Marsh Harrier at the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir

 

Female Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)  seen harassing Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra)

Apologies for the poor quality of the photos, which were taken at the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir yesterday, Decembre 27. 

As followers of this blog, or those familiar with the location will appreciate, the "laguna" lacks good access for birdwatchers. The only convenient observation point with views over the surrounding fence, is found at a considerable distance from the water.

Female Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) causing panic among the Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra)

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) in action.

The subject of the present post is the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the most frequent of the four European harriers which pass through, or occasionally overwinter on the Canary Islands. Records are mostly of single birds, mainly females and immatures during the winter period. and more regularly on the eastern islands.

On several occasions the group of Coots scattered, as in the above image.

The present female is almost certainly the same individual first recorded at this location on February 16 2025 and later seen on February 27. I flushed it again in some nearby fields on May 28.

Female Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) about to swoop down on a flock of Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra)

It was interesting to observe the interaction between this solitary Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and one of its potential prey species, the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). 

Exceptionally, all 33 Coots had gathered in deep water, away from the vegetated edges of the reservoir, where any isolated individual might have been taken by the raptor.

Pectoral Sandpiper

 

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

This solitary Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) was found at the saltpans in Fuencaliente by at least two different local observers recently (JRP and FL). I myself saw the bird at around midday today, August 23.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

In the above image, the sharply-defined limit of the breast streaking, ending in a point at the centre, can be appreciated.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

During my stay at the site, the sandpiper spent most of the time feeding alone. Other waders present nearby included one Redshank (Tringa totanus), one Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), 2 Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), and the usual small numbers of Turnstones (Arenaria interpres).

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

The Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) is one of the most regularly-observed vagrants in Spain, where it is no longer officially classed as a rarity. 

The species breeds at high latitudes in both North America and Asia and winters mainly in South America, especially in Argentina, but part of the population winters as far away as Southern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. 

It was first believed that individuals appearing in Europe were vagrants from North America, but some authors propose a possible Siberian origin, with a certain proportion of birds migrating Southwest towards Sub-Saharan Africa and making landfalls in Europe. The species could even be breeding occasionaly in the far north of Europe.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

The solitary European Roller (Coracias garrulus) was still present in the same area of Tacande (El Paso) this morning, June 10.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Rather than trying to track down this shy bird on foot, the best strategy for getting close views is to wait at a spot with wide views of the foraging area, and then hope that the Roller perches close by at some point. This morning, the patient waiting paid dividends.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

From 07:45 until just after 10:00, the bird was visible at long range, hunting prey from a variety of lookouts. 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

It wasn´t until about 10:10 that the Roller took flight and after swooping around for a while, finally landed on a bare twig a mere 20-30 metres from where I was standing (together with Fran Leal who had joined me an hour previously). The photographs shown here are the result of this stroke of good luck.

European Roller

 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

On June 7 a Roller sp. was reported on eBird, with a good photograph and details of the location provided by the observer.  

The following morning I coincided with a veritable avalanche of locals at the site: no less than three of us with binoculars, plus three other people who were accompanying one of the birders. Quite a turn out for La Palma!

Teaming up with fellow eBirder Fran Leal, we eventually found the spectacular Roller, after crossing some heavily overgrown fields to reach a vantage point from where we could scan the surroundings.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

The photos included in the present post were taken today, June 9, in the same area of Tacande (El Paso), and effectively clinch the identity of this bird at species level. There had been some doubt between European and Abyssinian Rollers.

However, the black, rather than blue trailing edge of the upper wings, and the black flight feathers on the underwing both point to European Roller (C. garrulus), rather than Abyssinian (C. abyssinia). 

The lack of long tail streamers was an obvious argument in favour of the European Roller, but some other features of the plumage had left room for doubt, in the absence of close-range views and/or clear photos.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

To my knowledge there is at least one previous record of European Roller (C. garrulus) on La Palma: a single individual seen by RPE on July 3, 2004. Elsewhere in the archipelago, "Rare Birds of the Canary Islands" (Lynx Edicions, June 2013) lists 2 sightings from Tenerife, 3 from Gran Canaria, 1 from Fuerteventura, and 6 from Lanzarote, all recorded between the months of April and August.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

This passage migrant seems to have found ideal habitat on the stony hillsides of Tacande, where dry branches of scattered trees serve as lookouts for hunting insects. However, despite boldly perching out in the open, the bird does not allow close approach and quickly takes flight at the sight of people.

Latest update on the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir

 

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) with female Teal sp.

The above image was taken on March 27 at the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir, the last occasion on which I saw the male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) at the site. The bird was first detected on Nov 22 2024, together with the Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) shown below.

Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris): 3 males and 2 females

These migratory ducks, first recorded at the end of November 2024, were still present at the reservoir on April 17 2025.

Migrant Ducks at the Laguna de Barlovento

 

Group of 5 Teal including one male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) centre left

The five Teal (Anas crecca/carolinensis) first discovered on Nov 22 2024 were still present at the Laguna de Barlovento this morning, Feb 2 2025. Thus, the birds have been at the reservoir for about 9 weeks. 

Two drakes: Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) upper right, Common Teal (Anas crecca) lower left

The group includes 1 male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis), 1 male Common Teal (Anas crecca), and 3 females which are also probably Common Teal (Anas crecca).

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) upper right, male Common Teal (Anas crecca) lower left

The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is an American vagrant  still classed as a rarity in Spain, so details will be sent to the Spanish Rarities Committee in due course.

5 Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris): 3 males in the centre, 2 females left and right

The Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) which were likewise found in November 2024 have also remained at the site.

Unusually low water levels over the last few months have created a muddy shoreline, providing good habitat for water birds.

Above and below: two male Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris), among Common Coots (Fulica atra)

All the birds featured in this post are distant, so a spotting scope is useful. Luckily light conditions were slightly better for photography this morning, compared to those encountered on some of my previous visits.

Also currently present: about 30 x Common Coot (Fulica atra), 1-2 x Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), 1 x Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), 1 x Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), plus varying numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis) and other resident species.

Green-winged Teal III

Group of 5 Teal, including one male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)

The male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) first observed on Nov 22 was still present at the Laguna de Barlovento this morning, Dec 20.

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) in the centre

This American migrant has now been at the site for four weeks. It was first seen accompanied by four female Teal sp., but the escorting group is now made up of 3 female Teal sp. plus a male Common Teal (Anas crecca), which is visible on the right in the above image, and in the foreground in the images below. 
 

Male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) on the left, with male Common Teal (Anas crecca) at the front of the group

The present low water-level at the reservoir is ideal for dabbling ducks. However, once the level returns to normal, these ducks will find themselves without the shallow, muddy fringes to forage in.

Group of 5 Teal, including 1 male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) visible on the left.

The Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) is visible on the left, with the male Common Teal (Anas crecca) in the foreground.

In addition to the above species, there is also a group of five Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) at the same site, made up of 3 males and 2 females. (See previous blog post).