Wood Sandpiper

 

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

The first migrant waders have begun to arrive on the island, among them this striking Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), observed at the saltpans (Las Salinas) in Fuencaliente in the late afternoon of August 19.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

I don´t recall having seen this species at the saltpans previously, their preferred stopover habitat being the freshwater irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane). However on migration, they can also turn up at brackish lagoons and pools ("Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia" Lynx Edicions, 2011), of which the saltpans are an example.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Other common migratory birds seen recently at the same location include Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and Little Stint (Calidris minuta).

At the airport pools (Mazo), in addition to the above species, a solitary Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) has appeared.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

 

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

This solitary Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) was first observed yesterday (25 Feb) as it foraged around the surrounding wall of the main irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane), but earlier sightings by other birders cannot be entirely ruled out. A second visit to the site this morning (26/02) yielded better photo opportunities, when the bird briefly came out into a more exposed position.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

My last encounter with this species on La Palma was way back in March 2009, in the same general area, but at a different pond. The record was published in "Rare Birds of the Canary Islands" (Lynx Edicions) in 2013, where the species is decribed as a short-distance migrant which breeds in C and S Europe, and winters along coasts in W Europe and NW Africa (i.e. Morocco). At the time of publication 11 years ago, only 3 other records had been acknowledged on the Canary Islands, 2 from Fuerteventura and 1 from Lanzarote. 

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

The species is classed as a vagrant in fieldguides to the region and as a "Regional Rarity" in the SOC (Sociedad Ornitológica Canaria) checklist 2018.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

This example was feeding on the abundant dragonflies found around the edges of the pond, and was accompanied by a migratory White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) and a pair of resident Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinerea):

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

Below is a shot of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), also seen feasting on dragonflies.