A Birding & Nature Tour
in the 
Archipelago of the Canary Islands

Particularly on the islands of Tenerife, Gomera, and Fuerteventura 

The habitats that occur are diverse, the birding interesting, to say the least! 

June 27 - July 5, 2008

(tour: FON/SP-3 '08)

This tour follows tours FON/SP-1 & 2 in Spain.

To be led by Armas Hill.

Link:

List of Birds during previous FONT tours in Spain (including the Canary Islands)

Itinerary:

Fri, Jun. 27  Departure from North America on an overnight flight to Madrid, Spain.

Sat, Jun. 28  Arrival in Madrid. A day, on one's own, in Madrid. Overnight there.

Sun, Jun. 29  Flight from Madrid to Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. For those coming from tour FON/SP-2, a flight from Barcelona to Tenerife. After some leisurely birding in the Tenerife area, overnight there.

Mon, Jun. 30  A full-day of birding, including "pelagic trips" by ferry, to and from the island of La Gomera. During each of the two 1½ hour ferry crossings, there will be the opportunity to view the seabirds of the Canarian waters, including Bulwer's Petrel and Little Shearwater. Pilot Whales and dolphins also occur. Earlier in the morning, on Tenerife, we'll be visiting the laurel forest, with 2 endemic species of pigeon: one, the Laurel Pigeon, the other, the Long-toed, or Bolle's, Pigeon. In the afternoon, when back to Tenerife, some birding in the southern dry sector of the island. Another overnight on Tenerife.

Tue-Fri, Jul. 1-4  During these days, we'll explore and bird on the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura. The schedule pertaining to the visit to Fuerteventura would be dependent upon the availability of flights. 
During our time on Tenerife, we'll look for the rare Blue Chaffinch, the Canary, the Plain Swift, and the Tenerife Kinglet (also known as the Orangecrest, closely related to the Goldcrest). All of these species are confined to the Canary Islands or nearby Madeira. 
During our 2-day stay on the island of Fuerteventura, we'll look for the speciality birds including: the endemic Canary Island Chat, a pale bird resembling both the Stonechat and the Whinchat; the Berthelot's Pipit, another Canary Island endemic. Also, the Houbara Bustard. Fuerteventura may be the best place to see this magnificent bird of the semi-desert, a species ranging as far east as Pakistan (in much of that range, critically endangered). Nights on Fuerteventura will be in a comfortable hotel. The night of Jul. 5 to be on Tenerife, as our flight from the Canary Islands would depart from there the next morning.

Sat, Jul. 5  Flight from Tenerife to Madrid, connecting with flights departing from Spain. Arrival back in North America the same day. 

Price, in US dollars, based on double occupancy:

Price includes:

All overnight accommodations and land transportation within the Canary Islands. Most meals (breakfasts and lunches).

Price does not include:

Dinners. 
Drinks and other items of a personal nature.
Overnight accommodation in Spain (Madrid) the night of Jun 28. 
Flights to/from, or within, Spain & the Canary Islands.
Gratuities.

 A deposit of $400 will assure a place on the tour.

Some general information about the islands to be visited:

During our tour in the Canaries, 3 of the 7 main islands of the archipelago will be visited: those known as Tenerife, Gomera, and Fuerteventura. Each island is very different from the others.

On each, in addition to the birdlife, there are certainly other aspects of nature to be noted.

At sea level, the island of Tenerife has a rocky shoreline. But it also has a peak way above the sea: El Teide, at 12,160 feet, not only the highest in the Canary Islands, but the highest in Spain. At El Fraile, on the northern cliffs, there is one of the richest botantical assemblages to be found - 300 species of flowering plants in just a few hectares.

Gomera Island can only be approached by sea - by ferry. There's a steady stream of clouds over the island's peaks, often keeping them from view. Beneath the moisture-laden clouds, there is some of Spain's most luxuriant vegetation.

In contrast, the dry island of Fuerteventura is the closest of the Canaries to Africa. On the island, the dunes and the Jandia Peninsula are very interesting botanically, with a number of rare and endemic species of plants. Of particular interest is the blue-flowered viper's bugloss. and there's a succulent spurge species, resembling a red-flowered spiny cactus.