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There are only three species of reptile resident on the Eastern Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and the Chinijo Archipelago). They are the Atlantic Lizard Gallotia atlantica, the Eastern Canary Gecko (Tarentola angustimentalis) and the Eastern Canary Skink (Chalcides simonyi), all of whom are endemic. The lizard is common, has a wide spread distribution and in some locations can be abundant. It is found in a variety of habitats from sea level up to the higher peaks. Males are larger than females but rarely exceed 200mm in length. Three clutches of up to five eggs are laid annually. It is a very important food item in the diet of Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus subspecies F. t. dacoyiae) and also for Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo subspecies B. b. insularm). Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
Wednesday 11 March 2015
ATLANTIC LIZARD (Gallotia atlantica) male, Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
Monday 9 March 2015
Wednesday 4 March 2015
LESSER SHORT TOED LARK Calandrella rufescens ssp.C.r. polatzeki Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Thursday 26 February 2015
BLACK BELLIED SANDGROUSE [Male] (Pterocles orientalis) Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
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The Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) is a gamebird of the family Pteroclididae which is in the genus Pterocles. The nominate race breeds in Iberia, northwest Africa, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Iran, Cyprus and Israel. The eastern race (P. o. arenarius) occurs in Kazakhstan, western China and northern Pakistan. It is a partial migrant, with central Asian populations moving to Pakistan and northern India for the winter.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-bellied_sandgrouse
Monday 23 February 2015
BLACK BELLIED SANDGROUSE [Female] (Pterocles orientalis) Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Click here for detailed species information
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) is a gamebird of the family Pteroclididae which is in the genus Pterocles. The nominate race breeds in Iberia, northwest Africa, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Iran, Cyprus and Israel. The eastern race (P. o. arenarius)
occurs in Kazakhstan, western China and northern Pakistan. It is a
partial migrant, with central Asian populations moving to Pakistan and
northern India for the winter.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-bellied_sandgrouse
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Thursday 19 February 2015
BLACK WINGED STILT [Female] (Himantopus himantopus) Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is one of three species of stilt, the others two are Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus). It is resident in Africa and also breeds across the temperate parts of Europe and Central Asia where it is a summer resident that migrates south for the winter to sub Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. Within the warmer parts of this range, there is a sedentary population. In addition, there are also four subspecies or races recognised, which some authorities consider to be full species,
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Sunday 15 February 2015
RUDDY SHELDUCK (Male) Tadorna ferruginea Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Click here for detailed species information Central Asia is the main stronghold of the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) where it is a summer resident which winters predominantly on the Indian sub-continent and in South East Asia. There are five other species of shelduck, none of which are found in the Americas. The Common Shelduck (Tadorna Tadorna) occurs in Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. Four species are resident in the Southern Hemisphere, Cape Shelduck (Tadorna carna) in southern Africa, Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) in south east and western Australia, Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah) in the East Indies and northern Australia and Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna varigata) in New Zealand. A seventh species the Crested Shelduck (Tadorna cristata) was found mainly in northern Korea and was last reliably reported in 1964.There was a further report in 1971 but it is now probably extinct. Ruddy Shelduck has recently been discovered breeding in the Ethiopian Mountain. In the Eastern Mediterranean, the stronghold is Turkey. In the Western Mediterranean, there are two small populations in North West Africa, one in Tunisia and the other in western Morocco. Formally a vagrant to the Canary Islands, it first bred on Fuerteventura in 1994 where it has now become established. |
LOS MOLINOS RESERVOIR Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain.
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Detailed site information below
Just west of the scattered village of Las Parcelas, on the
FV-221, there is a sharp bend in the road. At this bend, turn left at the goat
farm building onto a 2km long driveable track which leads south to the car parking
area at Los Molinos reservoir and dam. This track runs parallel to the Barranco
de las Molinos (barranco - meaning
dry river valley) which is on the right where the endemic Fuerteventura Chat (Saxicola dacotiae)
can be found. On the left of the track is an extensive stony semi-arid plain which
is home to most of Fuerteventura’s much sought after desert species. This reservoir, with its permanent stand of
fresh water, is a good place to see a variety of water birds, which includes
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopusand) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Other birds, including
some very rare species, are also attracted to the area during the spring/autumn
migration period and during the winter months. This is the best location to see
Plain Swift (Apus unicolor) and is joined by Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) from March to October. The reservoir’s
western side is inaccessible. On the eastern side, good views of the entire area
can be had at the small bird hide (alas never open) which is located about 300m south of the car park. Due to the steep nature of its sides, access to the
shore line is best left to the foolhardy.Text © www.rawbirds.com
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Sunday 8 February 2015
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops) Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a very striking member of the family Upupidae which is in the genus Upupa. It derives its English name from its distinctive
call. It
occurs in Europe, Asia and North Africa where it is predominantly a
summer resident
which winters in sub Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. It is absent from
the northern parts of Eurasia. Southern populations, including those on the Canary Islands, are sedentary. Formerly considered a single species, the Hoopoe has now been
split into three species, the African Hoopoe (Upupa africana), the Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) and the
Madagascan Hoopoe (U. marginata).
A fourth species the Saint Helena Hoopoe (U. antaios), now
extinct, occurred on Saint Helena Island.
Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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Tuesday 3 February 2015
TRUMPETER FINCH (Male) Bucanetes githagineus Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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The Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) occurs mainly in North West Africa and the Middle East. There is a small breeding population in South East Spain and it has recently expanded its breeding range into Turkey. This stocky, heavy billed finch is normally found in arid, stony, semi desert type habitat. Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum is endemic to the Canary Islands and is one of four subspecies recognised. On Fuerteventura, the track which runs alongside the goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain are well-known area for them. Trumpeter Finches normally occur in small flocks but become dispersive during the breeding season (April) and they then can be difficult to locate. |
LAS PARCELAS (GOAT FARM) Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain.
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The goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain holds some of the most sought after bird species on Fuerteventura. These include, Trumpeter Finch, Berthelot’s Pipit, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Stone Curlew, Cream Coloured Courser and Houbara Bustard. Located west of the nearby village of Las Pacelas and at the start of a driveable track which leads to the Los Molinos dam and reservoir.
Saturday 31 January 2015
BARBARY PARTRIDGE Alectoris barbara ssp. A. b. koenigi. Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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The Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) is a North African gamebird. It is also native to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. On the Iberian Peninsula there is a small colony at Gibraltar. The endemic subspecies Alectoris barbara koenigi occurs on the Canary Islands. On Fuerteventura, although uncommon, it is found throughout the island where at times it can be difficult to locate.
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Wednesday 28 January 2015
EURASIAN STONE CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus Ssp B. o. insularum Tindaya, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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World-wide, there are nine
species of Stone Curlew (also known as Thick-knee or Dikkop). They are found in
both tropical and temperate regions. On the Iberian Peninsula, the Eurasian
Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is sedentary but in the rest of
Europe it is mainly a summer resident which winters in North Africa. The endemic
subspecies Burhinus oedicnemus insularum
occurs on the Canary Islands and its cryptic coloration help it blend in very
well with the semi desert type habitat on Fuerteventura.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
SPECTACLED WARBLER (Male) Sylvia conspicillata Ssp S. c. orbitalis Tindaya, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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The Spectacled Warbler occurs mainly in the Western Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Cyprus. The endemic subspecies Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis is resident on most of the scattered group of islands in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, known as the Macaronesia Islands. Within this group, it does not occur on the Azores but is commonly found on the Canary Islands. Because of the arid semi desert type habitat on Fuerteventura Island it has a very local distribution. This species along with the Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra) are the only warblers breeding on Fuerteventura. Like most Sylvia warblers it is skulking by nature and can be very un-obliging when it comes to having its photograph taken.
Friday 16 January 2015
EMPEROR DRAGONFLY (Anax imperator) male, Las Penitas, Barranco de las Penitas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information 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
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Friday 9 January 2015
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 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:
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Sunday 4 January 2015
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.
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