Lanzarote wildlife

[Ukwildlifeo]

Not dtrictly UK, but has anyone been to lanzarote recently and can tell me what wildlife to expect or recommend places to go?

[Ferret]

I have been their in the past, when the kids were young and I did not have much time for wildlife spotting, but not recently. I do remember seeing Berthelots Pipit Anthus berthelotii was common and fearless, Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis is the commonest gull, watched Trumpeter Finches Bucanetes githagineus feeding amongst the grass on the beach, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis was common, African Blue Tit Parus teneriffae was easy to see, as was Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus if you went a little off road, they say you can see Cream-coloured courser Cursorius cursor and Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae but I never managed to find them, not that I had much time or transport.
Lots of insects even though all my visits were in the winter Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus were common, lots of solitary and potter wasps, some very interesting Grass hoppers some mimicking stones rather than grass.
The native plants are mostly desert adapted and should be very interesting if you are into botany.
Some caves on the coast some little blind crabs and there were a few Lizards about.

Hope that gives you a few ideas of what is about, I am sure others who have been there more recently will have other suggestions.

Ferret

[Dorts]

Same here, not been for some time. Remember Tawny Pipits were frequent in the car-park of Fire Mountain. Saw the blind white crabs in the famous larva-tubes.
Excelent for plants, several endemic to the Islands. Plenty of lizards and gekos an good birds, both sea and inland.
As with Ferret, being with family I was somewhat restricted! But certainly plenty of interest.
Dorts.

[caernerch]

not the best place for a long list but try the viewpoint and cliffs in the north near the junction LZ202 LZ203 for brown-necked raven & barbary falcon. trumpeter finch do exactly what it says on the tin, berthelots pipits seem to be in all the car parks scounging crumbs, good luck with hubaras (they're hunted) and cream coloured coursers.
It doesn't rain (for the first time in seven years it did when I was there, and the desert bloomed and flowered in three days - amazing.). so the local viticulture consists of vines planted in stone pits to collect and funnel the dew to the vine roots, it might be good to have a fossic around these if you're into bugs and micro life.
regards
caernerch

[Ukwildlifeo]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I had a good time I notched up a respectable 28bird species from memory.

I'm planning to post some pics on here as many of the species seen were Uk species or have been recorded here at least. To start here is a hoopoe.

[htcdude]

Glad you had a good time, nice Hoopoe shot

Nige

[caernerch]

hope you got berthelots. post here or email me your list I'd love to browse and reminisce. did you get anything else that crawls or grows?
More food for thought - why do people think common species aren't interesting?
Ravens are common on Anglesey but rare as hen's teeth in Norfolk.
What I'm saying is everywhere has its own mix that's why we've got such a great hobby.

caernerch

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by caernerch

hope you got berthelots. post here or email me your list I'd love to browse and reminisce. did you get anything else that crawls or grows?
More food for thought - why do people think common species aren't interesting?
Ravens are common on Anglesey but rare as hen's teeth in Norfolk.
What I'm saying is everywhere has its own mix that's why we've got such a great hobby.

caernerch

Ill stick a list on here tonight when Im home.

I got a few non-birds, though as it was the end of the dry season there was not much about. I got the atlantic lizard, some darter dragonflies which I think were red veined darters (I'll post one for confirmation) among other things. I post properly when I have my notes.

I'm a fan of anything that poses for a shot or performs in front of me, common or not!

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I'm a fan of anything that poses for a shot or performs in front of me, common or not!

I'll remember that if we ever meet, you'd be my one and only fan!

[Ukwildlifeo]

Here is my Bird list from Lanzarote:

1. Yellow legged gull
2. Whimbrel
3. Turnstone
4. Spanish sparrow
5. Collared ove
6. Mallard
7. Muscovy duck
8. Feral pigeon
9. Ring necked parakeet
10. Sanderling
11. Grey heron
12. Little egret
13. Southern grey shrike
14. Ringed plover
15. Hoopoe
16. Kestrel
17. Berthelots Pipit
18. Cattle egeret
19. Black winged stilt
20. Redshank
21. Stone curlew
22. Greenshank
23. Sandwich tern
24. Common sandpiper
25. Trumpter finch
26. Raven