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.

Green-winged Teal III

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

The male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) first observed on Nov 22 was still present at the Laguna de Barlovento this morning, Dec 20.

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) in the centre

This American migrant has now been at the site for four weeks. It was first seen accompanied by four female Teal sp., but the escorting group is now made up of 3 female Teal sp. plus a male Common Teal (Anas crecca), which is visible on the right in the above image, and in the foreground in the images below. 
 

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) on the left, with male Common Teal (Anas crecca) at the front of the group

The present low water-level at the reservoir is ideal for dabbling ducks. However, once the level returns to normal, these ducks will find themselves without the shallow, muddy fringes to forage in.

Group of 5 Teal, including 1 male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) visible on the left.

The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is visible on the left, with the male Common Teal (Anas crecca) in the foreground.

In addition to the above species, there is also a group of five Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) at the same site, made up of 3 males and 2 females. (See previous blog post).

Ring-necked Duck

 

    Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris); 3 males + 1 female

On November 22 I mistakenly identified four distant ducks seen at the Laguna de Barlovento as Aythya fuligula (Tufted Duck). It was only on my following visit, on November 27, that I was able to correctly identify the birds as Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris).

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) showing diagnostic white ring around base of neck

In the photo above, the diagnostic white ring around the base of the neck of one of the birds can be appreciated, plus the greyish upper wing bar.

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) showing whitish "spurs" on flanks.

Another diagnostic feature of Aythya collaris is the so-called white spur on the flanks, visible in the above image. 

My reason for initially doubting that these ducks are Ring-necked (A. collaris) and not Tufted (A. fuligula) is the head shape, which seems too rounded. Perhaps this is due to the angle of vision from my elevated observation point, about 20 metres above the water surface.

Green-winged Teal II

 

Green-winged Teal /Anas carolinensis) male

The male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) discovered on November 22 was still present at the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir this afternoon, November 28.

Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) male

All four females were also observed, although one of them had left the group and was foraging separately.

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

The position of the sun is better for photography during the afternoon, although the birds are still 150 metres away and 20 metres below the observation point, unfortunately too far for my 400mm lens.

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)

It will be interesting to see if the Teals overwinter at this location. With its present low water level, the reservoir is ideal for a variety of birds. Other migratory species currently present include about 20 x Common Coot (Fulica atra), a solitary Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus),  a single Wigeon (Anas penelope) and possibly one or two other species yet to show themselves.

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) with 3 of the 4 female Teal sp.

The Laguna de Barlovento reservoir is almost empty at the moment, thus offering potential habitat for migratory birds:

Present appearance of the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir in the NE of La Palma.