There is no ‘off-season’ for birds or butterflies on Tenerife. Its southerly latitude and maritime location ensure that daytime temperatures are almost constantly above 16°C even in the coolest months of December and January.
By late March these temperatures have routinely risen to the point it feels like a summer’s day in the UK. The vegetation is rapidly growing and flowering, and butterflies are increasing in number, while birds are singing and showing readily. Our base near the centre of the north coast will allow us to easily access the laurel forests of the island, where Canary Brimstone Gonepteryx cleobule is resident, as well as two endemic birds, Bolle’s Pigeon Columba bollii and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae.
Rich in Macronesian endemics, Tenerife has a lot to offer a visiting birder besides those two unique pigeons. From its rocky Atlantic coastline, through deep gorges, to the volcanic cone of Pico de Teide rising to over 10,000 feet, the island hosts a very good variety of Canary Island specialities. Frequently encountered are the ubiquitous Atlantic Canary, Plain Swifts swirling overhead, smart African Blue Tits of the race teneriffae, and in dry, rocky areas, the characterful Berthelot’s Pipit.
The Tenerife Blue Chaffinch is a stunning species that favours the Canary Pine forests of the central plateau and slopes of Pico de Teide, where we will also look for Canary Island Chaffinch. The island race of Goldcrest teneriffae (aka ‘Tenerife Kinglet’) is regularly found in these forests; the distinct canariensis race of Great Spotted Woodpecker, with a population of just a few hundred pairs, is restricted to the pine forests on the slopes of Pico de Teide. Also in the north, we will find the superbus ‘Tenerife Robin’, another distinct subspecies with reduced red breast, extensive grey surround, obvious pale eye ring, white belly and quite different song, and one that has also been mooted lately as a worthy of being considered a distinct species in its own right.
Canary Islands Chiffchaff is a key endemic, but is widespread and often found singing in the gardens of our superb four-star hotel accommodation. The drier and rockier south has Euphorbia and cactus-like vegetation found on the Canary Islands and the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and it is here that we will search for Berthelot’s Pipit.
Other familiar species that boast interesting taxa endemic to the Canary Islands are Grey Wagtail (ssp. canariensis), Lesser Short-toed Lark (ssp. polatzeki), Common Buzzard (ssp. insularum), Grey Wagtail (ssp. schmitzi) and Common Blackbird (ssp. cabrerae), and we anticipate encountering some of these distinctive subspecies. Who knows which subspecies of today is the split species of tomorrow?!
Nearer the coast and often in parks or botanic gardens, other desirable butterfly species are regularly encountered; for example Monarch Danaus plexippus, African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna, American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis, and the exotic African Migrant Catopsilia florella. At practically every site, we will enjoy the company of the delightful Canary Speckled Wood Pararge xiphioides, whilst Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus, Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli, and Bath White Pontia daplidice should also make an appearance.
We will, of course, be searching for the special endemic Canary Blue Cyclyrius webbianus, both at lower elevations as well as at a site on the Mt Teide massif and, should we be immensely fortunate, we still hold hope we might rediscover the ongoing presence of Canary Large White Pieris cheilanthi on the island.
Within our five full days, we expect to be able to cover a variety of locations and habitats and if the microclimate of the islands dictates that there is cloud or rain in a particular area, we can quickly rearrange our destination to ensure that we follow the sun which, at the end of a long British winter, is a welcome pleasure.
Entry to any parks and botanic gardens are included in the price and are interesting attractions in themselves, with a variety of exotic plants, shrubs and trees, including a reputedly 1,000 year old Drago Tree, which happens to be located in one of the best sites for Monarchs.
