GRAN CANARIA - 2- 6th February 2024 (4 Viewers)

[Scridifer]

Nice report as ever Nick, glad you got the Chaffinch & Sparrow, a pity about the Crake! Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

Chris

 

[wolfbirder]

Nice report as ever Nick, glad you got the Chaffinch & Sparrow, a pity about the Crake! Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

Chris

Many thanks for going to the trouble Chris.

 

[James Lowther]

I know IOC still hold it as a species, hence I don't really follow each Country's own decisions. Not arguing against what they say mind you but my world list is IOC-based.

I do think that in the Canary Islands there must be a lot of hybridisation though. Part One of this Birdforum video report looks closely at the issue of African and European Collared Doves.

Worth a look perhaps................https://www.birdforum.net/threads/gran-canaria-june-2023-trip-report-video.442395/

sorry Nick I wasn’t clear, it’s been removed from the SEO list because they no longer believe it to have ever been properly established in Spain, rather than any taxonomic reason
Cheers
James

 

[foresttwitcher]

Nice report Nick with some good detail

 

[wolfbirder]

sorry Nick I wasn’t clear, it’s been removed from the SEO list because they no longer believe it to have ever been properly established in Spain, rather than any taxonomic reason
Cheers
James

I get very easily confused James. Cheers.

 

[Mike Crawley]

I wasn’t aware that there were too many tourists in the Canary Islands.
I was in Lanzarote a month ago, plenty of empty rooms in the hotel we used and getting a restaurant table on "the front" at Playa Blanca was easy - just walk in !

Birding was pretty slow, though

 

[THE_FERN]

I did find it very interesting actually....................but not as much as things that move.

Giant lizards...

 

[wolfbirder]

I wasn’t aware that there were too many tourists in the Canary Islands.
I was in Lanzarote a month ago, plenty of empty rooms in the hotel we used and getting a restaurant table on "the front" at Playa Blanca was easy - just walk in !

Birding was pretty slow, though

Maybe I shouldn't believe the current headlines about the Canarian economy being under strain and at breaking point. Might well be a false headline Mike.

 

[Mike Crawley]

Maybe I shouldn't believe the current headlines about the Canarian economy being under strain and at breaking point. Might well be a false headline Mike.

Well, we’re back there in early April (my partner’s sons have booked as a "big birthday" treat) it’s school holidays so could be a tad busier !

 

[wolfbirder]

Well, we’re back there in early April (my partner’s sons have booked as a "big birthday" treat) it’s school holidays so could be a tad busier !

Sorry if I've caused a bit of unnecessary and probably unwarranted concern Mike, I'm sure that it will be no different to usual. Sensationalist, headline-grabbing nonsense on my newsfeed more likely.

 

[Jos Stratford]

It is true that during peak times there can be insufficient supply, this especially in relation to vehicle rental. When I visited Gran Canaria, admittedly in the latter stages of covid era when supplies of many things were a mess, and it was a last minute trip, there were zero options left to rent a vehicle - not a car, not even a scoorer or motorbike. Used public transport that time. There was no issue with accommodation however. On a visit a year laterr, I booked in advance and had no issues with anything.

 

[Owene]

Maybe I shouldn't believe the current headlines about the Canarian economy being under strain and at breaking point. Might well be a false headline Mike.

When I was last in Tenerife (feb 22) there were massive traffic jams on the orbital motorway at anything approaching rush hours and there obviously are huge sustainability issues to having a million people on an island that size and location. I’d imagine in prime tourist months it’s way beyond that

 

[Phil Andrews]

There have been several articles similar to the attached over the last 12 months about reducing the number of British tourists in Lanzarote and moving the island more upmarket (Scillification?? 😉) but don't known if other Canary islands have similar pressures / proposals.

Lanzarote: Jet2 hits back as Brits told they're no longer welcome

Lanzarote's tourism authorities have announced a new strategy to reduce dependence on British tourists.

www.euronews.com

 

[wolfbirder]

This is along the lines of what caught my eye, it was shown repeatedly on my AOL newsfeed the week before I departed...........also ones about a lack of available hotel accommodation (which may be bull, who knows)..............

Canary Islands 'collapsing' as too many tourists descend on holiday hotspot

Experts are raising urgent warnings about the Canary Islands, stating that a massive increase in tourism was causing a potential collapse due to excessive urban development.

www.express.co.uk

Just found out there was an Allen's Gallinule taken into care last few days, literally twenty miles away from where I was staying..........oh well............

 

[Mike Crawley]

Sorry if I've caused a bit of unnecessary and probably unwarranted concern Mike, I'm sure that it will be no different to usual. Sensationalist, headline-grabbing nonsense on my newsfeed more likely.

Don’t worry, we’re taking a couple of kids in the family group so we hope it is busy for extra playmates