Rare Birds of the Canary Islands (1 Viewer)

[MarcelHaas]

Due in spring 2013, published by Lynx.

Rare Birds of the Canary Islands / Aves raras de las Islas Canarias

By Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey and Francisco Javier García Vargas

This book compiles all official rare bird records, including those presently treated as “rarities” by the Spanish Birds Rarities Committee as well as some added by the authors when reliable pictures were available. More than 169 species accounts are given with precise records covering a period of c. 30 years at the island level, accompanied by their corresponding distribution map, month (figure) and year (histogram) occurrence, plus high-quality pictures. A comprehensive reference for anyone interested in the vagrancy patterns of rare species within the Canary Islands and the Conception Bank.

More information: http://www.lynxeds.com/product/rare-birds-canary-islands-aves-raras-islas-canarias.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Those two birds on the cover look familiar.|:d|

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Is this guide going to lift illustrations from the Handbook, however inappropriate, or will it actually have illustrations pertinent to the views that would be had on the Canaries? The other Lynx guide on Canaries birds was definitely a curate's egg.

Stephen

 

[Swissboy]

Due in spring 2013, published by Lynx.

Rare Birds of the Canary Islands / Aves raras de las Islas Canarias

By Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey and Francisco Javier García Vargas

Wonder whether my observation of a Western Grey Plantain-Eater on Teneriffa is included? Or with other words, where the line has been drawn. At the time, one of the authors was of the opinion that it must have been an escape. But who can really tell? Those Ring-necked Ducks on the cover, particularly if there really was a pair, might just as well have been escapes.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

They aren't both ring-necked ducks, so there's not much chance of them being a pair.

It's a male ring-necked duck and a lesser scaup that spent some of the winter of 2010-2011 at Caleta de Fuste on Fuerteventura. That's where I got my photo.

Two more ring-necked ducks (female) turned up at Los Molinos reservoir the following year. There was a blue-winged teal at Rosa de Catalina Garcia at the same time. (photos below, Feb 2012)

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

They aren't both ring-necked ducks, so there's not much chance of them being a pair.

Clearly there's no chance of them being a pair of RN Ducks, but given the way ducks hybridise plenty of chance of them being a pair presumably?

 

[Swissboy]

They aren't both ring-necked ducks, so there's not much chance of them being a pair.

It's a male ring-necked duck and a lesser scaup that spent some of the winter of 2010-2011 at Caleta de Fuste on Fuerteventura. That's where I got my photo.

.....

Sorry, I had only looked at the book's cover, and things were not that obvious from there on my screen. But I also did not look well enough, obviously. :-(

 

[Blue Chaffinch]

Due in spring 2013, published by Lynx.

Rare Birds of the Canary Islands / Aves raras de las Islas Canarias

By Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey and Francisco Javier García Vargas



More information: http://www.lynxeds.com/product/rare-birds-canary-islands-aves-raras-islas-canarias.

An interesting book?

 

[Blue Chaffinch]

Is this guide going to lift illustrations from the Handbook, however inappropriate, or will it actually have illustrations pertinent to the views that would be had on the Canaries? The other Lynx guide on Canaries birds was definitely a curate's e

this is clearly not a field guide. Have you read the title?

 

[Blue Chaffinch]

Wonder whether my observation of a Western Grey Plantain-Eater on Teneriffa is included? Or with other words, where the line has been drawn. At the time, one of the authors was of the opinion that it must have been an escape. But who can really tell? Those Ring-necked Ducks on the cover, particularly if there really was a pair, might just as well have been escapes.

That species is kept in private collections. The owner of the bird you saw is called Juan Fuentes.

 

[Blue Chaffinch]

They aren't both ring-necked ducks, so there's not much chance of them being a pair.

It's a male ring-necked duck and a lesser scaup that spent some of the winter of 2010-2011 at Caleta de Fuste on Fuerteventura. That's where I got my photo.

Two more ring-necked ducks (female) turned up at Los Molinos reservoir the following year. There was a blue-winged teal at Rosa de Catalina Garcia at the same time. (photos below, Feb 2012)

Superb photo. Difficult to get in the UK

 

[Swissboy]

That species is kept in private collections. The owner of the bird you saw is called Juan Fuentes.

Thanks, that solved the open question I still had about my observation. I've since seen the truly wild birds as well, fortunately.

 

[Papuan birder]

Got my copy today (amongst some other interesting books) and it seems like a quality work to me, I would say that it is a must have for those interested in rarities in the Western Palaearctic.

Though what strikes me as odd is that there seems to be quite some disagreement what constitute a rarity in the Canary Islands, and it would seem many records of rare birds is not being submitted.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Anyone other than Papuan Birder read this book and able to offer a view. I appreciated all along it isn't a field guide, but the other Lynx publication wasn't great and I would like to know this is better before ordering a copy.

Stephen

 

[MarcelHaas]

As someone who is very interested in rare bird occurrences, I like this book a lot. It is, of course no field guide and only lists records of rare birds in the Canary Islands, with photos of the actual records. So it is nothing like the (indeed rather disappointing) field guide...

I think the presentation of the records could have been better though, as it lacks references. Being bilingual (Spanish and English) the text is rather short. Sometimes it is obvious that the author's mother tongue is Spanish as the sentences sometimes are quite hard to follow (the American Cliff Swallow account for example: the sole record is accepted as Cliff/Cave Swallow but it is presented as a definite American Cliff Swallow with wording like "the record being remote"...). An English editor could have prevented some errors, I think.

The photos are very nice additions too and it is the first time I have seen several of these published.

All in all, I like the book as it is a nice addition to the already vast collection of avifaunas that have been published.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

As someone who is very interested in rare bird occurrences, I like this book a lot. It is, of course no field guide and only lists records of rare birds in the Canary Islands, with photos of the actual records. So it is nothing like the (indeed rather disappointing) field guide...

I think the presentation of the records could have been better though, as it lacks references. Being bilingual (Spanish and English) the text is rather short. Sometimes it is obvious that the author's mother tongue is Spanish as the sentences sometimes are quite hard to follow (the American Cliff Swallow account for example: the sole record is accepted as Cliff/Cave Swallow but it is presented as a definite American Cliff Swallow with wording like "the record being remote"...). An English editor could have prevented some errors, I think.

The photos are very nice additions too and it is the first time I have seen several of these published.

All in all, I like the book as it is a nice addition to the already vast collection of avifaunas that have been published.

Thanks Marcel that's helpful.

Stephen

 

[Steve Lister]

You can always wait and look at the book on the Lynx stand at the Birdfair if you are unsure about ordering it unseen.

Steve

 

[Phil Andrews]

Just out of interest, what date does it cover records up until?

 

[bluechaffinch]

As someone who is very interested in rare bird occurrences, I like this book a lot. It is, of course no field guide and only lists records of rare birds in the Canary Islands, with photos of the actual records. So it is nothing like the (indeed rather disappointing) field guide...

I think the presentation of the records could have been better though, as it lacks references. Being bilingual (Spanish and English) the text is rather short. Sometimes it is obvious that the author's mother tongue is Spanish as the sentences sometimes are quite hard to follow (the American Cliff Swallow account for example: the sole record is accepted as Cliff/Cave Swallow but it is presented as a definite American Cliff Swallow with wording like "the record being remote"...). An English editor could have prevented some errors, I think.

The photos are very nice additions too and it is the first time I have seen several of these published.

All in all, I like the book as it is a nice addition to the already vast collection of avifaunas that have been published.

I've had a copy for a few days (courtesy of the lead author) and I think it's a great little book. The photos are generally excellent, especially those of Juan Sagardia on Lanzarote.

I think we fortunate west and northern European birders should remember that the Canaries are generally poorly served by birders - as the book states repeatedly, many sightings do not get reported to the relevant bodies (all those trip reports on here but nothing sent to the Spanish panel!) and the Canaries on on the whole underwatched except for a hardcore band of locals and expats - there is a lot of hard terrain to cover over the 7 main islands and many islets! Give these guys a break and don't expect a Queen's English book from two guys with a limited budget and writing in their second language. We should be grateful that the Canaries has people willing to produce such a book in the first place - how many of us are aware that the Canarian authorities have deleted most species from the endangered list to suit political motives? or that LST lark and Trumpeter finch have gone extinct on Tenerife in the last few years and Rock sparrow is sure to follow? There is far more to the Canaries than rare birds, but if that's your thing then at least pay attention to the very real conservation issues there at the same time...Canarian birds need our help.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I've had a copy for a few days (courtesy of the lead author) and I think it's a great little book. The photos are generally excellent, especially those of Juan Sagardia on Lanzarote.

I think we fortunate west and northern European birders should remember that the Canaries are generally poorly served by birders - as the book states repeatedly, many sightings do not get reported to the relevant bodies (all those trip reports on here but nothing sent to the Spanish panel!) and the Canaries on on the whole underwatched except for a hardcore band of locals and expats - there is a lot of hard terrain to cover over the 7 main islands and many islets! Give these guys a break and don't expect a Queen's English book from two guys with a limited budget and writing in their second language. We should be grateful that the Canaries has people willing to produce such a book in the first place - how many of us are aware that the Canarian authorities have deleted most species from the endangered list to suit political motives? or that LST lark and Trumpeter finch have gone extinct on Tenerife in the last few years and Rock sparrow is sure to follow? There is far more to the Canaries than rare birds, but if that's your thing then at least pay attention to the very real conservation issues there at the same time...Canarian birds need our help.

I think Marcel's comments were a perfectly reasonable response to a request for opinions on the book. There are lots of conservation issues in the UK, but that has nothing to do with whether a field guide to rare birds is worth buying.

For what it's worth regarding the comment about trip reports I have found two Canaries rarities, with one I thought I had found but had been on site for a couple of days. I submitted descriptions for them all.

Stephen