FUERTEVENTURA IN SPRING

Friday 9 March – Friday 16 March 2018

HEATHERLEA EXTRA PACK

Price: £1795 PP

Single Supplement: £185

Deposit: £300

Leaders: Dave Pullan with

another from the Heatherlea team

with over 7 clients.

Max Group Size: 12

Morning departure from London

Gatwick.

Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge

are INCLUDED.

HEATHERLEA BIRDWATCHING

THE MOUNTVIEW HOTEL, NETHY BRIDGE, INVERNESS-SHIRE, PH25 3EB

T: 01479 821 248 E: info@heatherlea.co.uk W: www.heatherlea.co.uk

Fuerteventura in Spring Outline Itinerary

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and has an arid desert-like

landscape with an impressive volcanic, mountainous interior. Known locally as Viejo Pais

Canario or 'the old country', Fuerteventura could be seen as a cheap and convenient

alternative to North Africa, and though the birdlist is shorter, bustards, sandgrouse and

coursers offer spectacular birding with a distinct feel of Morocco.

During this holiday we spend an exciting week discovering the avian life of the barrancos,

key coastal locations, and the arid desert interior. In mid-March we will enjoy searching for

the desert specialities of the island, plus other breeding birds and a variety of migrants. High

on our list is Houbara Bustard, and we may be fortunate to see an individual conducting the

impressive breeding display. Fuerteventura is a good destination for those wishing to see

endangered Houbara, they are easier here than in many other places, and by using our

vehicle as a hide, we hope for close-up views of this impressive display - the picture below

was taken on our January 2015 visit.

Beautiful Cream-coloured Courser is also present in this semi-arid landscape, and we might

see several birds running around in pairs, often standing upright to peer across the plains,

and sometimes the birds scuttle close to our vehicles, allowing good photographic

opportunities. The island's only endemic bird, Fuerteventura Chat, with only around 1,000

pairs in existence is another important species, and we hope to find these attractive

'stonechats' perching and perhaps singing at the top of thorny scrub vegetation in a few

select ravines and slopes. Other key breeding birds include Barbary Partridge, Barbary

Falcon, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Egyptian Vulture, Trumpeter Finch, Lesser Short-toed

Lark, African Blue Tit (degener), and Canaries-endemic Berthelot's Pipit. Spanish Sparrow,

Hoopoe, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Stone Curlew and Laughing Dove are among other resident

birds of interest. Introduced species include Monk Parakeet and Red-vented Bulbul.

Fuerteventura in Spring Outline Itinerary

Migration promises to be exciting, and although sheer numbers may be lower than in a Mediterranean hotspot such as Mallorca or Lesvos, the location of Fuerteventura off the north-west coast of Africa makes migration a mouth-watering prospect.

We can expect Hirundines to include Red-rumped Swallow and possibly be joined by Pallid and Plain Swift. Raptors can of course be exected anywhere on the island, and migrants might include Egyptian Vulture, Montague's Harrier and Hen Harrier.

Other migrants may include White Stork, Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, Wryneck, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrike, Bluethroat and more, and we will target the Barrancos in search of migrant passerines including Subalpine, Western Bonelli's and Yellow-Browed Warblers. Turtle Dove and possibly alpestris Ring Ouzel may be passing through, and surprises can be expected too. The wet areas of the island can and do turn up some very good birds with Marbled and Ring-necked Duck being recorded regularly. Waders should be found in good numbers, and we should find Black-Winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Spoonbill, Curlew Sandpiper and gatherings of Whimbrel. Squacco and Purple Herons may be present, and rarities have included Collared Pratincole, Spotted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper. Cultivated areas can hold small groups of Red-Throated Pipit and several races of Yellow Wagtail, while offshore numbers of Cory's Shearwater will be building and we should also pick up one or two Little Shearwater (baroli). Gulls might include Slender-Billed which should be attaining full breeding plumage. Our trip in January 2015 turned up Yellow-Billed Stork, a vagrant from tropical Africa, though this species has also occurred in March. A real trip of discovery at this time of year when anything can turn up!

Fuerteventura in Spring Outline Itinerary

This is a relaxed holiday, which may feature a couple of optional early morning starts to the hot plains to see birds before the heat haze makes viewing more difficult. Mealtimes are a pleasure in our comfortable hotel, so we will usually take a leisurely breakfast followed by a full day in the field. Birding is easy, and mostly close to our transport, though some optional short walks will be available. If you want relaxed birding, warm days and the chance to see some exceptional European birds at close range, this holiday, timed to coincide with early migration, is probably right for you!

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday. Full details from our office! Day 1 Friday After relaxing in our airport lounge, we fly Gatwick to Fuerteventura and transfer by minibus to our excellent hotel, just 40 minutes away. Located in a peaceful small town in the interior, our hotel has spacious and comfortable rooms, with large private bathrooms and a swimming pool. Food is excellent, with a wide choice of local cuisine at both breakfast and dinner; we know from experience that Heatherlea clients will love it here! After settling in we head out to a local plain to look for Houbara Bustard in an area designated as a reserve for these splendid birds. Overnights near Puerto del Rosario in a family run hotel with a real flavour of the island.

Fuerteventura in Spring Outline Itinerary

Day 2 Saturday Today we will be investigating fresh water pools and scrapes around Los Molinos Dam, which can turn up some good vagrants. White-rumped Sandpiper and Ring-necked Duck have over wintered here in the past, but our main focus will be on the more likely species including Ruddy Shelduck and Black-winged Stilt. This is a good area for stunning Cream-coloured Courser and possibly Black-bellied Sandgrouse, coming to drink at the reservoir. We will also keep an eye open for elusive Barbary Partridge and endangered and declining Egyptian Vulture. Depending on progress with these birds we may spend the remainder of the day here, or further north looking for migrants. This is also a good area for Stone Curlew.

Day 3 Sunday We head south to the Peninsula Del Jandia today, with seabirds and waders on our mind. The coast here can see good numbers of Cory's Shearwater and Yellow-legged Gull (possibly of the form atlantis) and the coastal areas can hold good numbers of passage waders notably Kentish Plover. These are good areas for Lesser Short-toed Lark and endemic Fuerteventura Chat, and Barbary Falcon can occur anywhere along the peninsula.

Fuerteventura in Spring Outline Itinerary

Day 4 Monday Today we head into the spectacular mountain interior of the island with many of the species already mentioned to be found, but our primary targets will include the local race of Blue Tit (degener), the 'North African' subspecies with a white wingbar, a stunning, distinctive looking bird which can be found in the trees and bushes at Betancuria. Later we descend the spectacular mountain roads to spend the afternoon at Barranco del la Torre where we seek Trumpeter Finch, Spectacled and Sardinian Warbler, Berthelot's Pipit and another chance for Fuerteventura Chat. We also visit Salinas del Carmen for waders and egrets, a pleasant change of habitat.

Day 5 Tuesday We can't leave without a short walk through the impressive desert habitat at El Jable Dunas National Park with its Sahara-sized sand dunes! Although birds here are limited we should get close views of Berthelot's Pipit in any areas of scrub. We will then head to the north of the island looking for Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Lesser Short-toed Lark and flocks of Trumpeter Finch while keeping a look out for Pallid Swift to test our identification skills as we try to pick out a Plain Swift.

Days 6 and 7 Wednesday and Thursday During these later days we revisit some of the sites we have been to earlier, trying to "clean up" any gaps in our list and to find newly arrived rarities. We will probably spend most of one day in the far south at the Peninsular Del Jandia, where migrants including raptors may gather in favourable wind conditions before attempting their northerly flight to the Iberian peninsula. We will probably also return to the sheltered trees of the barrancos, and the fresh waters of Los Molinos, which can both provide a regular turnover of migrant birds.

Day 8 Friday Some early birding if time allows before we return to the airport and our flights to the UK.

Fuerteventura in Spring More Holiday Information

More Holiday Information:

Accommodation: is in a very comfortable hotel with all rooms en -suite. Our groups love this hotel! Food: Typical Spanish food to a very good standard, and with a wide choice. Vegetarian and other diets are welcome. Walking: The holiday is not strenuous. Walking can be described as generally very easy, on roads, paths and tracks. Most birding is done close to our vehicle, and even on the longest walks we are never far from the minibuses, should anyone wish to go back. Weather: Typically, temperatures will range from 18 -25ºC in the “heat” of the day. Sunshine should be plentiful, but wind, clouds, and rain are possible. Cold weather is unlikely but possible. Fuerteventura can frequently be windy. Insects: biting insects are not expected, though there are a few mosquitos at this season. Group size: is restricted to 12 clients maximum. Flights: are by scheduled airline, from London Gatwick. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another airport and/or or quote without flights so you can make your own arrangements. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.

Fuerteventura in Spring More Holiday Information

What's included in your holiday price:

* Return scheduled flight from London Gatwick –Fuerteventura Airport, airport taxes, baggage and hand luggage up to airline included limit. * Airport transfers, ground transportation, accommodation and meals as specified. * The services of Heatherlea leaders. * The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included free of charge subject to terms and conditions.

What's not included in your holiday price:

* Travel to and from departure airport before and after holiday, in-flight meal, baggage above airline included limit. * Incidental tips, expenses of a personal nature including drinks and personal insurance.

Fuerteventura

WHY CHOOSE HEATHERLEA?

Our overseas holidays are planned with care to offer great birding and

wildlife, led by capable Leaders who really look after you. Every holiday is

run the 'Heatherlea Way', and we hope our Overseas Adventures remind

you of the quality and care so many of you enjoy in Scotland. That

means rewarding and exciting days in the field, and good quality

accommodation and meals, with a real flavour of the country we are

visiting. Heatherlea always seek to include the personal touches that make all the difference.

Heatherlea holidays are not ‘dawn to dusk’ expeditions. Our less-intensive approach is ideal for

those who want to relax whilst experiencing the best wildlife watching, and wherever possible

we organise early or late activity on an optional basis. We also take sensible breaks when in very

hot places and regular comfort breaks on every holiday whenever possible. All itineraries are

planned carefully around the best wildlife opportunities, and you won’t miss out on memorable

wildlife, whilst enjoying relaxed, informal days that are great fun.

The really important part of any wildlife holiday is the experience for you, our valued customer.

Heatherlea invest in many things to offer you the best possible service;

* We have been organising birding and wildlife holidays for 27 seasons, and have a highly

experienced and capable office team. We also offer a telephone and email service outside

normal office hours.

* Heatherlea overseas holidays have a maximum of 12 clients per trip, putting the emphasis on

personal service, and helping you get the best possible experience.

* Our holidays often include things which others might invite you to pay yourself, for instance

Departure Taxes and tips to hotels.

* All elements of our holidays are sold under our own licence, ATOL 6113. Under ‘Flight-Plus’

legislation it is a legal requirement of any tour operator to hold an ATOL licence for the supply of

any overseas holiday where a flight is involved, if that holiday includes either overseas

accommodation and/or car hire. It can be a criminal offence for an operator to book flights as

part of a package without an ATOL licence. Heatherlea also hold full Tour Operator Insurance for

your added protection.

* Heatherlea is your complete wildlife holiday provider. Our ‘Back Office’ team can organise all

your pre-flight and other travel needs. Our specialists will help you book the right services, at the

best price. Book holiday extensions through us, and your ATOL protection is extended further.

We don’t charge extra for this service.

* Heatherlea is a limited company, registered in Scotland, and registered to pay VAT (applies to

all holidays within the European Union).

HEATHERLEA PRE-FLIGHT SERVICE

WITH HEATHERLEA, YOU'RE A VIP! ENJOY A PRE-FLIGHT AIRPORT HOTEL and LOUNGE – INCLUDED!

For Heatherlea overseas holidays which include flights as part of your package price, we include a complimentary airport hotel and lounge. To benefit, book your next

overseas wildlife holiday with Heatherlea, the wildlife operator who gives you more!

Many of us enjoy birding and wildlife holidays overseas, but the organisation of pre-flight

details can be time-consuming and frustrating. The Heatherlea Pre-flight Service offers everything you need, so let us take the strain! Our friendly, knowledgeable team will advise, so

please call Emma, Fleur, Victoria, Kevin or Phil.

PRE-FLIGHT HOTEL Heatherlea select your complimentary hotel from our approved shortlist. All offer a good standard of accommodation, with evening meals usually available, and readily available car parking and transfers to the terminal. Arrangements are confirmed in your Final Information Pack, issued prior to departure. If travelling with you, your Heatherlea Guide will probably be staying in the same hotel, and may be able to join you for an informal chat the night before travel. If you don't need an airport hotel before you fly, please contact us before your balance due date, and a credit* will be made from the holiday balance payable. On some holidays, where we fly late in the afternoon or evening, you can elect to have your complimentary hotel stay on the return leg of your holiday. If you wish to stay at a specific airport hotel, please inform us before your balance due date, and a credit* will be deducted from your final balance payment. You will at this point be responsible for making your own booking of and payment for all hotel services.

PRE-FLIGHT AIRPORT LOUNGE We want you to start your holiday early, and unwind before you fly. A busy airport terminal is hardly the ideal place to relax! By the time you've bought food, drinks, newspapers and a magazine to pass the time, terminals can prove expensive too. Why not prefer the comfort and choice of an airport lounge? You can relax and spread out for up to three hours before your flight.

Heatherlea Group relaxing before our 'Lynx and Birding' holiday in Spain, January 2014

Most of our lounges offer unlimited free drinks and snacks, complimentary magazines and newspapers, WIFI, TV and comfortable seating amid quiet surroundings. Lounges offer a secluded getaway, and save you money compared to prices outside in the terminal. Your Heatherlea guide may be there for a chat after everyone has checked-in, and you can get to know your fellow travellers or just sink into a comfortable armchair – the choice and comfort are yours!

We will confirm arrangements for your airport lounge, and include any necessary admission tickets, in your FINAL INFORMATION PACK. If our point of departure does not offer airport

lounge services, all participants will be credited with an appropriate amount from the holiday balance payable. If you've never used an airport lounge before, you don't know what you're missing – the only concern is you might get too comfortable and forget to catch your flight!

Kevin says; 'I checked out the lounge facilities at Gatwick, where I could get a drink, snacks, hot food and internet access. The Lounge was spacious and comfortable, with a choice of seating areas and things to do including TV, newspapers, a cinema and a separate area for children, which kept them away from the quiet areas. There were even beauty salon treatments available for an extra charge, ideal if you want to prepare for a long flight with a massage, manicure or facial. All the staff were friendly and very well trained, the bathroom facilities were excellent, I felt relaxed and enjoyed my visit very much. I immediately decided that Heatherlea would add this service to our holidays!' If you've never used an airport lounge before, you don't know what you're missing – the only concern is you might get too comfortable and forget to catch your flight! ADDITIONAL SERVICES Should you wish anything else as part of your Heatherlea Pre-flight Service, we will be very pleased to help you. It is important to remember that extra services (eg car parking) become more expensive as your departure date approaches, so we strongly suggest you contact us before your final balance payment is due should you require us to organise any additional service. AIRPORT PARKING Driving to the airport? Book secure car parking with us to save time and money; we offer trusted and good value airport parking services. Staying the night before? If you are staying overnight pre-flight, parking can be arranged either at your hotel or at a nearby long-stay car park, we will be pleased to discuss the options with you. Have a leisurely journey to the hotel and enjoy a good night's sleep, in the knowledge that your vehicle is secure. Driving to the airport on the day of your flight? If driving to the airport on the day of departure, we can arrange a secure car park close to the airport, with transfers to and from the terminal. Your car will be safe while you relax on holiday. For extra convenience, you might consider one of these options; Valet parking: Drive to a dedicated arrivals/departures area. When you arrive, your car will be parked for you, while you transfer to the airport. When you return to the car park, your vehicle will be waiting. Meet and greet parking: No need to park your car! Simply drive to the terminal, meet your driver, and he/she will park it for you. On your return, make a call when you are ready to leave, and your car will be waiting outside the terminal, so you can be on your way quickly. REGIONAL DEPARTURES/CONNECTIONS Prefer to fly from your local airport? Some of our holidays depart from regional airports, and on others you can often join the rest of the holiday group in your destination country rather than in

London. We are happy to arrange regional departures for any of our holidays, and will tailor flight options to your requirements. FLIGHT UPGRADES Fancy some extra legroom or a reclining seat? On a long flight you might like a lie-flat bed, or perhaps personal service including complimentary drinks and meals. Seat and special meal requests are all part of our service. Heatherlea can offer great deals for Premium Economy and Business Class passengers with many airlines, all bookable instantly over the phone. TAILOR MADE EXTENSIONS Many of you plan other activity before or after your wildlife holiday, so why not let us arrange travel services for you? It’s quicker and easier than doing it yourself, and you will benefit from ATOL protection too. Heatherlea can arrange extensions to all our overseas tours, including flights, hotels and transfers - let us know your requirements and we will do the rest! QUALITY ASSURANCE – WHY CHOOSE HEATHERLEA? Heatherlea have been organising holidays for over 24 years, and we have a highly experienced and capable team. All elements of our package holidays are sold under our ATOL licence (ATOL 6113), and our business partners include British Airways, Delta Airlines, Premier Inn and Hilton Hotels. Our specialist knowledge will help you get exactly the right services, at the best price. We offer all your airport needs with just one call, so to save time and money choose Heatherlea, your complete wildlife holiday provider.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS! The Heatherlea Pre-flight Service is designed to match your holiday needs as comprehensively as possible. We want everything to be smooth and easy for you, and all arrangements are made well in advance to give you maximum flexibility. This is a very personal service which breaks into several clear steps to make things as simple as possible. STEP ONE When you decide to book your holiday, call us to pay the appropriate deposit. We will then double check availability of all services, and make reservations on your behalf. We then issue holiday documentation, which includes; * a BOOKING LETTER - tell you when we will issue your Final Information pack. * your HOLIDAY CONFIRMATION and INVOICE. This will confirm; - the total price of your holiday - the amount of deposit paid - the balance payable and due date - detail of any extra services you might have booked * An ATOL CERTIFICATE relating to your holiday booking. * An OVERSEAS BOOKING FORM so you can; - provide essential personal details and passport information. - reserve your airport pre-flight hotel, decline this service (and receive a reduction in the balance due), or defer this decision until later. - identify any additional services (such as car parking, seat upgrades) which you might wish for us to organise. You may defer this decision till later, though the earlier you order these services, the cheaper they are likely to be. * Comprehensive ‘TRIP NOTES’ containing a great deal of information including what to pack, and accommodation details.

* An ‘EXTRA PACK’ containing a full itinerary, recent Trip Report and Bird/Wildlife Checklist for your holiday. * A copy of our Terms and Conditions, both for holidays and for Pre-flight Services. Within seven days of paying your deposit, you will be very well informed, and Heatherlea will be working hard to make arrangements to suit your personal requirements. We have extensive contacts at airports, with hotels and airlines, and work hard to give you the best available options. STEP TWO While you are looking forward to your holiday, we will be busy organizing flights and other services on your behalf. About 14 weeks before your holiday begins, we will contact you by email or telephone. This will be your final opportunity to confirm whether you want the pre-flight hotel, and to ask Heatherlea to book car parking, seat upgrades or anything else you might wish. Should your final balance payment be different from the original amount, we will re-invoice you for payment on the original due date, which will be approx. 12 weeks before your holiday. STEP THREE After your balance payment has been made, you will be issued with a FINAL INFORMATION PACK which will give you everything else you need. This will normally be issued four weeks before the holiday. This pack will contain; * Final Notes. * printed bird checklist for use on the holiday. * your field guide (on those holidays where included). * pre-flight hotel/lounge vouchers NO ADMIN FEES – THIS IS A FREE SERVICE FROM HEATHERLEA! Book your holiday NOW! .............. All flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on this Certificate. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. * A credit of £40 is available per holiday room booked. This means that two passengers sharing a room on the holiday will be credited with a total of £40. Each passenger in a single room will be credited with £40. This reflects the booking system at major airports, where charges are made per room, not per occupant. NB This FREE airport hotel offer does not include breakfast, dinner or other hotel services, nor does it include transfers between your hotel and the airport or car parking. Offer does not apply where flights are not part of the holiday, or where we offer a price for voyage only. Please remember that you are responsible for your arrival at the airport in good time, and you should check transfer arrangements from the hotel on arrival. DISCLAIMER Please note that while airport hotel and lounge services are booked for you in good faith, Heatherlea can make no guarantee of any services beyond our control. If you prefer to make your own arrangements, Heatherlea will offer credit subject to the conditions above, but will not be liable for any other refund or compensation. If you have dietary, access or other needs relating to these services, or have any other concern, we recommend you make arrangements in person.

HEATHERLEA TRIP REPORT

FUERTEVENTURA

FRIDAY 17 – FRIDAY 24 MARCH 2017

Heatherlea Guides: Toby Green and Mark Warren Friday 17 March We all met up safely and enjoyed a very relaxed breakfast in the excellent Aspire lounge. It was not long before we boarded the flight looking forward to some warm weather and quality birds. We landed in bright sun and picked up our mini buses then got on the road to La Oliva. After settling into our lovely rooms at the Casa Veija, we met up for a picnic lunch before heading out for a few hours birding. We drove to the area of Rosa de Los Negrines and birded the agricultural land in the valley bottom. A pair of Stone Curlew showed really well for us and several Laughing Doves flew around before landing in a nearby tree. Probably the most conspicuous birds were the Hoopoes, particularly the sheer number of them, giving great views as they flitted around the scattered trees. A very elusive Trumpeter

Heatherlea (Scotland) Ltd

The Mountview Hotel, Nethy Bridge

Inverness-shire PH25 3EB

Tel: 01479 821248

Email: info@heatherlea.co.uk

www.heatherlea.co.uk

Finch only showed to a handful of the group. We drove up onto the ridge line and although we could hear Lesser Short-toed Larks singing, they proved very difficult to pin down. We continued along the ridge scanning all the time when Colin spotted a distant bird - wow - our first Houbara Bustard. We scoped it so that everyone got a good look then drove further up the track which gave us much closer views from the vehicles. Several Ravens and Buzzard were seen from the ridge but with the time slipping away we turned around and headed back down to the valley. Back in the greener valley floor we had good views of several Southern Grey Shrikes and good views of Berthalots Pipit. A lucistic Collar Dove looked a little strange in the fig trees. We headed back to the hotel, looking forward to a relaxing evening and the promise of a wonderful meal. A great first day! Saturday 18 March After a filling breakfast, we loaded up and headed out to the Tindaya Plain. We left the village behind us and were soon driving through the desert plain. Within minutes we had our first good views of Stone Curlew and then not long after, a very confiding Cream-Coloured Courser showing very well and close to the vans! We continued on the main track and spotted another five Coursers with two young chicks. Before we moved off we spotted a male Houbara Bustard and as we scanned realised that there were at least five in a relatively small area. We enjoyed them for a good while appreciating the close views of their wonderfully cryptic plumage. They moved off further into the desert so we left them and continued down the track. We had several other groups of Coursers with at least 18 being seen in total, but none as close as the first bird. Another three Houbaras were spotted with two being female, one showing incredibly well and crossing the road in front of us. A ridiculously close Stone Curlew was appreciated by everyone and we all agreed that you could not get closer or better views! At this point we spotted a large flock of smallish birds out on the desert which turned out to be a migrating flock of Short-toed Larks which was a good comparison to the Lesser Short-toed Larks we had been watching not long before. We reached our turning point and got out to stretch our legs; some of the group got views of a Spectacled Warbler but the real star was a Tawny Pipit which was calling and showing well beyond the drystone wall. Two Black-bellied Sand Grouse flew in but we could not locate them on the ground and several Swallows flew overhead. We also had some great views of Southern Grey Shrikes and good numbers of Hoopoe around the village. Several Hededa Lizards and a good showing of Clouded Yellow and African grass Blue Butterflies were also seen as we drove the plain. We turned round and headed back up into Tindaya for a coffee then drove south. Just as we left the village we had two adult Egyptian Vultures high overhead giving us good if distant views, cracking birds. We stopped for lunch at the old windmill at Tefia where we had another Egyptian Vulture overhead but much closer. Our next stop was Los Molinos, and the drive gave us many more Hoopoe and a Northern Wheatear. At the dam, good numbers of Coot and Ruddy Shelduck were very evident and also Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe and Greenshank. A Spotted Redshank was swim feeding further down the reservoir and two Black-headed Gulls were flying around along with good numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls. At least 16 Teal were on the water and a single Wigeon with six Mallard were also present. A huge thunder storm had brewed up and we were a little concerned about the lighting being in such an exposed

site, so we turned around and walked back to the vans seeing several Trumpeter Finches flying by and a distant pair of Black-bellied Sandgrouse fly through. Three Egyptian Vultures circled against the now black sky of the storm, giving a very dramatic view. Back at the dam a pair of Fuerteventura Chats showed on the fence along the top of the dam. We drove back down the track but stopped as a pair of Chats had been seen, they played hard to get but eventually showed well in the scopes along with two Green Sandpiper and several calling Little-Ringed Plover. We decided to head for home after such an amazing day's birding with some memorable close encounters with some fantastic species. Looking forward to another feast at dinner time! Sunday 19 March We had decided to have a pre-breakfast excursion in the hope of seeing displaying Houbara Bustards, so we set off early and headed straight down to Tindaya. We drove onto the plain and scanned the area where we had seen the five birds yesterday but there was nothing there, so we continued on the track and soon had located a distant displaying bird. We drove down towards the bird and managed to get pretty close enjoying very good views of its bizarre powder-puff display. It was a very pleased group that arrived back at the hotel for breakfast. After a good feed, we headed south and up the winding mountain road to the lovely village of Betancuria. We stopped at the view point to enjoy the extensive panorama of the north of the island before dropping to the valley. We parked in the village and walked the Barranco where we located a calling Turtle Dove and several Sardinian Warblers. We had a brief Yellow-browed Warbler and African Blue Tit. We walked back up to the car park and the small sheltered pool which has been good in the past, and we were not disappointed as we had Blackcap and a very nice surprise- Wryneck! We decided to try the Barranco again and this time all got great views of Yellow-browed and Sardinian Warbler and Chiffchaff. A Spectacled Warbler also gave much better views. A bit of time was given to looking around the village and a chance of a coffee before we all met up again at the car park where we had a chance of all seeing Chiffchaff and the Turtle Doves. A pair of Egyptian Vultures flew high over the valley. We left Betancuria and took the even more winding mountain road through spectacular rock formations and dropped down to Pajara for lunch. We looked in the area where there had been a Sudan Golden Sparrow three weeks before, but with no reports since then we did not think it would still be around so decided to head out to Ajayu, but we did add Goldfinch and a female Blackcap to our list. A fairly large storm was gathering and as we walked the Barranco at Ajayu we were accompanied by massive thunder claps and lightning. The Barranco gave us good views of Fuerteventura Chat and a few more Sardinian Warblers. The rain had now started and the storm was right over us so we had a quick scan of the sea which turned up a good number of Cory's Shearwater and three Gannets. With the storm bearing down on us we decided to cut and run - it was soon evident that the east side of the mountains had suffered massive flooding as we drove through a river of mud and water with landslides and impressive flooding across the main roads. The hillsides were running with water and at one point, a tree washed across the road! We eventually reached dry ground and were amazed how localised the flooding was, as we approached La Oliva it was bone dry! We had our last hour in the farm land to the east of the village, giving us great views of at least eight Corn Bunting, two Stone Curlew, three Tree Pipits, Spectacled Warbler and a

group of Linnet. One of the water holes had a Black-winged Stilt and Heron and once again we were amazed by the amount of Hoopoe that were feeding around the fields. We headed back to the hotel after a bird filled and very eventful day on the island! Monday 20 March We decided that due to the horrendous weather yesterday we would stay in the north, which wasn't affected by the storm. We drove up to El Cottilo and our first real look at the coast. Good numbers of Cory's Shearwaters were passing along with Gannet and Sandwich Terns, but all a long way out. On the beach we had a nice group of Sanderling and a fine male Kentish Plover. We next visited the headland lighthouse at Faro de Toston where several Whimbrel and Ringed Plover were on the shore. We hoped for some closer Cory's and did get a number passing much closer allowing us to see the sandy upper wing and contrasting white under wing. Our next stop was Corralejo and there we added Grey Plover, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit to our wader tally. We drove through the impressive sand dunes at Dunas national park, a real contrast to the surrounding volcanic landscape and down to our lunch stop at El Jablito. We enjoyed lovely weather while sitting overlooking the sea watching our closest Cory's yet with some very nice views. Our route now took us back inland through the arid centre of the north mountains towards Villaverde. This is a dry barren landscape, but the farm on the plateau is a real oasis and we enjoyed great views of Trumpeter Finch and Fuerteventura Chat along the dry-stone walls. A single Wheatear was seen and good numbers of both Lesser Short-toed Lark and Berthalots Pipit. But our real star bird here was a group of Black-bellied Sandgrouse that allowed us some very memorable views at close quarters. We left the farm and headed down to Villaverde but stopped on the outskirts of the village as there were several Egyptian Vultures landing on a far hillside. We tried to find a closer view and were eventually rewarded with scope views of at least eleven Vultures on several carcasses. It was clearly one of the Vulture feeding stations that have been set up to increase the numbers of these near globally threatened birds. We finished the day at the La Oliva farm land again where we enjoyed views of the same species we had already seen there, including at least four Tree Pipit and great views of Corn Bunting. But our final bird was a speeding overhead Barbary Falcon, which flew in and then on towards the distant mountain ridge where we lost sight of it. A great finish to a great day. And to cap the day off we had a massive paella for dinner! Tuesday 21 March Our plan today was to try to do some migrant hot-spots on the east of the island. We set off towards the south but stopped to view two distant Vultures and spotted a pair of Northern Wheatear just north of Tefia. We continued on but again we were stopped just south of Tefia by two Barbary Partridge close to the road. Further south we were amazed that there was no evidence of the massive flooding just two days ago except for the odd waterlogged field. We arrived at the airdrome at Majada Blanca where we soon had our first groups of Sandgrouse which we discovered were coming into the large puddles left from the flood, affording us some very close views. We had good views of Lesser Short-toed Larks and

Spectacled Warbler but these were eclipsed by the two adult Egyptian Vultures which showed really well on the ground and then a close fly-by! We retraced our steps back to main road enjoying more Sandgrouse as we went, then drove down to Los Alares. The small reservoir was almost empty surprisingly, but still held a family of Shelduck and both Black-winged Stilt and Little Ringed Plover. The big pool had several Common Sandpiper and at least ten Moorhen and a handful of Coot. A Terrapin was sun bathing on the edge of the pool. The surrounding farmland gave us at least four Fuerteventura Chats and good numbers of Spectacled Warbler along with a few Sardinian Warblers. A Plain Tiger Butterfly showed well sunning on some low vegetation. A Turtle Dove was calling and we managed to pick it out sitting in one of the palm trees. Two Song Thrushes flew over us and landed in the tamarisk bushes and a single Linnet flew overhead. Our next stop was Salines del Carmen where a few waders were out on the spit at the point including Whimbrel, Redshank and Turnstone. After a pleasant lunch in the sun we drove the short distance to Barranco del a Torre where we had good views of a pair of Trumpeter Finch before we walked up the Barranco checking the tamarisk for migrants. Unfortunately, the bushes were very quiet with just the odd Sardinian and Spectacled Warbler and a female Fuerteventura Chat, so we decided to head off. We stopped at El Matoral where a number of Swifts were hawking over the vegetation. We could only make out Pallid Swifts in the group that were flying around, no sign of any Plain as far as we could see! We finished the day off at Rosa de Los Negrines which was fairly quiet, with a pair of Stone Curlew and two Laughing Doves being the highlights along with the ever-present Shrikes and Hoopoes. It was time to head back to the hotel with thoughts turning to another fantastic meal and time to relax. Wednesday 22 March Today we visited the Jandia peninsular in the very south of the island, which was once a separate kingdom to the north of the island. We had a break from driving at Catalina de Garcia, where for once there was some water in the scrape. We had a single Greenshank and a pair of Little Ringed Plover along with several Ruddy Shelduck, and four Egyptian Vultures flew overhead including a juvenile first-year bird - much darker than the adults. A pair of Swallows hawked low over the desert. We drove on south to our next stop at Playa de la Barca where the salt lagoon gave us four Spoonbills and four stunning Audouins Gulls which we walked out to, so we could enjoy the amazing views of this most attractive Gull. A number of Little Egrets and three Grey Herons were also seen. One of the Grey Herons gave Mark and I a bit of a run around as it was a very strange plumage reminiscent of a juvenile Great Blue! But with a little patience we decided that it was a very worn stained juvenile Grey. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were with the Yellow Legged Gull roost and out to sea were a number of Sandwich Terns. Several more Egyptian Vultures were seen hinting at a very good recovery of the species here. We stopped for lunch at Moro Jabel where two Bald Ibis flew over the road - these are a free flying population from a nearby zoo and a couple of Monk Parakeet joined the escape list! We enjoyed the large shoal of mixed fish in the harbour including a couple of very large Rays. On the way out of the town we had a brief fly by Cattle Egret. We started our return journey but stopped in at the park at Costa Calma where we had at least six Blackcap, one Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff. The drive back to La Oliva

was fairly quiet but we had enjoyed a very good day down on the Jandia peninsular with some great birds. Thursday 24 March Our final day on Fuerteventura saw us revisiting some of the sites we had already done with the aim of getting more views of the desert species. Our first site was Tindaya Plain where again we had great views of Houbara Bustard but this time we turned right at the cross roads and amazingly had at least nine Houbaras! Further into the drive we spotted several groups of Cream Coloured Coursers - one group with two tiny chicks running behind them. We dropped down to the Barranco where eight Linnet were bathing and drinking in some remnant puddles from Sunday's storm. A Chiffchaff, Spectacled Warbler and a pair of Fuerteventura Chat were all seen. We drove off the plain, all very pleased to have had a last look at these enigmatic desert species before heading to Puertito Los Molinos. We had lunch overlooking this stunning little bay enjoying very good views of Cory's Shearwaters in fantastic light and a handful of Gannets were passing by further out to sea. Our next stop was Los Molinos dam where the wind had now become quite strong. On the track up we had another frustratingly brief encounter with a distant Barbary Falcon, but we lost sight of it and it was not seen again. We walked up to the top end seeing a number of Sandgrouse flying distantly but most notably were the number of Pallid Swift hawking the edges of the reservoir. We didn't add any new species but the Teal and Wigeon were still around (noted as being rare/scarce winter visitors) so we decided to end the day at the Vellebron valley. The winding road up into the mountains gave us a chance to stop and photograph the stunning view over Tindaya mountain and distant plain, before we dropped toward the village. We managed to get a few more Trumpeter Finch and degener Blue Tit. Probably our most frustrating bird of the week appeared here but only Mark saw it, a single Woodchat Shrike which was chased by a Southern Grey Shrike never to be seen again! Although on the search for it we did find two more Turtle Doves. Unfortunately, our last day was coming to an end and we headed back to the hotel for our last evening meal and group gathering of the trip. Friday 25 March Today we left the island and flew back to Britain.I'm sure that all would agree that we had a great week on the island and Mark and I would like to thank you all for such a great week guiding you around this very special place.

GUEST HIGHLIGHTS Darryl - Tindaya plain and Los Molinos, Betincuria and getting such good views of Turtle Dove. David - The three Egyptian Vultures lit up against the storm, Displaying Bustards and the Audouins Gulls. Janet Spens - All the desert birds, Egyptian Vultures, Cream Coloured Coursers with chicks and all the dry-stone walls round the island. John - Leking Houbara Bustards, Trumpeter Finches and the amazing views of Black-bellied Sandgrouse at the farm. Jenny - Bustard lek, the very close Stone Curlew and the Coursers with tiny chicks. Colin - A fresh appreciation of desert birding, the Egyptian Vultures at the nest ledges and the stunning Cream Coloured Coursers. Glenys - Every bird seen from Bustard to Spanish Sparrows but especially the Coursers with tiny chicks and the Sandgrouse. Geoff O - The beach lagoon with the Spoonbills, Egrets and Gulls and the Coursers. Janet O - Trumpeter Finches and being able to really watch the birds at such close quarters. Geoff H - The whole week was so good, but especially the Audouins Gulls, Sandgrouse, the Egyptian Vulture on nest ledge and not forgetting the guard Donkey! Sue - Egyptian Vulture on nest ledge, Trumpeter Finches and the great views of Cory’s Shearwaters. Mark - The company of the group, African Blue Tit, Berthalots Pipit and the Cory’s Shearwaters. Toby - The company and good fun of the group, the Bustards, lovely Betencuria and the stunning views of the Audouins Gulls.

FUERTEVENTURA

Friday 17 - Friday 24 March 2017

BIRD CHECKLIST

# Species Scientific Name 17/3 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

1 Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea x x x

2 Gannet Morus bassanus x x x

3 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis x

4 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea X x x x

5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta X x x x x

6 Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia X

7 Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustiros-

tris

8 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea X x x x x x

9 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos x x

10 Wigeon Anas penelope x x

11 Teal Anas crecca x x

12 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus X x x x x x

13 Buzzard Buteo buteo x x x x x x x

14 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus x X x x x x x

15 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

16 Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides x X

17 Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara x

18 Coot Fulica atra X x x

19 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus x x

20 Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata x x x x

21 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus x x x

22 Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus x x x x

23 Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor x x x

24 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula x x

25 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius x x x x

26 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus x x

27 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola x

28 Sanderling Calidris alba x

29 Dunlin Calidris alpina x

30 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago x

31 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica x

32 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus x x

33 Curlew Numenius arquata

34 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus x

35 Common Redshank Tringa totanus x x

36 Greenshank Tringa nebularia x x x

37 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus x

38 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos x x x

39 Turnstone Arenaria interpres x

40 Black-headed Gull chroicocephalus ridibundus

41 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis x x x x x x x

42 Audoin’s Gull Larus audouinii x

43 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsi x x x

44 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis X x x

45 Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis x x x x x

46 Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia x x x x x x x

47 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto x x x x x x x

48 Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

49 Laughing Dove Stretopelia senegalensis x x x x

50 Barbary Dove Streptopelia risoria

51 Plain Swift Apus unicolor

52 Pallid Swift Apus pallidus X x x x

53 Hoopoe Upupa epops x x x x x x x

54 Wryneck Jynx torquilla

55 Short-Toed Lark calandrella rufescens

56 Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens x x x x x x

57 Sand Martin Riparia riparia

58 House Martin Delchon urbicum x

59 Swallow Hirundo rustica x x x

60 White Wagtail Motacilla alba x x

61 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

62 Species Scientific Name 17/3 18/3

19/3

20/3

21/3

22/3

23/3

24/3

63 Redwing Turdis iliacus

64 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos x

65 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris

66 Berthelots Pipit Anthus berthelotii x x x x x x x

67 Tree Pipit Anthus trivalis

68 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

69 Blackbird Turdus merula x

70 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoeno-

baenus

71 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita x x x

72 Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus

73 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla x x

74 Blue Tit (Degener) Parus caeruleus x x

75 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

76 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala x X

77 Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata x x x x

78 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus x x

79 Robin Erithacus rubecula

80 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe Oenanthe

81 Stonechat Saxicola torquata

82 Canary Islands Chat Saxicola dacotiae x x x x x

83 Southern Great Grey Shrike

Lanius meridionalis x x x x x x x

84 Raven Corvus corax x x x x x x x

85 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis x x x x x x x

86 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

87 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis x x x

88 Linnet Carduelis cannabina x x x

89 Trumpeter Finch Rhodopechys githaginea x x x x x

90 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra x x

Mammals

1 Algerian Hedgehog Atelerix algirus

2 Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus

3 Rabbit Lepus curpaeums