FUERTEVENTURA - 10th December

Back out to the El Cotillo Plains first thing on our final morning where we got what we came for with great views of two Houbara Bustards including a male in full, ludicrous display mode, running across the plains all fluffed up and a female sneaking off, trying to avoid him at all costs and awesome views of three Cream-coloured Coursers running around close to and across the road, oblivious to the car; a big flock of 100+ Lesser Short-toed Larks were also of note.   

We then went back to the big goat farm where a few Black-bellied Sandgrouse were grubbing around while 4 Egyptian Vultures also fed in the enclosure and then on to Los Molinos Reservoir again where it was much calmer and warmer than the last visit allowing us to have a better look.   Birds here included 272+ Ruddy Shelduck, a female Garganey with 4 Teal, 2 Mallard, 32 Coot, 2 Snipe and a few Greenshank, Common Sandpipers and Black-winged Stilt with a couple of Buzzards circling round before visiting a couple of other small pools and finally getting Moorhen on the trip list.

Displaying Houbara Bustard

Cream-coloured Coursers

Spectacled Warbler

Lesser Short-toed Lark

Buzzard