Birds of the Atlantic Islands

At this scale, I realize, it is difficult to tell a bird from an aircraft, let alone an canary from a seagull, however, with luck, when I get the soon to be published Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde - the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spectacular region - (that my mum has promised me for my birthday), I shall become a right regular "twitcher" and be able to tell you with 100% certainty what this bird is.

There are many birds of prey here including; Egyptian Vulture, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Eleonora's and Barbary Falcons, however, having seen it's white underside, with the characteristic spot at the top of the "elbow" on the wing's underside - that no way is my small digital camera about to capture - I am certain that these birds, which soar over the El Palmar valley every day, are (Pandion haliaetus) osprey.

These birds are under threat as a result of intense changes in the coast caused by the fast-growing tourism and fishing industries although they were recovered throughout the 1990s.

Normally I see them flying around in pairs, but I have been watching closely over the last few weeks and nearly always seen a group of three. Sometimes one leaves the pair temporarily and much screaming ensues. It is my guess that this is typical teenage behavior and my hope that this is mummy, daddy and chick.

Curiously, I have read online some misinformation that the Canary Islands no longer have canaries. This is poppycock, of course. I see and hear hundreds of them, all day, every day that they have almost become "ordinary". Of the more exotic spottings, I once saw a Hoopoe (pictured on this page) in Los Cristianos.

Locally, there are a pair of grey wagtails nesting in a bank. The first time I saw them, they were hopping around the water tanks in the lane. Naturally, I introduced myself. Next day, they were on the telephone wires above my patio. The third morning I met them, they were on the patio floor and looked as if they were about to wander in the house. (The odd pigeon already has). This is all very well, but not with five cats around, so I had to shoo them off to safety.

It makes it all the more fascinating to watch and there are certainly plenty of species of both flora and fauna to observe around here. As you can tell, I bearly have to go out of the front door to see it.

Related links:
Kent Ornithological Society - Tenerife, The Canary Islands
Where to Watch Birds in Tenerife
Where to watch birds in Spain
One busy day's spotting in Tenerife
Pandion haliaetus (osprey)
Current status and distribution of birds of prey in the Canary Islands

Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde
This is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spectacular region. It covers all resident, migrant and vagrant species found in Macaronesia which comprises the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde. Over 450 species are illustrated with full details all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Concise text describes identification, status, range, habits and voice. This authoritative book will not only be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder, but also a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of this region. The Atlantic Islands shelter a remarkable diversity of birds, many seriously endangered with small and vulnerable ranges.