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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Fuerteventura, October 2000,

Author

A report by Paul Hill

INTRODUCTION


Fuerteventura is one of the eastern Canary Islands, just 100 miles off the African coast.  Approximately 75 kilometres long and 20 kilometres wide the island can be easily birded in a week with plenty of sun-worshipping stops or coffee breaks in the heat of the day.  The following report is based on an eleven-night stay at Caleta de Fustes on Fuerteventura.  The trip was primarily a combined family / birdwatching holiday during the half term designed to allow birdwatching mam and dad to see the island’s endemics whilst our four year old son could partake of the beach and other entertainments. We had one slightly wet day during the holiday, the winds reduced the temperature on the remainder of the days which were hot, shorts were worn throughout from daybreak (around 07:30 GMT) to dusk about 12 hours later. We chose a package with Airtours staying in the Castella de Sol apartments.  These are about twenty minutes walk from the beach, but situated just at the edge of the resort, at the start of the rocky plain.  The location allowed us to compile an apartment list of quality, but not quantity.  Berthelot’s Pipit and Canary Island Chat were seen from the apartment without any difficulty, whilst the dawn chorus consisted of Spectacled Warbler and Southern Grey Shrike. Car hire was around 5000pts per day (including full insurance and unlimited mileage) We hired an Opel Corsa for five days used just a single tank full of petrol and covered about 700 kilometres.  The car handled the various tracks across the plains with relative ease and we didn’t really see the need for a four-wheel drive. We managed to see all the island specialities to be expected – the swifts had all departed and we didn’t really try for Barbary Falcon.  A Birdwatchers Guide to the Canary Islands by Tony Clarke and David Collins proved invaluable and all the tracks were easy to find with the exception of the track to the lagoon at Catalina Garcia.  This was more down to the lack of the Goat Farm and taking the wrong the track than not following the map in the book!!


SITES VISITED


1.      Caleta de Fustes, Salinas del Carmen, Barranco de la Torre
The resort of Caleta de Fustes was still under going expansion when we visited and a new golf-course is under construction just to the south of the resort.  The stony plain behind the apartments held Trumpeter Finch, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Barbary Partridge and Canary Island Chat.  Black-bellied Sandgrouse were seen towards the Barranco de la Torre and Houbara are also present but not easy here – we didn’t even put the time in here for them.  The beach and rocky shore between here and the Salinas del Carmen attracted small numbers of Ringed, Kentish and Grey Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling and Whimbrel.  Sea watching in the evening from the coast produced small numbers of Cory’s Shearwaters and a single Bulwer’s Petrel.  The Salinas themselves are fairly small, and anyone familiar with the Salinas de Levante on Mallorca may find them slightly disappointing.  Only one very small pool was left in the Barranco de la Torre.

2.      Los Molinos
We accessed the reservoir, created by damming the Barranco de la Molinos, provided the only substantial area of freshwater on the Island at the time of our visit.  The site is surrounded by stony desert and small hills.  Various waders were present on our visits along with Ruddy Shelduck and Marbled Duck.  Large numbers of Lesser Short-toed Lark were present on the plain and Egyptian Vulture seen on each visit.  The site should prove attractive to passage passerines as well as waders and wildfowl during the main migration periods.

3.      El Cotillo
This is a small fishing town in the north of the island.  On entering the outskirts of the town turn south and follow a track that runs parallel with the coast.  This, as predicted by Clarke and Collins, was our best bet for Houbara Bustard.  Views were so close we nearly ran it over!!!  A small Barranco still held water and had attracted a few small passerines.  Several Cory’s Shearwaters were present off the beach, where we felt distinctly overdressed in just shorts – even a pair of trunks here would have been overkill amongst the naturist as opposed to the naturalist element present!

4.      La Oliva
The larval fields at La Oliva held Canary Island Chat and Spectacled Warbler, whilst the sandy plain on the opposite side of the road supported Cream-coloured Courser and Barbary Partridge.  Houbara also occur here.

5.      Catalina Garcia
This site held very little water when we visited, although small numbers of Lesser Short-toed Lark and Trumpeter Finch visited it for drinking.  The site was good for dragonflies and four species were recorded – exuvia of three were collected!

6.      Pajara
What birdwatching trip would be complete without a coffee and sticky bun stop!  A small café in the wood ‘park’ just as you enter Pajara provides a pleasant setting for migrant watching.  We enjoyed trip ticks such as Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Goldfinch and Blue Tit in the small town.  The area around the car park and municipal swimming pool were equally productive for passerines, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Robin and Song Thrush were all seen.

7.      Costa Calma
The sandy/stony plain near the wind farm was accessed from the road to La Pared.  We drove along the ridge to just inside the fence and then carried along on foot towards the wind farm.  Cream-coloured Courser, Houbara Bustard and Black-bellied Sandgrouse (130) were all seen.  The Sandgrouse were almost always heard calling before we saw them.

8.      Risco de Playa, Jandia
The beach here was really visited for our son to paddle, but it did add Black-headed Gull and a (presumed escape) Yellow-billed Stork to our trip list and more assorted elderly wrinkled German nudists. 

9.      Zoo at La Lajita
Another family stop for lunch.  Although not on the birdwatching itinerary the zoo has a collection of over 200 exotic birds, all looking relatively healthy.  This is probably where the Yellow-billed Stork came from, but all of the wildfowl appeared to be clipped. For full details of sites and access, together with fuller species lists check out A Birdwatchers’ Guide to the Canary Islands.


BIRD SPECIES SEEN


1.      Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) 
A single dark petrel seen off the Salinas del Carmen on the afternoon of 25th October was believed to be this species.  It was seen with a Cory’s Shearwater enabling a size comparison to be made. 

2.      Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)  
Up to 13 off Caleta de Fustes throughout, circa .50 off El Cotillo on 25th October.  Twenty off Salinas del Carmen on 25th and 27th; 50 off shore there on 29th October.

3.      Little Egret (Egretta garzeta)
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes daily with up to three on the rocky shore adjacent to the beach.  A similar number also present at Salinas del Carmen on each visit.  Two at Los Molinos on 29th October.

4.      Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)  
Single at Salina del Carmen on 25th October.

5.      Cattle Egret (Bulbulcus ibis)   
Single flew over the apartment at Caleta de Fustes, towards sea in the morning on 24th October.

6.      Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)         
Adult, presumed escaped on the beach at Risco de Playa, Jandia on 28th October.   

7.      Eurasian Spoonbill (Platelea leucorodia)  
Single flew south along the beach at Caleta de Fustes on 23rd October. 

8.      Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)  
Five at Los Molinos on 25th October; three there on 29th October.  

9.      Common Teal (Anas crecca)   
Single female at Los Molinos on 29th October.  

10. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Single female at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.  

11. Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)     
Four at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.

12. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)       
Sub- adult at Los Molinos on 25th October and three birds, an adult, immature and sub-adult on 29th October.

13. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
1 at Jandia on 28th October, 3 at Los Molinos on 25th October and 1 at Salinas del Carmen on 29th October on plain

14. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)           
Singles at the airport on 21st, Caleta de Fustes on 23rd and Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.  

15. Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) 
Ten on the rocky plain behind at Caleta de Fustes on 24th October and a single on the plain at La Oliva on 25th October.  

16. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Single in the wildfowl enclosure at the bird garden near La Lajita 28th October.

17. Common Coot (Fulica atra)         
Approximately 75 at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October

18. Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)     
Single at El Cotillo on 25th October and single at Costa Calma 28th October.  

19. Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)
Single at La Oliva on 25th October and two at Costa Calma on 28th October.  

20. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Present on the rocky shore at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen as follows:

23rd October

Caleta de Fustes

6

24th October

Caleta de Fustes

3

25thOctober

Salinas del Carmen

4

27th October

Salinas del Carmen

1

29th October

Salinas del Carmen

1

31st October

Caleta de Fustes

2

21. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen on each visit.  Maximum count of 45 roosting on the rocky shore at Caleta de Fustes on 23rd October; otherwise between 10 and 20 at both sites.  Also recorded at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October with approximately 12 present.

22. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)   
Single at Los Molinos on 29th October was the only one recorded.

23. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)         
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen on each visit.  Maximum count of 34 roosting on the rocky shore at Caleta de Fustes on 23rd October; otherwise recorded in similar numbers to Ringed Plover, with 15 roosting at the Salinas del Carmen on 27th.  Up to six at Los Molinos on both 25th and 29th October.

24. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Single at Los Molinos on 25th October and two present there on 29th.

25. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)  
Single on the rocky shore at Caleta de Fustes on 23rd October. 

26. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)  
Between one and three recorded at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen on each visit.

27. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) 
Single at Salinas del Carmen on 25th October.

28. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)           
Single at Los Molinos on 29th October.  

29. Common Redshank(Tringa totanus) 
Single at Caleta de Fustes on 24th October, single at Salinas del Carmen on 27th and 29th October with three present on 25th and a single at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th.

30. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)    
Three at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October, single at Salinas del Carmen on 25th October and a single on the beach near Jandia on 28th October.

31. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)  
Single on the outlet stream at Los Molinos on 25th October.  

32. Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)           
Up to four on the rocky shores at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen on each visit.  Four at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.

33. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)    
Up to six on the shore at Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen on each visit

34. Sanderling (Calidris alba)        
Two on the beach and rocky shore at Caleta de Fustes on 23rd October.

35. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)   
Single at Los Molinos on 25th October and two present on 29th.         

36. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)    
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes on 22nd October, five there on 23rd, single on 24th.  Three at Salinas del Carmen on 25th and single there on 29th.  Three at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.

37. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)  
Single at Los Molinos on 29th October.  

38. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans atlantis)  
Recorded on small numbers (less than ten at any one site) around the coast.

39. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)   
Single with Yellow-legged Gulls at Salinas del Carmen on 27th October.  

40. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)           
Single on beach near Jandia on 28th October and one at Salinas del Carmen on 29th.

41. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)        
Recorded at all coastal sites with a maximum of ten off Caleta de Fustes and Salinas del Carmen.

42. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)    
Five at Los Molinos on 25th October, two on the rocky plain near Salinas del Carmen on 25th and 130 between 09:15 and 09:30 near the wind farm at Costa Calma on 28th.  The latter were flying south over the wind farm, presumably having been drinking in pools around the resort complex.

43. Rock Dove (Columba livia)     
Recorded throughout, birds in around Los Molinos were more ‘pure’ than some of those seen around the villages and towns.

44. Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)    
Present throughout at Caleta de Fustes and around the zoo at La Lajita

45. Hoopoe (Upupa epops)    
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes on 24th October, at least five along the coast track at El Cotillo on 25th and up to three at Los Molinos on 25th and 29th October.

46. Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)  
Recorded in small numbers on the plain near at Caleta de Fustes.  Much more common away from the holiday complex areas, with flocks of up o 100 seen along the track at El Cotillo, smaller number at Costa Calma and over 500 at Los Molinos on 29th October.  Also seen at Catalina Garcia lagoon

47. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)   
Single at Los Molinos on 25th October and two the same day at Caleta de Fustes

48. Berthelot's Pipit (Anthus berthelotii)   
Common throughout, even several feeding in the gardens on the apartments at Caleta de Fustes and on the beaches!

49. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)     
Single along the track (near a water hole) at El Cotillo on 25th October. Single in the zoo at La Lajita on 28th and three at Pajara on 27th.

50. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)    
Singles at Caleta de Fustes on 30th October and 1st November.  The former in the apartment complex and the latter on the beach near the harbour.

51. Canary Islands (Fuerteventura) Chat (Saxicola dacotiae)
Recorded daily at Caleta de Fustes, either on the plain just behind the apartments, within the apartment complex or even on the beach.  Also present at various other suitable sites around the island – this species wasn’t difficult to see at all.  Present at Catalina Garcia, La Oliva, Salinas del Carmen.

52. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)           
Singles at Caleta de Fustes on 22nd, 24th October and 31st October.  Single in Pajara on 27th.

53. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)  
Single at Caleta de Fustes on 22nd October and two at Pajara on 27th.

54. Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)   
Single at Los Molinos on 25th October and one at Pajara on 27th.

55. Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata)         
Recorded throughout the island, for example around the apartment at Caleta de Fustes, the larva fields at La Oliva, along the track at El Cotillo, Catalina Garcia and at Los Molinos

56. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)    
Single in the wooded area around the café at Pajara on 27th October.  

57. Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)  
Single near the car park in Pajara on 27th October.  

58. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus degener)
Two near the car park in Pajara on 27th October.  

59. Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis koenigi)  
Recorded throughout the islands, on the plains, around cultivation and within the apartment complexes.

60. Common Raven (Corvus corax)     
Recorded throughout the islands, usually seen in small numbers.  

61. Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis [domesticus])        
Recorded around habitation.  Up to 300 at the water treatment works at Caleta de Fustes on 1st November.

62. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) 
Single at Caleta de Fustes on 30th October in Tamarisk bushes near harbour.  Heard calling first - a distinctive 'fink-fink' and then located in bushes.  Watched for a couple of minutes before it moved further into hotel complex and couldn't be refound.  The bird appeared to be of the nominate form and identical to those seen in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, with no suggestion of it being of any of the Canary Isle sub-species

63. European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)    
Three at Pajara on 27th October.  

64. Eurasian Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)  
Recorded at Caleta de Fustes on 22nd and 23rd October.  

65. Trumpeter Finch (Rhodopechys githaginea)  
Approximately 15 at Caleta de Fustes on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October on the rocky plain behind the apartment.  Fifty at Los Molinos on 25th October with a similar number there on 29th.  Also present at Costa Calma, La Oliva and El Cotillo.


DRAGONFLIES SEEN

1.      Ischnura saharensis
Considered by some to be a form of Ischnura elegans, Blue-tailed Damselfly, seen at Catalina Garcia

2.      Anax parthenope             Lesser Emperor
Single in the playground in Caleta de Fustes

3.      Orthetrum trinacria
Although not listed by Clarke and Collins as occurring on the Islands, this species was observed well at Catalina Garcia, where several males were present and mating and ovipositing also observed.  Exuvia collected at the site may have been from this species.

4.      Crocothemis erythraea       Scarlet Darter
Only seen at Catalina Garcia, where several males were present.

5.      Sympetrum fonscolombei       Red-veined Darter

The commonest dragonfly seen, often well away from water on the stone and sandy plains.

 

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