Osprey KL9, DAY 4

The migrant Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) marked KL9 was still at the Dos Pinos reservoir this morning, Sep 23, where I observed it from about 10:00-11:00. The bird was seen resting at various points on the upper rim of the reservoir, and made three short flights over the water without attempting to fish. Shortly before 11:00 it flew off in a northeasterly direction, eventually disappearing from sight.

The reservoir is an artificial, irrigation-water storage facility. The water is always clean due to constant refilling and distribution: it is channeled in as ground water, to be led off in various directions along pipelines for irrigating banana plantations. The result is a rather sterile concrete environment with no build-up of aquatic vegetation or algae, and scarce trophic resources for birds.

However, the site does provide a safe haven for a number of species since it is completely fenced-off with no public access. Birding is only possible from a couple of spots along its northeast flank. The inaccessible west side makes a perfect retreat for birds.

There are presently around 20 Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and 2 Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) using the site as a daytime refuge, and probably as an overnight roost. The herons and spoonbills feed elsewhere in the vicinity, in half-empty irrigation ponds with better food resources, and return to the reservoir by midday. 

Above, KL9 flies past a group of herons

Above, 2 Spoonbills among a group of herons

KL9, who originates from the north of Scotland, could possibly have adopted a similar strategy, having discovered other irrigation ponds offering larger numbers of fish, or easier conditions in which to catch them. It remains to be seen whether KL9 will be found at the Dos Pinos tomorrow morning: if not, the bird may already be heading further south.

Osprey KL9, DAY 3

The migratory Osprey KL9 was still at the Dos Pinos reservoir this morning. I watched it from about 09:00 to 10:30. During that time, the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was seen resting and preening itself on the banks of the reservoir. It made a couple of short flights over the water, without trying to catch fish.

Osprey KL9, DAY 2

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) marked KL9 was observed this morning (Sep 21) at the Dos Pinos reservoir, trying to catch fish. The bird alternated periods of resting on the concrete embankment, with forays over the water which included immersions on several occasions.

The images above give an idea of the bird's activity in the less than idyllic surroundings, and the blue Darvic ring can be read in some of the pictures.

I did not see the bird make a successful catch during my visit. 

Osprey KL9

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), showing metal band on right leg

I discovered this migrant Osprey this morning, Sep 20, near the Dos Pinos Reservoir on the outskirts of Los Llanos de Aridane.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), perched on overhead wires amid banana plantations

In the above image, the blue band is clearly visible on the bird's left leg. Below, the alpha-numeric code KL9 can be read. The bird's origins are probably England or Scotland, but I am in the process of trying to find out more details. Updates will be posted accordingly. 

 

Here are two more shots of the bird:

Solitary Ospreys pass through La Palma fairly regularly during migration periods. During their stopovers, they often feed on freshwater fish found in some of the island's numerous irrigation ponds and small reservoirs. 

Great Cormorant...the story continues.

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

I was lucky to find the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) at the same location in Tazacorte yesterday, on a sunny day with good light. The solitary bird was standing on the edge of the concrete irrigation pond, together with a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Behind the two birds, the Atlantic Ocean can be seen.

 The pond itself is well-stocked with small fish, which I have been told are a species of tilapia. There are also larger-sized carp swimming around in the rather murky water.

I was hoping the Cormorant would decide to dive in for a snack, and within a few minutes my hopes were rewarded.

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

This was the first time I had seen the bird in the pond. It dived several times, and managed to catch a minnow-sized fish at one point, before eventually flying off.

And finally, this is what the very unscenic irrigation pond looks like in low light. The shot was taken in the late afternoon on Jan 10, when I first discovered the bird. The Cormorant can just be discerned as a miniscule black line to the right of the far corner...honest.

Great Egret and more...

 Great Egret (Ardea/Egretta alba)

At last a photo of a Great (White) Egret (Ardea/Egretta alba) on La Palma! I think this is the first record for the island backed with photographic evidence...

I had a brief glimpse of one at in irrigation pond in Las Martelas, back in March 2018, but the bird took flight before I could capture it with my camera. In September the same year, a visiting British birder (Dave Steel) informed me of a sighting of two birds seen in flight from the balcony of his room at the Princess Hotel in Fuencaliente: no pictures either.

 Great Egret (Ardea/Egretta alba)

Other visiting birders may have submitted records of this species to SEO/Birdlife, the Sociedad Ornitológica Canaria (SOC), or wherever, but I am unaware of these sightings.

So finally, this evening at the Dos Pinos reservoir (Los Llanos de Aridane), where I was counting Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) for the annual wintering waterbird census, I was able to get a few distant shots of the solitary Great Egret shown above.


Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

On Jan 11, I re-encountered the juvenile Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) at the same irrigation pond in Tazacorte where it was discovered on Jan 10. The photos are a distinct improvement on the previous ones, although the surroundings are far from idyllic.

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

2 x Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

 Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Back at the Dos Pinos reservoir again, I spotted two Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) this morning, Jan 12. This is a difficult location for photography, due to the fence, and the limited access points.

In the evening, the birds were no longer there, but I was treated to a brief view of one of them in flight, just before nightfall.

 Spoonbbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Great Cormorant

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

There haven't been very many sightings of Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) on La Palma. I recall about 4 altogether, but don't have a more precise figure. Off the top of my head, there was one several years ago at the Fajana de Barlovento, then another along the section of coastline between the airport and Santa Cruz de La Palma, a few years later. The most recent I can remember was also seen off the east coast of the island, just north of Santa Cruz, by two visiting British birders, Simon Priestnall and Anthony Cooper, in April 2017.

 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Of course, there may have been other records, but this one is the first for me personally on La Palma. And it was found on the west side of the island, rather than the east, in a freshwater environment, rather than a marine one. There were shoals of small carp in the pond, which the bird presumably feeds on.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The photographs were taken at the irrigation pond in Tazacorte where the discovery was made this afteroon, 10/01. I was actually scouting the area as part of the preparations for the annual census of wintering waterbirds, which will be held all over Spain this weekend.

My reconnaissance took me to an area I don't usually bother to inspect, as it tends to be unproductive...and there to my surprise was the cormorant, standing on the edge of one of these ignored ponds.

I only had my bridge camera with me at the time, so the photos are not very good quality. Hopefully, I'll be able to improve on them over the next few days.