Wood Sandpiper

 

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

The first migrant waders have begun to arrive on the island, among them this striking Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), observed at the saltpans (Las Salinas) in Fuencaliente in the late afternoon of August 19.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

I don´t recall having seen this species at the saltpans previously, their preferred stopover habitat being the freshwater irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane). However on migration, they can also turn up at brackish lagoons and pools ("Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia" Lynx Edicions, 2011), of which the saltpans are an example.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Other common migratory birds seen recently at the same location include Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and Little Stint (Calidris minuta).

At the airport pools (Mazo), in addition to the above species, a solitary Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) has appeared.