EMPEROR DRAGONFLY (Anax imperator) male, Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

 

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The Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) or Blue Emperor Dragonfly is of the family Aeshnidae which is in the genus Anax. This large and powerful species is a voracious predator of other flying insects. Prey items including medium sized dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and other flying invertebrates are captured on the wing but it tends to avoid predating bees, wasps and hard shelled flying insects such as beetles. Probably as a result of climate change, in the last 20 years or so it has greatly expanded its range north ward. Now relatively common throughout the Western Palearctic, excluding Iceland and the vast majority of Scandinavia. In the Eastern Atlantic it occurs on all the Macaronesian Islands including Fuerteventura where it is encountered in lush valleys and gardens. 

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

LAS PENITAS (RESERVOIR) Barranco de las Penitas, Vega de Rio Palmas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

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SARDINIAN WARBLER [Female] (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

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The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) is a small mainly insectivorous warbler of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is commonly encountered in southern and eastern Europe as well as in countries bordering the Mediterranean Basin. It is also resident on the Canary Islands. Some authorities recognise up to five subspecies. The female, typical of most sylvia warblers, has drabber plumage, it is grey headed with brownish upper parts and the under parts are washed buff. This species normally occurs in shrubby type habitat as well as in parks and gardens.
The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) that occurs on the Canary Islands is an endemic subspecies. The Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis) is the only other warbler that breeds on Fuerteventura and it is also classified as a Canary Island endemic subspecies.
After a considerable wait, this female hopped out briefly onto a Tamarisk bush and I managed to fire off half a dozen shots before it disappeared back into the thicket. The photo above being the best of a bad lot.

    Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com 
 

Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:

• Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala - Iberia across the northern Mediterranean to western Turkey. Extends into the Maghreb from Iberia, and into Libya from Italy via Sicily. Migrates to the Sahel and oases in the Sahara in winter.
• Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra  - Canary Islands, resident, probably some vagrancy between eastern islands and Maghreb.
• Sylvia melanocephala momus - Near East. Resident, some local movements. 
• Sylvia melanocephala norissae - Fayyum Warbler - probably only a local morph of momus  - Nile Delta region. Extinct since around 1940.
• Sylvia melanocephala valverdei - Morocco south to the Tropic of Cancer, inland to the edge of the Sahara. Resident, but some seasonal movements.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardi

CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Vega de Rio Palmas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

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SARDINIAN WARBLER (Male) Sylvia melanocephala ssp. S. m. leucogastra Las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

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The Sardinian Warbler found on the Canary Islands is classified as a separate subspecies (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra). It is shorter winged and has a thicker bill when compared to its mainland European counterpart. At times, it can be quite skulking as was the case here. As it hid in a Shrubby Launaea bush, it tried its best not to be photographed.