Island Tour - Part 8 - Isla de Lobos

 After dropping off the car, Jayne and I had another two days in Corralejo. We decided to take a trip across to the nearby nature reserve of Isla de Lobos (Lobos Island). It is located just off the island, and requires a short, 10 minute ferry trip across the sea. 

On arrival on the island, you will find a small information centre, with details of the now-extinct Monk Seals, that once inhabited the island. The only toilets on the island are also to be found here. Please note, as well, that your visit is limited to just four hours. A permit is also required to visit, which you can buy for free online. We, however,  travelled across with Water Taxis, and they arranged the permit for us.

We set off to walk around the island, heading first to the volcano La Caldera. It was a good 20 minute walk to the base of the volcano, on well marked paths, but the climb to the top was much trickier than our previous walk to the Hondo Volcano, earlier on the trip. It took us a good 30 minutes to walk to the summit! The wildlife was less than I'd expected, but we did see Berthelot's Pipits, Ravens, Yellow-legged Gulls, Rock Doves and Atlantic Lizards on the walk across. The gulls were breeding on the island, with many pairs on nests, just a few metres from the paths.

Walk to the top of La Caldera

Yellow-legged Gull on nest

After the volcano, we walked across to the lighthouse, at the far end of the island. Again, there were excellent paths, but the walk did take us a good 40 minutes. Two Egyptian Vultures were seen on the walk across, and this is the only (heavily cropped) flight shot I managed.

Egyptian Vulture

We also saw a few butterflies on the walk across, including Painted Ladies, Small White, Greenish Black-tip and this beautiful Clouded Yellow, that posed nicely. Here's an uncropped shot, showing the small plants it landed on as well.

Clouded Yellow

After a quick spot of lunch at the lighthouse (picnic, no facilities here), we had a look at a small pond and added Black-winged Stilts (adults and juveniles), Common Sandpiper and a single Grey Plover (trip tick) to the island list. Our final stop, on the walk back to the "little harbour" (el puertito), was a very beautiful area called Las Lagunitas, which were a set of brackish lagoons. The only addition was a single Whimbrel.

Las Lagunitas

Island Tour - Part 5 - El Cotillo, Faro de Toston and Corralejo Natural Park

After our amazing trip to the Tindaya Plains, Jayne and I set off for the small town of El Cotillo and the nearby lighthouse (Faro de Toston). We had a lovely spot of brunch at The Happy Cactus (vegan café), before having a walk along the beach and through the dunes. 

Lighthouse (Faro de Toston)

No new bird species were added, but we did see: Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Laughing Dove (heard), Yellow-legged Gull, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Atlantic Lizard and a single Portuguese Man o'War, that was washed up on the rocks.

Whimbrel and Turnstones

Atlantic Lizard

Portuguese Man o'War

On the drive back to Corralejo, we stopped off at the Corralejo Natural Park, and had a short walk along the Grandes Playas. One new species, Cory's Shearwater, was added to the trip list, when 2 were seen flying far out, over the sea.

Island Tour - Part 2 - Betancuria

 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

Corralejo- March 28th and 29th

 Jayne and I arrived in the resort of Corralejo on Saturday afternoon. We spent the rest of the day, and the Sunday in the resort.

The first species seen on the island was.... Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon. This species was seen on everyday, at every location visited. Other species seen on the journey to the resort were: Kestrel, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove (very common everywhere) and Buzzard (our 1 and only sighting).

On arrival at the hotel, we saw many more Collared Doves, Spanish Sparrow (very common across the island), Barn Swallow and Whimbrel (common on the rocky foreshore, and seen on every visit).

The next day, Sunday 29th, we walked around the town, and recorded the same species, as well as our first "lifer", Plain Swift, with 2 over the hotel. Other species added were: Turnstone (common, in small groups on the foreshore), Common Sandpiper (seen on every visit in 1s and 2s), Ringed Plover (3 seen), Sanderling (5 seen), Raven (1 over) and Little Egret (1 fishing on the shore).

Little Egret

Back at the hotel, we spent time by the pool, and had fly-over Ruddy Shelduck (2), a Kestrel (hunting the Atlantic (Haria) Lizard in the grounds, and, best of all, a couple of Laughing Dove (2nd lifer), that also flew over our heads. Unfortunately, this was our only sighting of the trip, so no photos.

Kestrel and half a lizard!