(Greater) Short-toed Lark

 (Greater) Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

I found this LBJ at the saltpans in Fuencaliente yesterday morning, Oct 10th. Despite its rather unassuming appearance, the bird was immediately recognizable as a migrant passerine, and a first record of this species for La Palma, to the best of my knowledge.

In the "Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia", Eduardo García-del-Rey, Lynx Edicions, the (Greater) Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) is classed as a P2 (medium frequency) passage migrant to the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Graciosa).

The photos shown here are poor quality, but the best I could do with the Fuji bridge camera I had with me on the day. I hope to be able to improve on the images over the next few days, assuming the bird stays at its present location.

(Greater) Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

In addition to the above bird, there were also several common waders at the salt-pans, and a migratory Phylloscopus warbler awaiting analysis.