Birding experiences 2012

Quick post from a recent trip to Tenerife


Was on the Island for 9 days 20th-29th April, did hardly any research into what birds I might see as I wouldn't be able to influence where I was going due to being on a University trip and without a hire car. 


Still managed 12 lifers with a few more new ssp.


These were


Plain Swift
Blue Chaffinch
Laurel Pigeon
Canary Islands Chiffchaff
Canary
Lesser Kestrel
Spanish Sparrow (first lifer that I've had while being under the effects of a few beers...)
Subalpine Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Barbary Partridge
Berthelot's pipit
Southern Grey Shrike


The best birding experience of the trip however came in the form of Common Terns.


We had 1 free day at the end of the trip so we booked up with a local company to go snorkelling with Green Turtles. Where we were in the harbour a pair of Common Tern were using a small boat as a resting place before heading off to fish in the surrounding area. They allowed me to swim as close as I could which meant that my face was about 2ft away from the terns at times! It felt like a great privilege to be able to observe these birds at such close quarters. Completely different to seeing birds in the hand (even though I missed Common Tern in the hand at Spurn last year due to making dinner!) a true highlight for me!

me with tern on boat behind

magic