Visiting     

Barranco (gorge) de Tajo and surrounding area, South East Tenerife

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

The saltpans of Los Agujeros, Lanzarote for waders, including a local breeding population of Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

The Majanicho Plains in Fuerteventura are frequented by some steppe birds like Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus, Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor and Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus. They are also used by some wintering waders, while the nearby coast is very good for many aquatic birds, including herons, spoonbills, shorebirds, gulls and terns.

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

Birding tours

Greentours, Naturetrek and Rockjumper organise tours to the Canary Islands.

Guides

Sociedad Ornitologica Canaria (SOC) run birding tours and pelagics, field trips and ringing holidays around the Canary Islands for its members and friends ww.soc.org.es (in prep.)

Trip reports

The following trip report is available for sale from the African Bird Club online shop.

An 8 page report by Georges and Mireille Olioso on Fuerteventura with itinerary, 17 brief site descriptions, annotated species list and systematic list of 77 bird species and 3 mammal species in a daily log format.

There are many trip reports for the Canary Islands which reflects the large number of travellers who combine a holiday with birdwatching. For example, a recent visit to Eurobirding found 118 reports.

Logistics

There are flights from many European cities and from mainland Spain to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. Flying between the islands is possible and although quicker than ferry, may not meet the needs of the birdwatcher. Each sland has its own bus services which go to the main destinations. There are a number of car rental companies. The roads are good and driving oneself is certainly an option.

Safety

See the following websites for the latest safety information:  US Travel and UK FCO.

Last page update 25th April 2012