After our morning visit to Calderon Hondo, Jayne and I drove across the island to the beautiful village of Betancuria, where we spent a few hours discovering the old own and church, whilst also adding two new bird species to the list.
The first new bird species seen was a single, male Atlantic Canary (8th lifer), that was singing in a tree above the car park. Unfortunately, this was our only sighting, and he flew off before I could take a photograph! The second new species was African Blue Tit (9th lifer). One adult and 2 juveniles were seen, around the car park. Again, I only managed very fleeting views, and these were the best shots I got.
Adult (top) and juvenile (bottom)
Juvenile African Blue Tit (ssp.degener)
Next to the car park there was a freshwater pond. A single Emperor dragonfly and about a dozen Scarlet Darter (or Broad Darter, as they seem to be now named) were flying around.
Pond in Betancuria
Scarlet/Broad Darter
We walked on, into the village and the church, were we added our first Sardinian Warbler (heard though not seen) and Spanish Sparrow.
Betancuria Church
Spanish Sparrow on the church roof
Heading back to the car park, we spotted an egg-laying Geranium Bronze butterfly, and our first live (!) Atlantic Lizard of the trip.
Geranium Bronze
Atlantic Lizard
