Lanzarote - winter (1 Viewer)

[pandachris]

Just a quick note that might be useful for someone based on observations last year and this, so hopefully reliable spots at this time of year for both species.

Stone Curlew - field in northeast corner of the junction of LZ-404/LZ-405.

Canarian Plain Swift - we stood on the bridge of the seaward exit of the pretty inner harbor of Arrecife, Avenida Olof Palme. Looking inland over the UGT building we first noticed swifts high in the sky to the right. These gradually came closer before drifting off after about 5 minutes. We saw and heard two more groups when walking along the harbour edge some minutes later. Adjust, of course, for changing sunset times. These were the only swifts we saw in 9 days in The Canaries and they could easily be missed if you were looking out to sea.

 

[pandachris]

Browsing the Forum for some unrelated info and I re-read this 'thread'. Regarding the Plain Swift, I omitted to say that the sightings were shortly before sunset. I'm guessing that when travel is more accessible, being in the area from say 15 minutes before sunset is most likely to produce results. We didn't see Swifts anywhere else or at other times.

 

[david kelly]

As I am sure you are aware, Pallid Swift is the commonest species on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Common and Plain are present but both are outnumbered by Pallid, especially in winter.

David

 

[pandachris]

Hi David, certainly I was aware that other swifts could be present, although we didn't see any elsewhere on either trip. I was struck by the fact that some of the swifts we saw were significantly different to Pallid/Common Swifts (deeper forked tails, narrower wings) to justify the ID. Could there have been other species in the group? I couldn't rule that out. Could someone else go and look for them and come to a different conclusion? Definitely.

My reason for posting was to alert other birders to a couple of species that, in a UK context at least, could be of interest and might be regular in the locations given. My guess is that the swifts are likely to be found at that location and time of day for a reasonable period of time in the autumn/winter. Perhaps if someone goes to look they can post their findings here.

 

[david kelly]

Hi David, certainly I was aware that other swifts could be present, although we didn't see any elsewhere on either trip. I was struck by the fact that some of the swifts we saw were significantly different to Pallid/Common Swifts (deeper forked tails, narrower wings) to justify the ID. Could there have been other species in the group? I couldn't rule that out. Could someone else go and look for them and come to a different conclusion? Definitely.

My reason for posting was to alert other birders to a couple of species that, in a UK context at least, could be of interest and might be regular in the locations given. My guess is that the swifts are likely to be found at that location and time of day for a reasonable period of time in the autumn/winter. Perhaps if someone goes to look they can post their findings here.

Hi Chris, I wasn’t doubting your identification. You saw these swifts, I didn’t. Just that, it seems to me any discussion of Swifts in the eastern Canaries should recall that the default swift is Pallid, Plain is present, as is Common, but Plain is not as common there as it is on the Western Islands. In February 2019 I was in Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera for a week. I saw one swift, it was a Pallid Swift.

David