As I've not had any proper sleep since Thursday night, I'm making this a short entry.
Today was my first day in Fuerteventura. I arrived early afternoon and after picking up the hire car, checking into my hotel and having a quick phone call with Tony Clarke (who has been on the island for the past few days but is leaving today), I headed off to Barranco de la Torre to try and get the one true endemic - Fuerteventura Chat. It was a bit of a slog through the barranco (river bed), but I finally found a pair right at the end (and on the way back found a pair just 200 metres from my car!). Anyway, they put on a decent show. They're quite wary birds and don't like you to get too close. The first pair had a Spectacled Warbler following them around, just like Dartford Warblers follow Stonechats in the UK. Here are some photos of them:
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| Fuerteventura Chat, male |
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| Fuerteventura Chat, male |
 |
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
 |
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
 |
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
 |
| Spectacled Warbler |
 |
| Spectacled Warbler |
I ended the day with a trip across to La Oliva, to try and see the Houbara Bustards that come into roost around the cultivations, but even though I got there an hour before dusk, I failed to see any.
Tomorrow maybe ay!
As I've not had any proper sleep since Thursday night, I'm making this a short entry.
Today was my first day in Fuerteventura. I arrived early afternoon and after picking up the hire car, checking into my hotel and having a quick phone call with Tony Clarke (who has been on the island for the past few days but is leaving today), I headed off to Barranco de la Torre to try and get the one true endemic - Fuerteventura Chat. It was a bit of a slog through the barranco (river bed), but I finally found a pair right at the end (and on the way back found a pair just 200 metres from my car!). Anyway, they put on a decent show. They're quite wary birds and don't like you to get too close. The first pair had a Spectacled Warbler following them around, just like Dartford Warblers follow Stonechats in the UK. Here are some photos of them:
|
| Fuerteventura Chat, male |
|
| Fuerteventura Chat, male |
|
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
|
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
|
| Fuerteventura Chat, female |
|
| Spectacled Warbler |
|
| Spectacled Warbler |
I ended the day with a trip across to La Oliva, to try and see the Houbara Bustards that come into roost around the cultivations, but even though I got there an hour before dusk, I failed to see any.
Tomorrow maybe ay!
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