rosko1948
Well-known member
I am fortunate that my sister and brother in law reside in Playa Honda. Having returned to birding after a 40 year break it seemed an obvious choice to visit them on my first birding trip abroad.
I read many trip reports and purchased several books and a video to gain the knowledge I required to hopefully make it a successful trip.
I flew from Leeds Bradford airport with Ryanair the flight taking around 4 1/2 hours.On arrival I was met by the representative from Plus Cars to pick up my hire car, costing 133.10 euros for ten days i thought it was very reasonable . The car was a Skoda Fabia which surprised me to how spacious it was inside, I generally choose larger vehicles as I am quite large.
Not having driven abroad before I found it quite daunting at first but as the days went by I quite liked the experience and found it easier in many respects to driving on the left.
As I didn’t arrive until 4.30pm it was a case of unpacking then going out for food , with an early start in the morning.
A walk along the foreshore(with binoculars) at Playa Honda on route to the restaurant produced : -
Lesser-black Backed Gull 2
Spanish Sparrow 5
Collared Dove 4
Sanderling 10
Common Sandpiper 2
Ringed Plover 2
Whimbrel 1
El Jable Plain. 1st May
Several of the trip reports I read suggested the areas to concentrate on on the plain.
I made an early start around 5 am to get to my chosen area between Soo and Calleta de Famara , I chose the second track whist traveling back from Famara to Soo but realized that I was on the wrong track so I parked around 50 yards from the road awaiting daylight around 7 am.
I was rewarded for my mistake with the appearance of four Houbara Bustards walking onto an area of previous cultivation . As I was about to leave a Southern Grey Shrike flew in and perched up quite close to the car, with several Berthelot Pipits showing along the track.
I retraced my route back to Calleta de Famara and taking the LZ402 towards Mozaga took the second track onto the plain , this is a wide track with extensive cultivations , much different to the first track.
On here I had sightings of Southern Grey Shrike 3 , Hoopoe 4 , Cattle Egret 2 and a flock of around twenty Lesser Short-toed Lark .
My final view of the Houbara Bustard occurred when two Ravens harried a male Bustard for around 3/4 hr before they all disappeared from view , with one Raven at the front and one at the rear they pulled at the bird in turn the Bustard unable to escape from the Ravens.
I don’t know what the intention was wether they were trying to kill the Bustard or draw it away from a nest they travelled at least 100 yds during the attack whilst they were in view.
Despite spending around six hours on the plain I was didn’t see any Stone Curlew or Cream Coloured Courser.
Leaving the plain I travelled to the Mirador de Guinate access is gained by driving past the Tropical Bird Gardens on the Mirador del Rio road. The only bird seen here was a Kestrel on the cliff.
To finish of my first day I called at a sea watching site which had been recommended to me by Lanzarote Pelagic Trips.
Jameos del Agua off the LZ1 on the east coast, with an extensive complex of buildings with a museum and a restaurant.
It is possible to walk down the path to the shoreline , it is however as easy to use the scope from the elevated parking area , with toilet facilities close by , I intended to return so it was only a short visit.
There were many Cory’s Shearwater’s, several giving good views closer to the shore, along with Northern Gannets seen diving also at reasonable distances.
At the end of my Second day I was pleased with my 8 lifers .
Salinas De Janubio 2nd May
These salt pans are reputedly the best area in the whole of the Canary Island group for waders. I got there at first light , parking in the car park nearest to the sea.
Looking on the beach I saw the first of the Kentish Plover a flock of 26 birds.
On entering the salt pans the shoreline of the marine lagoon had another 12 Kentish Plover’s and 8 Black-winged Stilt’s.
The lagoon had numerous Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Ruddy Shelduck.
Walking around the pans I saw Whimbrel 1 , Spanish Sparrow 20 +, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeons, Kentish Plover 10 c, Hoopoe 2 ,Berthelots Pipit 4 and Trumpeter Finch 3
As the staff were working in the pans I sought permission to return on the following Sunday when it would be much quieter .
Standing near the pump house where the inlets are where several lizards a small one which I understand is a Haria Lizard and a much larger one the Atlantic Lizard, the population of lizards must be quite high as I saw around 6 in a very small area and others as I walked around the lower pans nearest to the lagoon.
Punta de Papagayo
The site of the lighthouse near Playa Blanca. I had travelled down to the southern end of the island to locate the tracks onto the El Rubicon Plain near to the concrete works for an early morning start.
The only birds seen were 2 Plain Swifts, I didn’t venture to the lighthouse as the car park was full with tourist cars and coaches.
At the end of my third day my life birds had increased to 12 .
Los Cocoteros 3rd May
The salt pans were total devoid of birds the workers having started early, I was there at first light.
Judging by the number of large feral cats , I counted at least 8 patrolling around the pans it would seem that this situation is likely to remain unchanged.
Only birds seen were Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls.
I parked in a lay-by to look at my map and had views of a Southern Grey Shrike and a Berthelot’s Pipit.
Jameos de Agua
As I was quite close I decided on another visit, this time I walked down to the seashore where there were several places to sit whilst doing a sea watch.
There were many Cory’s Shearwaters on the horizon with around 30 or so venturing closer to the shore . A pair of Hoopoe flew by and perched up quite close. Several Northern Gannet could also be seen but generally out on the horizon.Moving up to the car park produced a Berthelot’s Pipit which happily posed for the camera , a flock of approximately 20 Spanish Sparrows were foraging in the greenery and a lone Swallow was seen overhead.
Tahiche Golf Course.
I called at the golf club to make arrangements for a visit, I wasn’t allowed to enter the course as by this time it was mid afternoon and very busy with golfers. But was told I could visit at 8am or 5-30pm on any day I these were quite periods. The receptionists were very helpful , after a coffee I surveyed the course from the car park seeing a Turtle Dove about twenty feet away amongst the bushes on the ground looking for food. Southern Grey Shrike 3 , Cattle Egret and again a lone Swallow.
On leaving the golf course I turned left out of the gate towards Tahiche and after 300 metres turned left into an area of greenery, it would appear that this is a sewage works but the road is barred although the works are visible here a pair of Pallid Swift were hunting around a small copse of Tamarisk and another Southern Grey Shrike was perched high in one of the bare branches.
I returned back to my sisters as we had made plans for an evening visit to Mirador Del Rio.
Mirador Del Rio
On route to here I went via Haria to try and locate the Mirador de Haria and the parking referred to in the excellent trip report ( a copy of which accompanied me ) by wolfbirder, on finding the place I soon realized that I wouldn’t be able to make it up to the area as I am restricted with several ailments.
The Mirador Del Rio is a truly fabulous place to visit , after a coffee I went outside to the lower viewing platform and from here saw
Barbary Falcon 3 , Kestrel and lots of Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls .
Unfortunately we had arrived quite late so after around 3/4 hr they were ready for closing.
At the end of my 4th day my life list had increased to 15
More to follow ............
I read many trip reports and purchased several books and a video to gain the knowledge I required to hopefully make it a successful trip.
I flew from Leeds Bradford airport with Ryanair the flight taking around 4 1/2 hours.On arrival I was met by the representative from Plus Cars to pick up my hire car, costing 133.10 euros for ten days i thought it was very reasonable . The car was a Skoda Fabia which surprised me to how spacious it was inside, I generally choose larger vehicles as I am quite large.
Not having driven abroad before I found it quite daunting at first but as the days went by I quite liked the experience and found it easier in many respects to driving on the left.
As I didn’t arrive until 4.30pm it was a case of unpacking then going out for food , with an early start in the morning.
A walk along the foreshore(with binoculars) at Playa Honda on route to the restaurant produced : -
Lesser-black Backed Gull 2
Spanish Sparrow 5
Collared Dove 4
Sanderling 10
Common Sandpiper 2
Ringed Plover 2
Whimbrel 1
El Jable Plain. 1st May
Several of the trip reports I read suggested the areas to concentrate on on the plain.
I made an early start around 5 am to get to my chosen area between Soo and Calleta de Famara , I chose the second track whist traveling back from Famara to Soo but realized that I was on the wrong track so I parked around 50 yards from the road awaiting daylight around 7 am.
I was rewarded for my mistake with the appearance of four Houbara Bustards walking onto an area of previous cultivation . As I was about to leave a Southern Grey Shrike flew in and perched up quite close to the car, with several Berthelot Pipits showing along the track.
I retraced my route back to Calleta de Famara and taking the LZ402 towards Mozaga took the second track onto the plain , this is a wide track with extensive cultivations , much different to the first track.
On here I had sightings of Southern Grey Shrike 3 , Hoopoe 4 , Cattle Egret 2 and a flock of around twenty Lesser Short-toed Lark .
My final view of the Houbara Bustard occurred when two Ravens harried a male Bustard for around 3/4 hr before they all disappeared from view , with one Raven at the front and one at the rear they pulled at the bird in turn the Bustard unable to escape from the Ravens.
I don’t know what the intention was wether they were trying to kill the Bustard or draw it away from a nest they travelled at least 100 yds during the attack whilst they were in view.
Despite spending around six hours on the plain I was didn’t see any Stone Curlew or Cream Coloured Courser.
Leaving the plain I travelled to the Mirador de Guinate access is gained by driving past the Tropical Bird Gardens on the Mirador del Rio road. The only bird seen here was a Kestrel on the cliff.
To finish of my first day I called at a sea watching site which had been recommended to me by Lanzarote Pelagic Trips.
Jameos del Agua off the LZ1 on the east coast, with an extensive complex of buildings with a museum and a restaurant.
It is possible to walk down the path to the shoreline , it is however as easy to use the scope from the elevated parking area , with toilet facilities close by , I intended to return so it was only a short visit.
There were many Cory’s Shearwater’s, several giving good views closer to the shore, along with Northern Gannets seen diving also at reasonable distances.
At the end of my Second day I was pleased with my 8 lifers .
Salinas De Janubio 2nd May
These salt pans are reputedly the best area in the whole of the Canary Island group for waders. I got there at first light , parking in the car park nearest to the sea.
Looking on the beach I saw the first of the Kentish Plover a flock of 26 birds.
On entering the salt pans the shoreline of the marine lagoon had another 12 Kentish Plover’s and 8 Black-winged Stilt’s.
The lagoon had numerous Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Ruddy Shelduck.
Walking around the pans I saw Whimbrel 1 , Spanish Sparrow 20 +, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeons, Kentish Plover 10 c, Hoopoe 2 ,Berthelots Pipit 4 and Trumpeter Finch 3
As the staff were working in the pans I sought permission to return on the following Sunday when it would be much quieter .
Standing near the pump house where the inlets are where several lizards a small one which I understand is a Haria Lizard and a much larger one the Atlantic Lizard, the population of lizards must be quite high as I saw around 6 in a very small area and others as I walked around the lower pans nearest to the lagoon.
Punta de Papagayo
The site of the lighthouse near Playa Blanca. I had travelled down to the southern end of the island to locate the tracks onto the El Rubicon Plain near to the concrete works for an early morning start.
The only birds seen were 2 Plain Swifts, I didn’t venture to the lighthouse as the car park was full with tourist cars and coaches.
At the end of my third day my life birds had increased to 12 .
Los Cocoteros 3rd May
The salt pans were total devoid of birds the workers having started early, I was there at first light.
Judging by the number of large feral cats , I counted at least 8 patrolling around the pans it would seem that this situation is likely to remain unchanged.
Only birds seen were Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls.
I parked in a lay-by to look at my map and had views of a Southern Grey Shrike and a Berthelot’s Pipit.
Jameos de Agua
As I was quite close I decided on another visit, this time I walked down to the seashore where there were several places to sit whilst doing a sea watch.
There were many Cory’s Shearwaters on the horizon with around 30 or so venturing closer to the shore . A pair of Hoopoe flew by and perched up quite close. Several Northern Gannet could also be seen but generally out on the horizon.Moving up to the car park produced a Berthelot’s Pipit which happily posed for the camera , a flock of approximately 20 Spanish Sparrows were foraging in the greenery and a lone Swallow was seen overhead.
Tahiche Golf Course.
I called at the golf club to make arrangements for a visit, I wasn’t allowed to enter the course as by this time it was mid afternoon and very busy with golfers. But was told I could visit at 8am or 5-30pm on any day I these were quite periods. The receptionists were very helpful , after a coffee I surveyed the course from the car park seeing a Turtle Dove about twenty feet away amongst the bushes on the ground looking for food. Southern Grey Shrike 3 , Cattle Egret and again a lone Swallow.
On leaving the golf course I turned left out of the gate towards Tahiche and after 300 metres turned left into an area of greenery, it would appear that this is a sewage works but the road is barred although the works are visible here a pair of Pallid Swift were hunting around a small copse of Tamarisk and another Southern Grey Shrike was perched high in one of the bare branches.
I returned back to my sisters as we had made plans for an evening visit to Mirador Del Rio.
Mirador Del Rio
On route to here I went via Haria to try and locate the Mirador de Haria and the parking referred to in the excellent trip report ( a copy of which accompanied me ) by wolfbirder, on finding the place I soon realized that I wouldn’t be able to make it up to the area as I am restricted with several ailments.
The Mirador Del Rio is a truly fabulous place to visit , after a coffee I went outside to the lower viewing platform and from here saw
Barbary Falcon 3 , Kestrel and lots of Atlantic Yellow-legged Gulls .
Unfortunately we had arrived quite late so after around 3/4 hr they were ready for closing.
At the end of my 4th day my life list had increased to 15
More to follow ............
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