Early 2017 summary

 Group of 5 Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and one of two Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)

Despite the lack of "La Palma Birds" blog posts in recent weeks, let me first assure my readers that I am still actively birding on La Palma. The problem is, I just haven't discovered anything of interest lately!

A small group of Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) has been wintering in an irrigation pond in Tazacorte, and were last seen on February 9. In the same pond, there are also two Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), and two Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra).

In Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), only common waders have been observed so far this year. The first exception was the solitary Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) shown below, discovered on Feb 9.

 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Note the worn plumage on the bird's back.

At the airport pools, nothing special to report either: 2 x Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 3 x Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), and an occasional Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus).

At the saltpans in Fuencaliente (Las Salinas): 2 x Little Stint (Calidris minuta), 2 x Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), 1 x Sanderling (Calidris alba).

Otherwise, the usual small numbers of Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), plus one or two White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) are around also.

The big news in mid-January was actually the first Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) for La Palma, discovered by visiting birders near the stream,  in the heart of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

I have also just been contacted in connection with a probable Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) seen at Los Cancajos beach resort in Breña Baja.