Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo & El Puertillo

We had a car for our week in Gran Canaria and this was our first trip away from Maspalomas. Really lovely and extensive gardens in the north of the island with some wilder areas and wildlife.

The Canary Island race of Common Kestrel was common throughout the island and there were a couple here showing very well. They were feeding on insects caught by flying from low perches.

Another obliging bird was this a Little Egret.

And this Grey Wagtail approached so close I had to stop photographing.

The African Blue Tits were less cooperative.

And Canary Island Chiffchaff also challenging.

The Canary Island race of Eurasian Blackbird is not particularly distinctive.

There were plenty of butterflies, with Monarch being most conspicuous.

Just one or two Red Admiral.

A few African Grass Blue.

And finally an Island Darter completed the photos from here.

El Puertillo 

After we decided to head for a late lunch to the little bay where Semipalmated Plover had been showing. Unfortunately we considered with a high tide and the Common Ringed Plover flock was nowhere to be seen.

A lovely spot nonetheless and an excellent lunch. 

A few of the hardier, rock-loving species were around, like Eurasian Whimbrel

And Ruddy Turnstone.