Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and is located in the Atlantic Ocean 100 km from the north coast of Africa. Mountainous with desert like plains and a sub tropical climate makes this an ideal winter birding destination with such species as the rapidly declining and vulnerable Houbara bustard along with Cream-coloured courser, Stone Curlew, Egyptian vulture, Barbary falcon and Black-bellied sandgrouse. Fuerteventura chat is the only endemic species found here along with other specialties like the Lesser short- toed lark and the widespread Berthelot's pipit.
Displaying male Houbara bustard.
1. Caleta de Fuste ~ Las Salinas del Carmen
The coastal path south from El Castillo harbour to Las Salinas del Carmen (Saltpans) passes a series of rocky out crops and is particularly good for Wading birds, Grey plover, Ringed plover, Kentish plover, Sanderling, Ruddy turnstone and Whimbrel can be found here along with Yellow-legged gulls and Sandwich terns. The large hotel gardens can be productive for a number of species such as Hoopoe, Blackcap, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian warbler, Spanish sparrow, Eurasian collared dove and Chiffchaff while at the Atlantico Centro the small artificial lake has attracted Common sandpiper and more recently a confiding Red-billed tropicbird.
2. Los Alares ~ Aerodromo del Jarde ~ Barranco de la Muley
Spending the morning with Dave Galavan out on his local patch we headed to Los Alares where a farmer has diverted water from a barranco for irrigation forming a marsh area and small enclosed pond. Here we located Bluethroat (rare vagrant), Great grey shrike, Spectacled warbler, Little egret, Black-winged stilt, Grey heron, Ruddy Shelduck, Raven, Common snipe, Spoonbill, Collared dove, Spanish sparrow and Barbary partridge.
From here we drove the short distance to Aerodromo del Jarde, an ideal location for Stone curlew, Houbara bustard, Lesser short-toed lark, Berthelot's pipit, Great grey shrike, Egyptian vulture, Common buzzard and Kestrel, along the way we noted Hoopoe, Raven, Yellow-legged gull, Rock dove and a pair of Laughing dove.
Our final stop was at Barranco de la Muley where a stream running through the barranco has formed a series of fertile pools attracting a variety of birds including Fuerteventura chat, Berthelot's pipit, Trumpeter finch, Spectacled warbler, Lesser short-toed lark, Kestrel, Common buzzard, Little ringed plover, Ruddy shelduck, White wagtail, Linnet, Egyptian vulture and Black-bellied sandgrouse observed drinking at the waters edge.
3. Tindaya plain ~ La Oliva
The best location on Fuerteventura for all the desert species, here we were lucky enough to see 6 Individual Houbara bustard including an adult male displaying for over an hour, a juvenile alongside an adult female and several more observed in flight after being disturbed by Ravens. Cream-coloured courser was also noted with juveniles along with Black-bellied sandgrouse, Barbary partridge, Kestrel, Lesser short-toed lark, Great grey shrike, Berthelot's pipit, Trumpeter finch, Ruddy shelduck, Spectacled warbler, Linnet, Fuerteventura chat, Muscovy duck (escapee), Egyptian vulture, Rock dove, Spanish sparrow and Common buzzard.
From here we drove the short distance to the village of La Oliva where we stopped at the small pond behind the secondary school where we noted Spoonbill, Black-winged stilt, Moorhen, Little grebe, Ruddy shelduck, Spectacled warbler, Great grey shrike, Berthelot's pipit, Kestrel and Trumpeter finch. Due to a festival in the town many of the roads had been closed but we managed views of Laughing dove and Fuerteventura chat.
4. Barranco de la Torre
Take the road off the FV-2 which leads to Salinas del Carmen and continuing past along the track for a few kilometers before dropping down to the beach at Virgen del Carmen and the start of Barranco de la Torre. From here you can either park and continue on foot or drive further up the barranco to the restricted access barrier and restricted area sign. This is one of the best areas for Egyptian vultures we had 6 here perched on the high sided rocks in the barranco, also noted here was a pair of Barbary falcon's perched on the cliff face.
Other sightings here included Trumpeter finch, Fuerteventura chat, Spectacled warbler, Sardinian warbler, Blackcap, kestrel, Spanish sparrow, Rock dove, Common buzzard and Chiffchaff.
5. Barranco del Rio Cabras
Parking close to the entrance to the gated Complejo Ambiental de Zurita recycling centre on the road off the main FV-20 and crossing the plain and heading down to the bottom of the Barranco del Rio Cabras we had sightings of Ruddy shelduck and 10 ducklings, both adult and juvenile Egyptian vulture, Trumpeter finch, Fuerteventura chat including young, African blue tit, Robin, Song thrush, Berthelot's pipit, White wagtail, Lesser short-toed lark, Black-winged stilt, Little ringed plover, Green sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Raven, Kestrel, Common buzzard, Sardinian warbler, Spectacled warbler, Laughing dove, Swift, Linnet, Spoonbill, Blackcap and Barbary falcon. Back at the recycle centre we noted good numbers of Yellow-legged gull, Lesser black-backed gull and more Raven, Spanish sparrow, Rock dove, Common buzzard and Egyptian vulture.
6. Vega de Rio Palmas ~ El Pinar ~ Betancuria
Passing through Betancuria on the FV-30 take the road signposted Vega de Rio Palmas and park in the small carpark near the start of the trail. Continue on foot heading towards Barranco de Las Peñitas here we spotted Laughing dove, Kestrel, African blue tit including juveniles, Great grey shrike, Spectacled warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blackbird and a significant number of Sardinian warbler including young. Other were Common buzzard, Berthelot's pipit, Trumpeter finch, Linnet, Robin and Hoopoe. Sitting down for lunch on a rock we ended up sharing our sandwich with a pair of very confiding Raven while back at Betancuria we added an Atlantic canary to our list along with a family of Great grey shrike and several Barbary partridge at El Pinar.
7. Corralejo ~ El Cotillo
Joining the coast track in Corralejo and heading west towards El Cotillo we stopped at Playa El Majanicho, Playa El Hierro and Playa Beatriz where we noted Spoonbill, Grey heron, Whimbrel, Little egret, Redshank, Common sandpiper, Green sandpiper, Common snipe, Bar-tailed godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed plover, Kentish plover, Dunlin, Grey plover, Berthelot's pipit and Yellow-legged gull. On the beach we noted 12 Atlantic puffin which had washed up dead due to adverse weather conditions during the week previous.
8. Los Molinos
Taking the track from the FV-221 we parked at the dam wall where several Palid swift were noted along with House martin, Common swift, Fuerteventura chat, Great grey shrike, Berthelot's pipit and Trumpeter finch while on the water Ruddy shelduck, Common snipe, Greenshank, Wigeon, Coot, Kingfisher, Tufted duck, Black-winged stilt and Lesser scaup were recorded along with Black-bellied sandgrouse, Kestrel and Raven. Continuing on the FV-221 we stopped at the coast and checked out the Barranco de Los Molinos where we noted good numbers of Muscovy duck along with Mallard, Common sandpiper and Barbary partridge.
9. Los Gorriones ~ Costa Calma ~ Morro Jable ~ La Pared
Taking the FV-2 south and heading for hotel Meliá Fuerteventura (previously hotel Gorriones) we then took the beach track arriving at Playa Sotavento at sunrise, here receding tides leave huge lagoons which play host to a good number of feeding waders before sunbathers and dog walkers arrive which then disturbs the birds.
Here we saw Grey Heron, Little egret, Black-headed gull, Yellow-legged gull, Ringed plover, Kentish plover, Dunlin, Common sandpiper and Sanderling while heading back to the Meliá we noted a Great grey shrike.
Continuing on the FV-2 to Morro Jable we parked opposite the old abandoned Stella Canaris Zoo where we spotted several Hadada Ibis feeding on the grass. In the trees Monk parakeet were observed nest building and several Cattle egret nested with young. Other sightings included Blackcap, a pair of African blue tits feeding their young and a hybrid dove amongst the Eurasian collared dove population.
Heading north back to Costa Calma we parked at the forest and walked through noting Red-vented bulbul, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow warbler, Goldcrest, Song thrush, Goldfinch, African Collared dove, Spanish sparrow, Eurasian collared dove, Chaffinch and Blackbird. A brief stop at La Pared gave us views of Houbara bustard, Lesser short-toed lark, Berthelot's pipit, Raven, Kestrel and Black-bellied sandgrouse.
10. Hoya de Agua (Tacha Blanca)
Through Antigua on the FV-20 turn left after the Cespa La Antigua service station onto Hoya de Agua and head up the hillside past a series of farms until you reach a dead end at the cactus plantation at Tacha Blanca. Park here and explore the surrounding area, this is a peaceful and quiet fertile spot which attracts a variety of birds including Hoopoe, Great grey shrike, Barbary partridge, Kestrel, Common buzzard, Egyptian vulture, Sardinian warbler, Spectacled warbler, Lesser short-toed lark, Berthelot's pipit, African blue tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Laughing dove, Atlantic canary, Linnet, Raven, Eurasian collared dove and Spanish sparrow.
Additional Sightings
Other sightings of note included Barbary ground squirrel, Rabbit and Atlantic lizard, Butterflies noted were Small white, Clouded yellow, Painted lady, Monarch, Greenish black-tip, Green-striped white and Plain tiger with Bordered straw moth and Egyptian grasshopper. Dragonflies included Blue emperor, Epaulet skimmer, Scarlet darter, Red-veined darter and the very rare Desert skimmer with only one previous European record.
For a full list of sightings click Here: Sightings 2023
Video link: Fuerteventura 2023
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