Northern Wheatear

 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

A passage migrant with records from all the main Canary Islands - as well as from La Graciosa, Alegranza and Lobos - the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) has been sighted on La Palma several times in recent years. For example, in September 2007, I discovered 3 birds (a male, a female and an immature) only a few hundred metres from the location shown in the present post, an area known as Llano de las Cuevas (El Paso).

In general, autumn sightings are more frequent on the Canaries than spring ones, and another was featured in http.//avescanarias.blogspot.com on Oct 22 2010, with a photo by I. Brito. On that occasion, the solitary bird was discovered in an area of irrigation tanks in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane).

As can be appreciated in the present images, on this occasion the individual was a male, found foraging on the evening of June 5 in a group of stony fields containing tagasaste bushes (Chamaecytisus proliferus), in which small numbers of horses graze. The photos shown here were taken on the morning of June 6.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Llano de las Cuevas is situated in the high part of El Paso, just north of the National Park Visitor Centre, and has attracted a number of interesting migratory birds in recent years, including Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), and Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus). It is also a classic location for residents like the Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and the Stone-Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus).

For the latter species, see April 2010 posts here

Distant view of Llano de las Cuevas looking south from Valencia. The asphalted lane running from left to right at the foot of the rocky outcrop is the access road to the Cumbrecita viewpoint.

Early June 2012

 Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)

As mentioned in the previous post, the Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a fairly scarce passage migrant to the Canaries, with records from all islands. The present individual was found foraging with a flock of 12 Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and 2 House Martins (Delichon urbica) at an irrigation pond in Tazacorte on June 4.

In flight, the species appears to be approximately the same size as the Barn Swallow, but glides more frequently and for longer periods. From below, the pale underside of the head, and the black ventral area are other conspicuous aids to identification. The "red rump" of the bird's name is only visible when light and angle of view are appropriate, as in the following image:

   Red-rumped Swallow, showing characteristic rusty tones on back

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

Discovered at an irrigation basin in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) on June 2, this is my seventh sighting of the "transatlantic" Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) on La Palma since 2009. Just to recap, I saw 2 individuals in September 2009, one in March 2010, one in September 2010, and two in September 2011, all at freshwater reservoirs in Las Martelas, except the second bird of September 2009, which was observed at the Fuencaliente saltpans.

The bird shown in the present post was foraging together with a solitary Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), and was photographed on June 3. A visit to the same pond on June 4 revealed only the Greenshank to be still present, so perhaps the American wader has already flown on.

The above image allows plumage details on the bird's back to be appreciated, including the narrow, indistinct central wing bar, the dark-centred rump, and the absence of contrasting tail bands characteristic of similar-sized, visiting waders such as the Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper (Tringa glareola, T. ochropus and Actitis hypoleucos).

While photographing the above species, I spotted the following raptor perched on the roof of a greenhouse about a hundred metres away. Unfortunately, the bird took flight almost immediately and I was unable to get closer to improve on the pictures. Swifts were foraging in the area at the same time - one of the prey items the Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is apparently able to catch in the air - and abundant dragon flies, another potential source of food, were also present at the nearby irrigation ponds.

Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

According to the "Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia" (Eduardo García-del-Rey, Lynx Edicions 2011), this medium-sized raptor is a passage migrant to the Canary Islands, with previous records from La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Alegranza.

House Martin and Alpine Swift

 House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Despite being a "common passage migrant" there have been unusually large numbers of House Martins (Delichon urbicum) on La Palma in recent weeks. It's often difficult to estimate the size of flocks, given the rather limited horizon around most of the irrigation tanks where the birds feed. They tend to fly past at speed and then disappear out of sight behind the nearby walls and greenhouses; to give a rough idea of numbers, several groups of 10-20 birds have been seen foraging at a number of ponds in Las Martelas and Tazacorte. I have not yet come across perched individuals, hence the first three photos in the present entry showing birds in flight.

 House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

 House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Mixed in with the flocks of the above species, there have been small numbers of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), and one or two of the far less common migrant Red-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica). The resident, Macaronesian endemic Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) is presently observable in large numbers on the island, and I am keeping my eye open for possible Pallid Swifts (Apus pallidus), a species described as a summer visitor to the Canaries, with records from El Hierro, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

The Alpine Swift (Tachimarptis melba) has been observed on all the Canary Islands as a passage migrant, including La Palma on at least one previous occasion. The bird shown in the next four images was my own first sighting of this species. Not the best photographs I'm afraid, but good enough for the purpose of identification...

 Alpine Swift (Tachimarptis melba)

The four images above were captured in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) this evening (May 29). The solitary bird depicted was foraging together with a flock of Plain Swift (Apus unicolor).

Spring Migrants 2012

 

Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

The Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) has been recorded on all the Canary Islands and is considered a regular passage migrant, especially in spring. In the last few years it has bred at two different locations on Tenerife, and although this might be a case of recent colonisation, it is also possible that the bird's breeding activity has gone unnoticed in the past (Atlas de las aves nidificantes en el Archipiélago Canario, Ed. J. A. Lorenzo, 2007).

Sightings of the species on La Palma have appeared in this blog on a number of occasions. The present example was photographed at an irrigation pond in Tazacorte on March 31. On the evening of April 9, two birds were present at the same site.

 

Although the next species has also been recorded on all the islands, this is my first sighting of the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) on La Palma. The bird was found on March 31 at the same reservoir among banana plantations in Tazacorte, and the following photos were taken on April 9.

 

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

Another  regular passage migrant, reproduction has only been confirmed in recent years on Tenerife, although other islands have probably had the occasional breeding pair in the past.

 

As the bird conceals itself among the dense foliage of the overhanging Rumex bushes at the slightest sign of danger, it was necessary to set up a tripod and wait under a camouflage net in order to get the above shots.

Osprey

 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Despite having bred on La Palma in the past, the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is no longer a resident species on the island. The example shown here was photographed in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) this afternoon, and could well be the same bird which was regularly sighted in the same area in 2010, and last seen by me in May 2011. As mentioned in previous posts, carp and goldfish introduced into some of the freshwater irrigation ponds provide abundant, easy-to-catch prey.

Osprey surveying irrigation ponds in Las Martelas

Although no rarities have been discovered, there have been several migratory species on the island in recent weeks, including:

Las Martelas: Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Tazacorte: ca. 15 x Sand Martin (Riparia riparia), ca. 15 x Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), 10 x Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Las Salinas (Fuencaliente): Redshank (Tringa totanus), Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Gravel pits near airport: Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Early March 2012

 Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Winter 2011-2012 has been one of the driest in recent years, and the forecast for spring does not look promising as regards rainfall. Many of the freshwater irrigation basins around Los Llanos are empty, and hardly any suitable habitat is available for visiting waders. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that no rarities have stayed long enough on the island to be detected in recent weeks.

Despite the difficult conditions, migratory waders always manage to find something to eat. The Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) shown here, is one of the few scarcer migrants currently present. There were also two Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus), two Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and one Sanderling (Calidris alba) at the saltpans in Fuencaliente on March 13.

The Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus), monitored every year in the Los Llanos and Tazacorte areas, have already started breeding: in the irrigation basin below, at the time of writing, a month-old chick survives from a brood of at least 4. The nest was on the access steps into the basin and contained 6 eggs when first discovered. One of the parent birds is shown here building a refuge platform after both the original nest, and a later platform, were destroyed by changing water levels. According to a local plantation worker, the other 3 chicks from the brood were predated by a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).

 Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) at work on floating platform

Finally, an unusually large number of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) have been observed in the Tazacorte area. Below are six members of a flock of 10 birds, together with five Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta).

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) + Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Laguna de Barlovento

The present post provides information on one of La Palma's birding sites, and is intended to be of use to birders planning a trip to the island...

The reservoir known as the Laguna de Barlovento is considered a likely spot at which to find migratory species, and is mentioned in Tony Clarke's "Birds of the Atlantic Islands" (Helm, 2006). It is located up in the far northeast corner of La Palma and could be combined with a visit to the laurel forests of Los Tilos and/or Cubo de la Galga, if you're birding on the island.

The reservoir is completely fenced-off and only distant views of the water surface are possible. A telescope is highly recommended, but don't expect too much even then! When water levels are high, all you usually see are bare concrete banks and a few Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis) bathing far out in the middle. Not very inspiring stuff at all, and at that point you may well find yourself wondering if it was worth the long drive to get there. However, before leaving the area, it's worth checking the nearby duck-pond with its surrounding parkland, located close to the bar-restaurant and leisure facilities.

In April 2011, the reservoir burst its banks at one point, and most of its valuable content gushed down a nearby gulley into the Atlantic. Fortunately, no serious damage to property or personal injuries resulted, but the basin has remained partly empty ever since :

Still pending repairs, an attractive wetland habitat has developed in the bottom, and today (Feb 7) I decided to investigate. Apart from the inevitable Yellow-legged Gulls, I saw 3 male Teal (Anas crecca), 3 Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), 1 male Shoveler (Anas clypeata), 12 wintering Coot (Fulica atra), and what looked like a Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica). Weather conditions were far from ideal, and my telescope was vibrating in the blustery wind: I only had about 20 minutes observing before a cloud swept in and it started raining.

The best places to set up a telescope are the two viewpoints located near the point where the reservoir fence is first reached. One is above the road on the left, at the top of a short flight of steps. There is a sign saying Mirador de La Laguna but, strangely, no proper parking space other than a small area in front of the gate on the right. The other, quieter viewpoint is reached via the steps on the right.

If you are birding on the island this winter or  spring, the Laguna de Barlovento is well worth a visit...