Originally posted today by Mark Jarrett:

February 26 - March 10 2025

Just back from a twelve night stay in Caleta de Fuste, a small resort on the east coast of the island and central enough to bird a variety of locations.

The weather generally was pleasant, either being sunny or sunny/cloudy with a bit of rain on the odd day which passed fairly quickly. It did rain for a half day last Saturday. Temperatures rose to around 20-21* daily.

Areas birded :-

Caleta de Fuste - General coastal area around the town with a good sea watching point behind Hotel Elba Carlota.

Salinas del Carmen - Small Saltpans 3km south of Caleta.

Fuerteventura Golf Club & Golf Club Salinas de Antigua - Both golf clubs located side by side on the outskirts of Caleta. 

Barranco de la Torre - Average sized barranco with cliffs on one side. No stream.

Barranco de La Florida - Small barranco, the attraction being two pools at bottom end.

Barranco del Rio Cabras - Large barranco north west of Caleta. Cliffs on both sides and also a stream and some small pools.

Llanos de Tindaya - Large plains, mainly west, north west and north of Tindaya village.

Embalse de Los Molinos - Reservoir inland of Los Molinos village. 

Corralejo - Town on north eastern tip of island. Harbour and adjacent shoreline.


The island is barren to say the least. Grassy areas, trees/bushes and sources of water are at a premium. The only places where I saw grass were at the two golf courses. These also provided welcome pools that were attractive to herons, egrets and waders. Trees and bushes etc were usually confined to the barrancos and not, generally, elsewhere.

A total of 53 species were seen. I birded, on average, probably a couple of hours each morning plus a few sea watches, dependent upon tide times. Of note :-

Ruddy Shelduck
Barbary Partridge
Rock Pigeon (wild)
European Turtle Dove
African Turtle Dove
Laughing Dove
African Houbara
Plain Swift
Black-winged Stilt
Black-bellied Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Whimbrel
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Sandwich Tern
Corys Shearwater
Eurasian Spoonbill
Little Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Egyptian Vulture
Black Kite
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Kestrel
Great Grey Shrike
Common Raven
African Blue Tit
Mediterranean Short-toed Lark
Yellow-browed Warbler
Eurasian Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Fuerteventura Stonechat
Western Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Berthelots Pipit
Trumpeter Finch


The Eastern Yellow Wagtail is a long stayer that I saw at the second attempt at the Barranco de La Florida pools. Moulting towards summer/breeding plumage and nice to see one with a bit of color.

Up to around 20 Corys Shearwater could be seen from behind our hotel in Caleta, usually a good two or three kilometres out but, with patience, others could be seen at closer range.

A good couple of hours were had on the Tindaya Plains. I watched a displaying male African Houbara with a female at a separate location there. Two Cream-coloured Courser were in the vicinity of the male bustard but, despite a search, I was unable to relocate them.

The Black Kite was a decent find. A passage migrant/vagrant on the island, I was fortunate enough to see it near the tip, to the north of Barranco del Rio Cabras.

Looking on ebird, I was surprised to see just how many Yellow-browed Warbler were dotted around the island. I managed one both from our hotel grounds and also by the Atlántico pool which is where the Red-billed Tropicbird took up residence over the last couple of winters.

Photos of Fuerteventura Stonechat, Egyptian Vulture, Berthelots Pipit, Spectacled Warbler and African Houbara attached.

Two weeks staying in the Broncemar Beach Hotel, Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura 07/05/16 - 21/05/16.
48 species in all. The endemic species and sub-species count was good. I used the Helm guide to the Atlantic Islands which proved very useful. Any interesting sub-species (ssp) are highlighted. The list is by date and place with any subsequent sightings in brackets:

Caleta de la Fuste 08.05.16

Eurasian Collared Dove (numerous around town and seen everyday)
African Collared Dove (again numerous around town and seen everyday. Splitting the difference between the 2 species of collared dove can be tricky but there were always obvious candidates)
Southern Grey Shrike ssp koenigi (seen everyday throughout holiday in all locations in island)
Spanish sparrow (seen everyday throughout holiday in all locations in island)
Yellow Legged Gull ssp atlantis (seen everyday throughout holiday in all locations in island, but more by coast as would be expected)
Lesser Black Backed Gull (seen once or possibly twice)
Common Swift (identified once passing through)
Little Egret (seen in a few other spots including Las Salinas and Corralejo)
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon (feral form in a number of towns but purer looking forms seen especially in Barranco de la Torre)
Eurasian Curlew (heard in Caleta harbour and seen there 20.05.16)

Las Salinas to Barranco de la Torre 09.05.16

Bertelot's Pipit (numerous and seen everyday)
Common Buzzard ssp insularum (2 seen in Barranco de la Torre and subsequently in los Molinos, Antigua, Corralejo and Betancuria)
Egyptian Vulture ssp majorensis (1 seen in Barranco de la Torre and 4 near gravel track to the Aerodromo del Jarde off the FV50 road near Antigua)
Canary Islands Stonechat (2 - 6 seen on a number of visits to Barranco de la Torre. also 2 in barranco by turn off for Costa de Antigua, 2 in the hills above Caleta golf course, 1 in Los Molinos and 2 off the FV50 road near Antigua)
Hoopoe (seen many times everywhere)
Trumpeter Finch ssp amantum (small flocks seen in a number of sites around Island)
Common Raven ssp tingitanus (seen many times in flocks of 2 - 5 everywhere)

Plain Swift (first seen 09.05.16 over Caleta town in small numbers plus number of other days)
Lesser Short Toed Lark ssp polatzeki (first seen 10.05.16 in land between Caleta and Costa de Antigua plus number of other days, also Barranco de la Torre, in the hills above Caleta golf course, Los Molinos and off the FV50 road near Antigua)
Common Tern (1 seen off Las Salinas on 11.05.16)
Ruddy Shelduck (first seen 11.05.16 on Caleta Golf Course, also seen some in Barranco de la Torre and upwards of 200 around Los Molinos reservoir)
Pallid Swift ssp brehmorum (first seen 11.05.16 on hills above Caleta Golf Course, also seen around Los Molinos reservoir)
Common Kestrel ssp dacotiae (first seen 12.05.16 in Las Salinas and many other sites subsequently)
Spectacled Warbler ssp orbitalis (first seen 12.05.16 Barranco de la Torre and many other sites subsequently)
Laughing Dove (1 first seen 12.05.16 Barranco de la Torre and 1 later in Caleta)
Cory's Shearwater ssp borealis (small passage seen off headland north of Caleta de Fuste from 13.05.16 also 200+ seen on boat trip to Isla de Lobos)
Barn Swallow (first seen in Tiscamantia on 13.05.16 and a few times in other places on passage)
African Blue Tit ssp degener (2 seen 13.05.16 by church in Betancuria)
Sardinian Warbler (1 seen 13.05.16 on path from church to bus parking in Betancuria)
Goldfinch (small flock seen in trees by church in Pajara on 13.05.16)
Common Sandpiper (seen 14.05.16 on Isla de Lobos)
Common Gannet (1 seen off headland north of Caleta de Fuste 15.05.16)

Track from FV207 to Embalse Los Molinos 16.05.16

Black bellied Sandgrouse (flocks of 10 + 2 + 15 + 6 + 30 seen on the day, also flocks of 3 one day and 3 another seen from gravel track to the Aerodromo del Jarde off the FV50 road near Antigua)
Houbara Bustard ssp fuertaventurae (1 seen from track near farm buildings)
Cream Coloured Courser (2 seen from track near farm buildings)
Stone Curlew ssp insularum (3 seen near goat farm)
Black Winged Stilt (20+ seen around reservoir also 4+ seen in Barranco de la Torre another day)
Little Ringed Plover(2 seen around reservoir also 4 seen in Barranco de la Torre another day)
Coot (many on reservoir)

Whimbrel (seen on 17.05.16 in Las Salinas)
Monk Parakeet (many seen in Moro Jable on 17.05.16 and 3+ seen in Caleta on 21.05.16 although heard before but not seen)
Grey Heron (1 seen in Barranco de la Torre 18.05.16)
Moorhen (2 seen in Barranco de la Torre 18.05.16)
Spotted Flycatcher (1 seen in Barranco de la Torre 18.05.16)
Greenshank (1 seen in Barranco de la Torre 18.05.16)
Sandwich Tern (5 seen at Las Salinas 19.05.16)
Barbary partridge (family of 8+ seen 19.05.16 from gravel track to the Aerodromo del Jarde off the FV50 road near Antigua and 10+adults flying seen the next day)
Common Redshank (1 seen in Caleta harbour 20.05.16)

An excellent two weeks with all the targeted land species found. The Bustard and Courser were very difficult to locate and no sign was seen in the Caleta area despite a number of early morning visits to a number of recommended sites, but it was nice to finally find them. It was great to see so many Egyptian Vulture, Black Bellied Sandgrouse and Canary Islands Stonechat. The targeted shearwaters and petrels did not show despite a number of good windy days and numerous sea-watches. The African Blue Tit ssp was a nice spot and showed well as did the Stone Curlew, Spectacled Warblers and Short Toed larks. The Barbary Partridge was elusive and only seen in one area and did not call unlike the ones on Tenerife. the Monk Parakeets in Moro Jable were so tame you could get right up to them.

Returned from a great holiday in Fuerteventura on Wednesday. As it was a family holiday, my birding was mostly limited to an hour or so in the morning and evening. With this in mind, I decided that I would adopt Caleta de Fuste Golf Course (which backed onto the Villa) and the surrounding areas as my local patch.

Species I managed to find were:

Southern Grey Shrike
Spanish Sparrow
Hoopoe
Berthelot's Pipit
Yellow-Legged Gull
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Montagu's Harrier
Stone Curlew
Whimbrel
Turnstone
Common Sandpiper
Spectacled Warbler (Barranco del Torres)
Little Egret
Raven
Pallid Swift
Grey Heron
Ruddy Shelduck
Sand Martin
Yellow Wagtail
Wheatear
Pied Flycatcher
Robin
Sandwich Tern
Chiffchaff (including Sub-Species)

These birds were all local to the Villa, but I hope to re-visit where I can explore the Island in full and find the specialites.

Fuerteventura is a wonderful place to visit and is highly recommended. I am looking forward to returning there soon.



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 1st of October 2010 10:56:14 AM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 1st of October 2010 02:58:35 PM

Hi, if you're staying at Caleta de Fuste (AKA summat else too) send me a PM, i found a cracking spot for HBs in some unspoilt, not overgrazed steppe west of there a few years ago. An acquaintance had them in the same spot more recently.
ATB.

Hi Phil. I spent a week there last March (see photo's in the 'Out of country' gallery) and you would need a bit of luck, and definatley a hire car, to nail those three in a day. You may also wish to include African Blue Tit on your target list. You will need the Clarke & Collins Canary Islands guide, supplemented with a recent trip report (I've not done one!) I used Richard Bonser's Feb 2003 trip report downloaded off surfbirds (very useful) and a GeoCentre map 1:100.00.

There are several known sites for Houbara, though there are Houbara zona protection signs all over the place, so they are pretty widespread. You should target HBs at the start and at the end of the day, although one did show well at the El Cotillo Plains from a couple of hours after dawn for two hours till 11am. I suppose it depends on where you are based as to where you want to hit first. If staying in the south at Costa Calma it's possible to walk the plains see HB, CCC's (Cream-coloured Courser's) & Black-bellied Sandgrouse etc without the need for a car. I also saw 3 HB over two visits (dawn and dusk) at Rosa de los Negrines near La Oliva, which is the most central site and also handy for the Chat at the Fimapaire Valley ( the other side of La Oliva).

There are several sites for the Chat, the most relable I found (a pair with two juvs) was at Barranco de Rio Cabras, close to the capital of Puerto del Rosario. 3km west along the FV20 at the left turn to Triquivijate.

Loads of 'fart finches' were at Los Molinos. the AB Tits are at la Vega de Rio de las Palmas off the FV30.

Good luck