers showed well on the rocky pools. We drove south to Tindaya and took soup at a local coffee bar, where we had primed the owner that home-made lentil soup with chorizo would be most welcome for lunch. After a coffee we continued back north, checking some other sites, then returning for a rest from the strong winds. Later that evening we drove down to the open plains and searched slowly and quietly from the minibus for feeding Houbara Bustards. After watching Hoopoes, Southern Grey Shrikes and Trumpeter Finches we finally spotted a female walking slowly away from the side of the track. The bird walked across the road and started feeding again. We watched it for a while and then slowly drove on. On the way back we saw another bird, this time a male, on the other side of the road. This bird was beautifully lit up by the setting sun, its longer feathers and crest looking as though they were on fire! Then we saw an unexpected bit of behaviour with the bustard suddenly opening it s wings as if to take off, but instead it darted from side to side and puffed up all his feathers and had a good old shake, perhaps to rid himself of parasitic lice and other insects by shaking his body and wings vigorously. After that, he slowly sauntered off, feeding as he went. As we continued back to our hotel the sun had set but we watched some Black-bellied Sandgrouse fly off in the glowing sky. Dinner at the hotel went down well and we talked about our great day in the field. 3 Limosa Holidays

4 Day 5. Friday 10th November We had a leisurely pre-breakfast walk around the hotel gardens and the villa area to see if we could re-locate the Redwing, which fortunately happened to be there. Common Kestrel, Blackcaps, European Robin, Chiffchaffs and a rare Yellow-browed Warbler were also seen. A Southern Grey Shrike was watched going into a Spanish Sparrow nest in a drainpipe close to the hotel, searching for chicks one suspected, but came out empty-beaked, so to speak! After breakfast we managed to find the Laughing Dove that had been calling or indeed laughing at us each morning and evening. Tracking the bird down was quite satisfying and we had great views in the soft morning light. Close by, a female Canary Islands Stonechat sat perched on an old aloe spike and a Spectacled Warbler flitted around the building plots and gardens at the rear of the hotel. The wind was pretty strong and the forecast wasn t so favourable to find some of the birds that as yet had not been seen. Nevertheless, we headed to the sand dunes around the south-east of El Cotillo. The area, like most of the Canaries and, indeed, Morocco and the Iberian peninsula, had had an extremely dry, extended summer with little rain for seven months. The wind and dusty sand made it tiring on the eyes and too difficult to walk and expect to see birds, so we drove around the dunes, seeing only Berthelot s Pipits, some Trumpeter Finches and a few Ravens and Yellow-legged Gulls. Undaunted, we drove to Punto Ballena and Toston lighthouse, where the dramatic coastline of orange sand on one side of the road and sparkling white coral sand on the other - with the red-and-white striped lighthouse sitting on top of black volcanic basalt - all set against a brilliant blue and azure crashing sea was quite spectacular. Parking up at the lighthouse we watched a few lonely Whimbrels hunkered low on some small tidal pools, while close to the rocky shore, Sandwich Terns struggled to fly against the gale force winds that were whipping up Atlantic rollers that were crashing into currents coming round from nearby Lanzarote. A huge surf was rolling in and splitting in different directions, with sea-spray flying all around. The scene was altogether quite spectacular and most impressive. Deciding on an early lunch to get the best table at a local restaurant above the harbour at El Cotillo, we spotted Cory s Shearwaters out at sea from our table, with one bird coming in close to the harbour wall. More Sandwich Terns were watched and a single medium-sized passerine dropped in on the high rocks at the other side of the harbour which turned out to be a Common Starling, certainly not a common bird on Fuerteventura. After lunch, the wind was still blowing a gale and still with Barbary Partridge and the elusive, wind-sheltering Lesser Shorttoed Larks in mind, we headed to the agricultural lands around Tefia. Here, after much searching, bumpy tracks and a pretty uncomfortable journey for all, we finally managed to find a group of a dozen Barbary Partridge. We watched the birds for a while before they took fright and flew off at speed over a nearby ridge. We headed over to the goat farm just west of Tefia and saw an adult Egyptian Vulture on the ground in front of the goat feeding troughs. These vultures have a seemingly heavier build around the neck and shoulders, having adapted to tearing meat and sinew from the carcasses of dead goats thus this harder work to survive changed their physical appearance compared to that of the nominate nephrons. Also feeding at the goat farm were Common Ravens and Common Buzzards and a huge flock of over 200 Ruddy Shelducks. These birds were quite rare 15 years ago but have steadily increased in numbers over the years on Fuerteventura. The swirling red volcanic dust and strong winds limited viewing, but still we watched a few Lesser Short-toed Larks, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, White Wagtails, Trumpeter Finches, Berthelot s Pipits and a few Southern Grey Shrikes in and around the farm buildings and surrounding tracks. On the main track out of the farm we spotted three Cream-coloured Coursers running close to where we were, then they took off and flew across the road. We drove over and slowly moved into position on the slope to get close views of them feeding. We decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel and rest before dinner. Day 6. Saturday 11the November Our last full day in the field and our last chance to do a slightly longer pre-breakfast drive to look once more for desert birds, so we drove down to Tindaya and had a look along the tracks. It wasn't long before we found a single Houbara Bustard feeding at the side of the road. We stopped the vehicle, sat quietly and watched from inside. The young bird didn't seem too bothered and continued feeding through the trackside bushes. After a while, the bustard slowly crossed the road and began to feed on the other side. Not wishing to frighten the bird or put it under any pressure, we waited until it was a good bit off and then continued our slow drive along the dusty tracks. A pair of Cream-coloured Coursers was next up and we delighted in watching them running, stopping, feeding, repeat, before we headed back to La Oliva for breakfast. In the south of the island there had been reports of other migrant birds from the north dropping in to the greener areas in that part of the island, so we drove south to see what we could find. At Lajita we found a Hadada Ibis calling loudly and flying into the zoo compound. At the Costa Calma we parked up at the top of the town and took a slow, quiet walk through the woodland strips on both sides of the road. Here 4 Limosa Holidays

5 Goldfinches and Linnets were watched and it wasn't long before we saw Brambling, Siskin and Hawfinch. A pair of Red-vented Bulbuls were seen as we were walking back to the minibus. We drove back along the southeast coast, cutting inland to reach the hotel at La Oliva where we added more species to our bird list before dinner. Day 7. Sunday 12 th November A few of us had a quiet stroll through the gardens before breakfast, finding a lovely male Atlantic Canary, European Robin, Canary Islands Stonechat, Redwing and a Song Thrush. On the way to the airport, close to Puerto de Rosario we saw a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls. As we had an early check-in time at the island s airport, we headed south and arrived in good time for our flights home. Thanks to all who took part in this tour of a very special island. It was made more enjoyable by the additional migrant bird species that landed on Fuerteventura, carried well south by strong northerly winds. Hopefully we ll meet up on another Limosa Holidays tour one day. Annotated Species List (67 species of birds recorded) Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Very common seen most days. Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara ssp. koenigi Great views of a flock of eleven birds near Tefia. Cory s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea A few passing birds at Los Molinos and at El Cotillo we had one juvenile in close to the harbour. Western Cattle Egret Bulbulcus ibis Small roosting flock of a dozen or so at La Oliva. Several around the airport gardens and pairs and singles seen most days. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Seen twice at the north coast. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Seen on five days. Resident birds at La Oliva. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus ssp. majorensis Seen on three days. Very good views of six perched and flying birds. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo ssp. insularum Fairly common. Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata ssp. fuerteventurae Good views on three days. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Seen on two days at La Oliva pond. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Seen on four days at La Oliva pond. Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus ssp. insularum Heard only in the early morning from the hillside by our hotel. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Seen most days at La Oliva and a few other sites. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola One bird seen at Majanicho cove. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Seen twice on the north coast. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus As above. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Seen at Majanicho on two days. Sanderling Calidris alba Three birds seen at Majanicho cove on one day. Little Stint Calidris minuta Two birds seen at Majanicho cove. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Lots of birds around El Cotillo harbour. 5 Limosa Holidays

6 Dunlin Calidris alpina Several birds watched at Majanicho. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea As above. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Only one bird seen at La Oliva. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Seen three times on tour, twice on the north coast. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Seen on two occasions at Majanicho. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor Seen most days on tour with very good views at La Oliva and Tefia. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Common and seen every day. Lesser Black-Backed Gull Larus fuscus A few birds seen near Puerto de El Rosario on the last day. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis A few birds seen fishing along the south and northern coasts. Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis Good numbers seen feeding and in flight on five days. Rock Dove/Feral Rock Dove Columba livia A common sight with pure Rock Doves seen on west coast. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common and widespread. Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis Good views of one bird at La Oliva. Western Barn Owl Tyto alba Heard only at La Oliva. Plain Swift Apus unicolor A flock of twenty or more bids feeding close to the airport on day 6. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Seen on six days. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus dacotiae A regular sight each day of the tour. Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides Two sightings on the tour of juvenile birds at La Oliva and in the south near Morro de Los Halcones. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri An introduced species, seen fee-flying and loud near the Costa Calma Southern Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor ssp. koenigi Fairly abundant with some excellent close views. Northern Raven Corvus corax Common and abundant. African Blue Tit Parus teneriffae degener A pair seen closely at Betancuria. Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens A few seen but they were difficult to find due to the strong wind and dust. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica An adult bird flew overhead at Majanich on the 7th of November. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A few seen each morning at the hotel and other sites. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus One bird turned up at La Oliva in the hotel gardens with a Redwing. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Present at hotel gardens and seen once at Betancuria. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata Fairly common and present close to the hotel. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephla Two birds only at Betancuria. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris A common bird in Northern Europe but rare on the Canaries. One seen at El Cotillo harbour on the 10th. 6 Limosa Holidays

7 Common Blackbird Turdus merula Several seen at the hotel gardens. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos At least two birds in the hotel garden and environs. Redwing Turdus iliacus Three birds at La Oliva on the 7th, 8th and 9th of November. European Robin Erithacus rubecula A few seen at La Oliva and Costa Calma. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Wintering birds at our hotel and other sites. Canary Islands Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae Seen most days. Present in the hotel gardens. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe One female seen at La Oliva on the 7th and again on the 8th of November. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti One very flighty first-winter bird seen at La Oliva agricultural area on the 8th of November. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Common and seen daily at our hotel. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A male at a small water tank in Betancuria on the 8th November. White Wagtail Motacilla alba Seen most days in small numbers. Eurasian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus One bird seen feeding with Berthelot s Pipits at Majanicho. Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii Common, watched also feeding with other species. Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus ssp. amantum Common and seen most days. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla At least two birds feeding with a mixed finch flock on the 11th November at Costa Calma Woods. Another good record for The Canaries. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes An excellent record for The Canaries. Seen on the 10th November at the hotel gardens at la Oliva by Ade and again by the group at Costa Calma woods on the 11th. Common Linnet Linaria cannabina ssp. harterti Seen most days. Strong local populations with a roost at La Oliva church. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduellis A small flock was watched at Costa Calma woods. A good record for The Canaries. Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus Four birds seen on the 11th November at Costa Calma. Exotics Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Introduced from the Indian sub-continent and under management by the nature conservancy of Spain to eradicate it as an invasive species. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash An escaped species near zoos and abandoned garden collections. Heard calling and seen at Costa Calma on the 11th, heading for the zoo there. 7 Limosa Holidays

8 Mammals Algerian Hedgehog Atelerix algirus (Road-kill) Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Amphibians & Reptiles East Canary Gecko Tarentola angustimentalis Atlantic Lizard Gallotia atlantica Butterflies Western Bath White Pontia daplidice Fuerteventura Green-striped White Euchloe hesperidum African Migrant Catopsilia florella Clouded Yellow Colias crocea Greenish Black-tip Euchloe charlonia Southern Blue Polyommatus celina Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli Monarch Danaus plexippus Canary Red Admiral Vanessa vulcania Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Dragonflies Sahara Bluetail Ischnura saharensis Vagrant Emperor Anax ephippiger Blue Emperor Anax imperator Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii Other Taxa Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Macroglossum stellatarum 8 Limosa Holidays