Red-billed Chough

 Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) - juvenile

Within Macaronesia, the Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) breeds exclusively on La Palma, and with estimated numbers at around 2,800 birds, the island boasts one of the highest population densities of this species in the Western Palearctic: approximately 4 individuals per square kilometre.

Paleontological evidence shows that the chough was once present on La Gomera, Tenerife, and probably El Hierro; recent sightings on Tenerife and La Gomera, indicate that the species is capable of flying between the various islands.

On La Palma, the species can be observed in a wide range of habitats, including cultivated areas, ravines, coastal cliffs, scrublands, urban surroundings, and even pine forests, although it seems to avoid areas of fully-developed laurel forest. Flocks of anywhere between 50 and 100 birds are not uncommon.

Given the geographic isolation of the island population, and the necessary adaptation to unusual local environments, the question obviously arises as to whether La Palma choughs merit classification as a separate subspecies. Expert opinion seems to be divided on this issue.

 Juvenile begging for food, showing the curious habit of simultaneously raising one leg

From among the sources consulted, I quote:
1. "on the Canaries, the same form is present as in North Africa, P.p.barbarus".
2. "On the basis of slight biometric and plumage differences, the race barbarus has been described, being slightly larger than the nominate, with a deeper and longer bill and a greenish gloss to its black pumage. No genetic studies are available to support this race."
3. "All-in-all, choughs in La Palma are smaller than Iberian choughs, which is in controversy with their classification together with North African individuals within the barbarus subspecies".

(See below for corresponding references).

Differencess in bill, legs, and plumage tones can be appreciated in the adult and juvenile birds.

Despite uncertainty concerning status, there does seem to be general agreement that the island choughs' diet differs from that of mainland birds, tending to be more frugivorous, and that the local race has acquired unusual foraging habits, not necessarily ground-based. Morphologically, in contrast to continental choughs feeding in open areas on soil invertebrates, island choughs feeding on fruits from trees, bushes and cacti often have shorter tarsi and a deeper bill.

The photos above were all taken in a typical ground-foraging area: Llano de Las Cuevas, in El Paso. Below, two birds in a rather more "unusual" setting, perched in a Canary Pine (Pinus canariensis):

References:

1. LORENZO, J. A. (Ed) 2007. Atlas de las Aves Nidificantes en el Archipiélago Canario. Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, Madrid.
2. García del Rey, E. (2011). Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
3. Blanco, G. & Laiolo, P. & Pais, J. Environmental adaptations, morphological divergence and reproductive isolation of the chough in La Palma. 3rd International Workshop on the Conservation of the Chough, Santa Cruz de La Palma 13-15 October 2010.

Wood Pigeon

 Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

The Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) may well be a typical resident of suburban gardens and parks in mainland Europe, but it is a rare passage migrant to the Canaries, with only 10 records altogether (Lanzarote 4, Tenerife 3, Fuerteventura 2 and Gran Canaria 1). Most sightings have been in spring, with five in April, three in March, one in February and one in July. ["Rare Birds of the Canary Islands" E. García-del-Rey and F. J. García Vargas, Lynx Edicions June 2013].

This solitary bird was discovered on April 9 at the saltpans in Fuencaliente, hardly an appropriate spot for the species. The bird appeared to be resting, but immediately took flight when I attempted to get closer. It flew about 300 yards inland and landed in an area of rocks and volcanic ash, where it was still visible through binoculars.

In flight, the white transverse bands on the upper wing were clearly visible. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first record of Columba palumbus on La Palma.

Semipalmated Plover - last photos?

 Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

The Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), first discovered back in October 2013, was still present at the tidal pools near the airport this morning. This American vagrant has spent the entire winter on La Palma, in the company of several Palearctic waders.

Also present at the same location today: 2 x Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), 2 x Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 2 x Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), 1 x Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) and 1 x Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos). All these migrants will soon be flying north.

Just to recap on the main hallmarks of semipalmatus: there is conspicuous webbing between both inner and outer toes; a fine, but clearly-defined eye-ring can be seen; and the bill is short and conical in shape. All these details can be appreciated in the present series of images.

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 

The last two images allow comparison with C. hiaticula: this bird lacks an eye-ring, has darker, orangey-coloured legs, a longer bill, and an overall sturdier build...and note the absence of webbing between the inner toes.

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Recent arrivals

 White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a passage migrant to the Canary Islands (all islands), where the odd individual has occasionally wintered (Tenerife). Solitary birds appear on La Palma almost every year, although the species is said to have nested on the church tower of San Andrés in the past. A few years ago, a pair attempted to breed in Breña Baja, but the birds were apparently driven away by the owners of the house they had chosen to nest on.

Group of three White Storks, April 2007

In April 2007 I photographed the three White Storks shown above, at the Barranco Seco landfill, just north of Santa Cruz. This unsightly, but ornithologically useful rubbish tip, has since been officially closed: over the years it had attracted various migratory species, especially gulls.

The bird featured in the present post was discovered foraging in an almost empty irrigation tank in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), on March 27. It has been seen elsewhere on the west side of the island over the last few days.

Group of three Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

While the Little Egret (Garzetta egretta) can be observed on La Palma all year round, the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a passage migrant and winter visitor. The group of three birds shown above was discovered in Las Martelas on March 11. On March 27 I found only two birds in the same area. This species nests on the island of Lanzarote.

In addition to the above, small numbers of Barn Swallow (Hirunda rustica) have recently been observed on the island, and on March 16 I saw a single Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at an irrigation pond in Tazacorte.

The Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) was still present at the airport pools today, together with 2 x Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), 1 x Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), and 1 x Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). All these waders have wintered on La Palma, and will soon be leaving the island. The 40-odd Coots (Fulica atra), which spent the winter in irrigation ponds in Las Martelas and Tazacorte, have already flown north, except for 2 stragglers.

Black-tailed Godwit 2014

 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

On February 8 2013, I posted photographs of two Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) discovered in an irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane). Is it mere coincidence that two birds of the same species have just appeared within a few hundred metres of the previous location, one year later, almost to the day?

The present individuals were first observed on January 28, and raise the question as to whether migrants "learn" stopover sites and return to them in successive years, regardless of how far off the theoretical standard migratory route they happen to be. There have been a number of similar cases in recent years on La Palma.

To species level, identification poses no problems, but now comes the interesting part...

As far as the subspecies is concerned, I would opt for the nominate Limosa limosa limosa. Firstly, on the grounds of distribution - islandica does not winter as far south as the Canaries - and secondly, due to the shallow-sloping forehead, characteristic of ssp. limosa.

The very orange base of the lefthand bird's bill, fairly dense barring on the breast, almost black legs, and overall "warm" plumage tones seem to indicate a male acquiring breeding plumage. As to the righthand bird, could this be another male less advanced in its moult? Bill length and body size appear to be fairly similar in both birds: females should be larger, with longer bills.

Just to discount the remote possibility of the Hudsonian Godwit (L. haemastica), noted for its black underwing coverts, I have included the rather blurred shot below.

Early January 2014

 One of the many irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane)

The Coot (Fulica atra) has recently colonised the main Canary Islands, with small resident populations on Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera. The species winters every year on La Palma, the number of individuals varying between about 30, and the 109 birds recorded y J. M. Castro in December 2004. At the time of writing, there is a total of approximately 48 Coots in the irrigation ponds in Las Martelas, plus another 3 birds in similar locations in Tazacorte. The first photo in the present post shows the pond in Las Martelas in which 43 Coots have opted to spend the winter this year; there are another 4 or 5 birds in similar ponds in the same area.

Part of a group of 43 Coots presently found in one of the ponds in Las Martelas

So far, evidence is lacking for Coots successfully breeding on La Palma, but the possibility cannot be ruled out, especially since small numbers of individuals often remain on the island throughout the summer. In September 2013 I monitored a nest containing 5 eggs, none of which hatched.

Other migratory species recently seen on the island include:

1 x Male Pintail (Anas acuta), 1 x Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), 2 x White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane). All birds last observed on January 6.
2 x Sanderling (Calidris alba), 1 x Dunlin (Calidris alpina) at the saltpans (Fuencaliente) on January 4.
2 x Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), 3 x Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), 1 x Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), 3 x Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), 1 x Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) at the airport pools (Mazo). I last visited the site on January 4.
1 x dark morph Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) over Los Llanos de Aridane, last seen on January 1; 1 x pale morph Booted Eagle over the Mirador de la Concepción viewpoint (Santa Cruz/Breña Alta), last seen on December 23 2013.

The Laguna de Barlovento is technically "empty" but contained a shallow pool of rainwater on my last visit on December 31 2013. There were no birds present, other than a small flock of Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis).

Wintering waterfowl

 Common Coot (Fulica atra), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Pintail (Anas acuta)

Above is a shot of the main irrigation pond in Las Martelas, where, on December 20, there were 4 Coots (Fulica atra), one Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and one Pintail drake (Anas acuta) - interestingly, not the same eclipse male shown in a recent post (see 16/11/2013). Hardly an overwhelming abundance of waterbirds, but fairly typical of La Palma's winter season.

 Pintail drake (Anas acuta) with Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

In another one of the ponds there are 43 wintering Coots, but so far, I have only discovered 4 Teal (Anas crecca). In a good year, the total can reach the thirty mark. Below, a couple more pictures of the handsome male Pintail:

Elsewhere on the island, the pale morph Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)  has been seen regularly over the last few days on the east side, and a pair of Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) have begun their mid-air courtship displays.

A trip to the saltpans in Fuencaliente  is pending, and also a check on the Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) at the airport pools. Stay tuned.