Northern Wheatear

 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

The Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a fairly regular passage migrant to the Canaries, with records from all islands, including La Graciosa, Alegranza and Lobos.

Several individuals have been detected on La Palma in recent years, my own sightings of solitary birds dating from September 2009, October 2010, June 2012, and September 2013... plus a group of three back in 2007.

Sites where I have observed the species include the irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), stony areas on the summit of the island, and, above all, in the ideal habitat found in Llano de las Cuevas (El Paso), where the present bird was photographed this morning (30/10/2014).

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - adult male