Citrine Wagtail at the saltpans

A visit to the saltpans in Fuencaliente this morning (Sep 30) yielded the first-winter Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) featured in the present post.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

The bird was foraging for insects along the rocky embankments, on the access track, and in the salt-production pools. This is my third record of citreola on La Palma: the first was in Sep 2013 at an irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), and the second at the saltpans (Fuencaliente) in Sep 2015.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

The above images show most of the key fieldmarks: all-dark bill, broad white wing bars, all-round pale cheek surround, and tinges of yellow below eye, etc.

This sighting will be submitted to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.

Osprey KL9, DAY 9

KL9 was still at the Dos Pinos reservoir this afternoon. Between about 14:35 and 14:45 the bird made a prolonged effort to catch fish, repeatedly wheeling over the water, and plunging in on five occasions. The fifth time it was lucky, flying off with a moderately large Tilapia in its talons.

I expected KL9 to land on the edge of the reservoir to devour his catch, but instead he flew off west and dined atop a utility pole.

KL9's daily meal had taken ten minutes of strenuous flight, and five dives into the reservoir, with a 20% success rate. 

My photos were unfortunately disappointing:

Migratory Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with its takeaway meal

Osprey KL9, DAY 8

KL9 was located in the same area this morning, and again at the reservoir itself this afternoon, where the bird was seen dining on another fish.

The ringer has confirmed that KL9 was ringed as a nestling on July 9 this year at a site about 25km north of Inverness (Scotland).

Osprey KL9, DAY 7

KL9, the migrant Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), was still at the Dos Pinos reservoir this evening, and was devouring a fish when I arrived.

This is the third time I have seen the bird feeding.

Osprey KL9, DAY 6

I found Osprey KL9 at the Dos Pinos reservoir again this morning! On my arrival at the site, the juvenile bird was feasting on a freshly-caught fish...so I had missed the actual catching yet again: must get there earlier next time.

Juvenile Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with a recently-caught Tilapia

Perhaps the bird's soaring southbound flight the day before had been a practice run, to see what lies over the horizon further south; perhaps it didn't like the prospect, or decided conditions were unsuitable for long-distance travel; or maybe it opted for further calory-intake. Who knows? 

After its meal, the visiting Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) tried to make itself comfortable on the perimeter fence.

But it wasn't long before it left the fence in favour of a utility pole outside the reservoir to the west, in the area where I had found the bird on Sep 20. Photos were now into the sun, taken just for the record.

Monitoring will continue.

Osprey KL9, DAY 5

I arrived at the Dos Pinos reservoir this morning at 11:30, just in time to see Osprey KL9 gorging on a fish. The bird was on the far (W) side of the reservoir with its back to me. After a few minutes, and a change of position, I was able to get the following shots:

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Although safe on the far side of the reservoir, the bird has little privacy:

Given its present location, I imagined KL9 would sleep the siesta for the rest of the afternoon, so I made myself comfortable for a period of inactivity with perhaps a few photo opportunities. Then came the surprise...

The bird suddenly took to the air and began gaining altitude in leisurely spirals, taking advantage of the local thermals. It initially headed east, a few hundred metres up, only to suffer brief harassment from one of the local Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus canariensis). The Osprey reacted by veering south without losing altitude. 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), probably departing La Palma

KL9 continued southbound at a considerable height until it eventually disappeared from view. Everything points to KL9 having ended its stopover on La Palma, but I will check the reservoir and surroundings over the next few days.

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.