3 Feb 2019: Targeting the Tenerife Blue Chaffinch

There was no hardship in waking up the snorer before sunrise when I left the hostel room and headed for Mount Teide, a dormant volcano that is Spain’s tallest peak. The target was the Tenerife Blue Chaffinch, a newly split species that inhabits high altitude pine forests on Tenerife. The scenery up the high mountain passes were spectacular, creating an eagle-like view of the minute villages and sea far below. Although I searched numerous patches of pine, I could not find the Chaffinch. Then, high above the clouds, a very irate male Blue Chaffinch suddenly responded to the call, and another endemic ticked.

Tenerife Blue Chaffinch, Tenerife, Canaries

A few kilometres up the road I found a picnic site/camp site where anyone could pitch a tent and enjoy nature. There were numerous motorhomes parked, and the mountain paths were filled with hikers. I soon found the Greater Spotted Woodpecker banging away at a tree, as well as various African Blue Tits. Ironically, the campsite was filled with Tenerife Blue Chaffinches.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tenerife Canaries

That afternoon I left the rented vehicle at Playa de las Americas and walked about 3 km to the harbour of Los Christianos. I hoped to find some pelagic birds on the ferry to La Gomera, but:

Hope is the thing with feathers;

that perches in the soul;

and sings the tune without the words

and never stops at all

                                       Clare Booth Luce 1903-1987

It seems that the pelagic birds were reluctant to leave my soul...