- Lanzarote has a range of desert birds including bustards, coursers and sandygrouse but not the famous chats. This is the island most likely to receive Palaearctic migrants, some of which will be attracted to the saltpans at Janubio. Islands off the north coast have important populations of seabirds and raptors.
- Thousands of Cory's Shearwaters breed on the three islets just north of Lanzarote, which also have 60+ pairs of Eleonora's Falcon and perhaps the biggest Canaries populations of Osprey, Bulwer's Petrel and 'British' Storm Petrel. Some of these birds, notably the Eleonora's Falcons can be seen, at least in summer, from the Mirador del Rio.
- The Salinas de Janubio are possibly the best saltpans in the Canaries. In October 1994, 12 species of waders were seen here - including Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit. These saltpans are about 8km. due north of Playa Blanca.
- Punta Pechiguera shows great promise as a sea-watching site. In October 1994, lots of Cory's Shearwaters were seen at close range, but you'd have to be there in summer to have a chance of the more exotic breeding seabirds.
- Playa Blanca makes a suitable base, especially for a birdwatcher with a family to consider. Apart from being close to the saltpans and the headland, it also has good birding within easy walking distance. The ornamental shrubs around the villas can be good for migrants. Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Garden and Subalpine Warblers have been seen. Beyond the village, to the north and east, are stony or semi-desert plains where 2 Houbara Bustards were seen (near the cement factory). Also spotted were 15 Cream-coloured Coursers and 3 Black-bellied Sandgrouse, together with numerous small birds such as Trumpeter Finch, Berthelot's Pipit and flocks of up to 50 Lesser Short-toed Larks.
- On Montaña Clara are 100 pairs of Bulwers Petrels.
- Lanzarote For Houbaras.
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- "After spending two weeks in mid-December on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, I feel I must put right the rather misleading information published on the status of Houbara Bustard on the island.
It is said that Houbara Bustard is 'now very scarce' on Lanzarote. A guide to the Canary Islands gives only sites for Fuerteventura (with no recent sightings), whilst another birdwatcher stated that he saw two or three birds in southwest Lanzarote on one date only.
Although my visit was in December, I feel that most, if not all of the birds were resident; indeed, one bird was observed puffing-up it's feathers in display. I saw up to five birds on several visits to two distinct areas of Lanzarote.
The main site was a fairly flat, lava strewn semi-desert. In this area locating bustards was best done by scanning from a high vantage point. The birds never flew and, if you did not locate them at a distance,they would simply vanish by crouching by the time you were closer. The second site was a sandy, scrubby plain, interspersed with cultivated fields. In this habitat birds were usually flushed, although on one occasion I did come upon two birds which only walked away.
The main site (north-west of Playa Blanca) also held Cream-coloured Courser (max. 5), Stone Curlews and a pair of Egyptian Vultures. The second site (just south-west of Teguise) also had Stone Curlews. During my stay I saw almost all of the specialities, including Berthelot's Pipit (many), Lesser Short-toed Lark (many), Trumpeter Finch (many), Spectacled Warbler, Barbary Partridge, Spanish Sparrow, Hoopoe and Great Grey Shrike (very many). A day trip to Fuerteventura also added Canary Island Chat and Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
I would certainly recommend Lanzarote as a destination for a family holiday, with good birdwatching thrown in. "
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