Black-tailed Godwit

 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

On Feb 8 2013, and then one year later almost to the day, on Jan 29 2014, I photographed two migratory Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) at irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (see relevant blog posts). In 2015, I drew a blank for this species on the island. However, on Feb 5 2016, a solitary bird was discovered at a pond in Tazacorte. The dates are all very close, and the half-empty irrigation ponds are all located on the west side of the island, within a short distance of each other.

In the above image, the black tail is clearly visible, plus the white square on the bird's rump. Two races of Black-tailed Godwit are currently recognized, the nominate limosa, and islandica. With its deep bill base, the present bird looks like an adult limosa in non-breeding plumage. The winter distribution  of islandica does not extend as far south as the Canary Islands.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

The white underwing coverts enable the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) to be discounted.