Citrine Wagtail at the saltpans

A visit to the saltpans in Fuencaliente this morning (Sep 30) yielded the first-winter Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) featured in the present post.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

The bird was foraging for insects along the rocky embankments, on the access track, and in the salt-production pools. This is my third record of citreola on La Palma: the first was in Sep 2013 at an irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), and the second at the saltpans (Fuencaliente) in Sep 2015.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

The above images show most of the key fieldmarks: all-dark bill, broad white wing bars, all-round pale cheek surround, and tinges of yellow below eye, etc.

This sighting will be submitted to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.