Saturday 1st - Saturday 8th October 2016
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| Hoopoe - Maspalomas |
A week in the hot sunshine of Gran Canaria at the
start of October produced some good birds despite this island not
getting much representation in the available range of published bird
guides. This isn't surprising since it doesn't hold any populations of
the endemic Canary pigeon species which can be found on Tenerife and La
Gomera, and Blue Chaffich is much easier to find on Tenerife; next to
impossible on Gran Canaria. Based in Maspalomas at the southern tip of
the island, my birding was incidental, or confined to the occasional
short solo exploration on foot, in between simply being on holiday. A
brackish lagoon, La Charca, stretches behind the beach at Maspalomas,
cut off the sea by the beach, and with the dunes along one side. La
Charca was always interesting to visit and turned up some good birds.
The highlights included (no particular order):
Canary Island Chiffchaff - common and vocal virtually everywhere
Sardinian Warbler - also fairly common and also vocal
Tenerife (African) Blue Tit - common - seen in various locations including Maspalomas and Las Palmas
Plain swift - good numbers seen especially around La Charca and the dunes area
Spoonbill - one juvenile at La Charca on 2nd
Greenshank,
Sanderling,
Little Ringed Plover,
Ringed Plover,
Little Egret - several of each seen regularly at La Charca - Sanderlings also seen on the beach
Dunlin - one seen at La Charca on each visit
Whimbrel - one present at La Charca and seen on the beach several times during the week
Atlantic (Common) Canary - around Maspalomas and at Puerto Mogan
Berthelot's Pipit - four at Puerto Mogan
Hoopoe - 2-3 Maspalomas
Turtle Dove - juvenile in Maspalomas feeding on grassed area with Collared Doves
Common Waxbills - small flocks at Palmitos Park and Maspalomas
Black-winged Stilt - one at La Charca on 7th
Spectacled Warbler - pair in scrubby area at at Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas
Spotted Flycatcher - one at Palmitos Park on 6th
Pied Flycatcher - one at Palmitos Park on 6th
Kestrel (ssp. canariensis) - pair near La Charca present throughout the week
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| Greenshank, La Charca |
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| Male Spectacled Warbler, Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
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| Female Spectacled Warbler, Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
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| Juvenile Little Ringed Plover, La Charca |
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| Black-winged Stilt, La Charca |
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| Dunlin, La Charca |
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| Juvenile Turtle Dove, Maspalomas |
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| Common Waxbill, Palmitos Park |
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| Spotted Flycatcher, Palmitos Park |
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| Atlantic Canary, Puerto Mogan |
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| Berthelot's Pipit, Puerto Mogan |
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| Canary Islands Chiffchaff, Puerto Mogan |
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| Tenerife Blue Tit, Las Palmas |
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| Sanderling, La Charca |
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| Whimbrel, La Charca |
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| Juvenile Spoonbill, La Charca |
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| La Charca, Maspalomas |
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| Palmitos Park |
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| Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
Other species seen:
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Spanish Sparrow
Blackbird (ssp. cabrarae)
Buzzard
Grey Heron
Monk Parakeet - this introduced, and noisy, species was usually making its presence known around Maspalomas
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| Monk Parakeet, Maspalomas |
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| Spanish Sparrow, Palmitos Park |
Butterflies
Monarch
Painted Lady
African Grass Blue
Long-tailed Blue
Small White
Canary Large White
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| Long-tailed Blue, Maspalomas |
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| African Grass Blue, Puerto Mogan |
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| Painted Lady, Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
Dragonflies
Epaulet Skimmer
Emperor
Red-veined Darter
Scarlet Darter (Broad Scarlet)
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| Red-veined Darter, Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
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| Scarlet Darter, Barranco del Negro, Maspalomas |
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| Epaulet Skimmer, Palmitos Park |
Reptiles
Gran Canaria Giant Lizard
Gran Canaria Skink
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| Gran Canria Skink, Palmitos Park |
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| Gran Canaria Giant Lizard, Maspalomas |
Others
An interesting crustacean:
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| Sally Lightfoot Crab, Puerto Mogan |
And an interesting plant:
Canary Sea Lavender - re-introduced at La Charca
And a cool fish:
Ornate Wrasse - in the harbour at Puerto Mogan
Comments
You inspired me!
My name is Kilian, I'm from Gran Canaria, I liked reading this post.
In the Charca de Maspalomas there is a lot of fauna and it is also a place of passage for migratory birds. From Canary Excursions Tours we have an excursion to the south of the island where we take our clients to the Maspalomas pond and explain their formation and the species that inhabit it. If you ever have the opportunity, go to a Gran Canaria excusion and you will be welcome.