FUERTEVENTURA - 5th December

Made an early start to get to the El Cotillo Plains (I think that’s what they are called, NW of Tindaya anyway) in the morning where we had great views of some of our target species; highlights included awesome views of at least 4 HOUBARA BUSTARDS right by the road, just wandering around, not really bothered by the car, mediocre views of two fabulous CREAM-COLOURED COURSERS, four distant Black-bellied Sandgrouse in flight, plenty of Berthelot’s Pipits, 10+ Lesser Short-toed Larks, nice views of a couple of Spectacled Warblers and nice but brief views of a big female Barbary Falcon along the cliff edge.   

We then drove back SE a bit to the now famous Barranco Rio Cabras but we failed to find the Dwarf Bittern that has been resident here for ages (plenty of time though!) but it was a great site with water, trees and marshy bits down the bottom of a really steep Barranco; birding was good as totals included at least 6 FUERTAVENTURA CHATS (very confiding!), 2+ African Blue Tits, a single White Stork (scarce I think on Fuerteventura – attracted by the nearby landfill site), a Little Ringed Plover, 5 Black-winged Stilts, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 Spoonbills, Little Egrets, 9+ Egyptian Vultures circling the ridges, better views of the smart Southern Grey Shrikes (of the distinctive, dark, smoky looking L. m. koenigi race), lots of Spectacled Warblers, a White Wagtail, Ruddy Shelducks flying about, Hoopoes, lots of confiding Barbary Ground Squirrels running about the cliffs and a peeled, depredated Algerian Hedgehog.   

A little look at Los Molinos Reservoir in the afternoon was quiet (but it was very windy by then) with a few trip ticks though including Grey Heron, Greenshank, Coot, Mallard and Teal.

Houbara Bustards

Berthelot's Pipit

Barbary Falcon record shots

Southern Grey Shrike

Fuerteventura Chats

Barranco scenes

Barbary Ground Squirrel

Egyptian Vulture

Black-winged Stilts

Yellow-legged Gull in Gran Tarajal Harbour in the evening