European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

The solitary European Roller (Coracias garrulus) was still present in the same area of Tacande (El Paso) this morning, June 10.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Rather than trying to track down this shy bird on foot, the best strategy for getting close views is to wait at a spot with wide views of the foraging area, and then hope that the Roller perches close by at some point. This morning, the patient waiting paid dividends.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

From 07:45 until just after 10:00, the bird was visible at long range, hunting prey from a variety of lookouts. 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

It wasn´t until about 10:10 that the Roller took flight and after swooping around for a while, finally landed on a bare twig a mere 20-30 metres from where I was standing (together with Fran Leal who had joined me an hour previously). The photographs shown here are the result of this stroke of good luck.

European Roller

 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

On June 7 a Roller sp. was reported on eBird, with a good photograph and details of the location provided by the observer.  

The following morning I coincided with a veritable avalanche of locals at the site: no less than three of us with binoculars, plus three other people who were accompanying one of the birders. Quite a turn out for La Palma!

Teaming up with fellow eBirder Fran Leal, we eventually found the spectacular Roller, after crossing some heavily overgrown fields to reach a vantage point from where we could scan the surroundings.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

The photos included in the present post were taken today, June 9, in the same area of Tacande (El Paso), and effectively clinch the identity of this bird at species level. There had been some doubt between European and Abyssinian Rollers.

However, the black, rather than blue trailing edge of the upper wings, and the black flight feathers on the underwing both point to European Roller (C. garrulus), rather than Abyssinian (C. abyssinia). 

The lack of long tail streamers was an obvious argument in favour of the European Roller, but some other features of the plumage had left room for doubt, in the absence of close-range views and/or clear photos.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

To my knowledge there is at least one previous record of European Roller (C. garrulus) on La Palma: a single individual seen by RPE on July 3, 2004. Elsewhere in the archipelago, "Rare Birds of the Canary Islands" (Lynx Edicions, June 2013) lists 2 sightings from Tenerife, 3 from Gran Canaria, 1 from Fuerteventura, and 6 from Lanzarote, all recorded between the months of April and August.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

This passage migrant seems to have found ideal habitat on the stony hillsides of Tacande, where dry branches of scattered trees serve as lookouts for hunting insects. However, despite boldly perching out in the open, the bird does not allow close approach and quickly takes flight at the sight of people.

Latest update on the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir

 

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) with female Teal sp.

The above image was taken on March 27 at the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir, the last occasion on which I saw the male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) at the site. The bird was first detected on Nov 22 2024, together with the Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) shown below.

Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris): 3 males and 2 females

These migratory ducks, first recorded at the end of November 2024, were still present at the reservoir on April 17 2025.

Migrant Ducks at the Laguna de Barlovento

 

Group of 5 Teal including one male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) centre left

The five Teal (Anas crecca/carolinensis) first discovered on Nov 22 2024 were still present at the Laguna de Barlovento this morning, Feb 2 2025. Thus, the birds have been at the reservoir for about 9 weeks. 

Two drakes: Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) upper right, Common Teal (Anas crecca) lower left

The group includes 1 male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis), 1 male Common Teal (Anas crecca), and 3 females which are also probably Common Teal (Anas crecca).

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) upper right, male Common Teal (Anas crecca) lower left

The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is an American vagrant  still classed as a rarity in Spain, so details will be sent to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.

5 Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris): 3 males in the centre, 2 females left and right

The Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) which were likewise found in November 2024 have also remained at the site.

Unusually low water levels over the last few months have created a muddy shoreline, providing good habitat for water birds.

Above and below: two male Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris), among Common Coots (Fulica atra)

All the birds featured in this post are distant, so a spotting scope is useful. Luckily light conditions were slightly better for photography this morning, compared to those encountered on some of my previous visits.

Also currently present: about 30 x Common Coot (Fulica atra), 1-2 x Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), 1 x Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), 1 x Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), plus varying numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis) and other resident species.