Tenerife

I had a relaxing ten days in Tenerife, didn’t do a great amount of birding – but enough. I managed to connect with all of the endemics and saw a few more birds besides.

Blue Chaffinch (male)

White-tailed Laurel Pigeon

Bolle’s Pigeon (top), White-tailed Laurel Pigeon (left)

African Blue Tit

Island Canary

Southern Grey Shrike

Barbary Partridge

Blue Chaffinch (female) and Island Canary

Friday 12 September

Having got back from Tenerife (more to follow) I took a walk around the Reservoir on Friday evening. After a break of a couple of weeks there seemed to be more birds around. I counted nearly 40 Little Grebe and upto a 100 Lapwing on the South shore.

As I was making my way down the north shore something caught my eye landing on the shoreline behind me, I nearly dismissed it but decided that it was worth checking out, I made my way back and lo and behold there were two Ruff. This is practically the only wader species worth talking about this year, a year that has been particularly poor for waders. I left the birds and carried on only for them to fly  past me and land in the south-east corner. There were also a couple of Shoveler and the first Pochard of the autumn.

On Saturday I didn’t get around until late but there were three Ruff which were all showing really well.

Ruff, Dave Hutton

Thursday 28th August

The Little Gull was still present joined by a Black Tern (Bobby D) in the evening there were also two Common Tern. It was too windy for any warblers so I didn’t see too much in the way of passerines.

Wednesday 27th August

Took a walk around this evening and a 1st winter Little Gull and a Spotted Flycatcher made the trip worthwhile.

The Spotted Flycatcher was just to the left of the car park through the gate and was on the edge of the car park wood and the hedgerow adjacent.

There were c.100 House Martin, c.40 Sand Martin and several Swallow. Also seen were Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap.

Sunday 24 August

After a rather busy time of late Joy and I headed to Middleton Lakes more for the exercise than the birds, which was just as well because there weren’t that many birds. Saw a couple of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Hobby but missed the other birds on offer.

I walked the dog up the field this evening and found a Redstart in the hedgerow only my second ever.

This evening it was round Shustoke there was very little on the Reservoir but quiet a few warblers with several Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Monday 11th August

Popped over for half an hour tonight and it wasn’t too bad with a Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, Raven and a Peregrine.

Sunday 10th August

With strong winds blowing I popped in briefly in a lull between paint coats to see a couple of Common Sandpiper and a brief Common Tern. There has been a Sabine’s Gull in Warwickshire today (Monday) that would be a very welcome addition to the Reservoirs bird list!!!