The Canary Islands Dragon Trees & Blue Chaffinches A Greentours Tour Report 7th – 16th February 2014 Leader Başak Gardner Day 1 07.02.2014 To El Patio via Guia de Isora I met the half of the group at the airport just before midday and headed towards El Guincho where our lovely hotel located. We took the semi coastal road up seeing the xerophytic scrub gradually changing to thermophile woodland and then turned towards El Teide mountain into evergreen tree zone where the main tree was Pinus canariensis. Finally found a suitable place to stop and then walked into forest to see our rare orchid, Himantoglossum metlesicsiana. There it was standing on its own in perfect condition. We took as many pics as possible and had our picnic there as well. We returned to the main road and not long after we stopped by the road side spotting several flowering Aeonium holochrysum. It was a very good stop to have a feeling of typical Canary Islands flora. We encountered plants like Euphorbia broussonetii and canariensis, Kleinia neriifolia, Argyranthemum gracile, Aeonium urbicum, Lavandula canariensis, Sonchus canariensis, Rumex lunaria and Rubia fruticosa. Driving through the windy roads we finally came to Icod De Los Vinos to see the oldest Dragon Tree. They made a little garden of native plants with some labels on and the huge old Dragon Tree in the middle. After spending some time looking at the plants that we will see in natural habitats in the following days we drove to our hotel only five minutes away. The hotel has an impressive drive that you can see the huge area of banana plantations around it. We enjoyed our late afternoon having rest in the lovely patio. Day 2 08.02.2014 Garachico, Masca & Plaja de Fraile We spent almost the whole morning on a bendy road above Garachico looking at the interesting flora. Several stops produced many plants like Pericallis echinata, Sonchus congestus and Perioplaca laevigata flowering by the roadsides, Aeonium tabuliforme, Monanthes adenoscepes and Davallia canariensis on the rocks. Scilla haemorrhoidales and Habenaria tridactylites were flowering among the other plants as well. There was this weird looking plant Ceropegia dichotoma in flower too. Further up the road we stopped to photograph Echium giganteum. Blackcaps and Blue Tits were fluttering around. When we reached at Masca viewpoint it was lunch time and the owner of the little cafe didn’t mind us using his tables for picnic. After picnic we started to search around and Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 1 encountered Euphorbia atropurpurea with deep purple flowers, Echium virescens, Lobularia canariensis and Lavandula buchii. Walking into shady areas we found Aeonium cuneatum and Monanthes pallens. There were Berthelot’s Pipits and Sardinian Warblers around. When we finished at the top we drove down to Masca village and had a short walk around ended up in a café serving fresh fruit juices. As we were enjoying our drinks and watching a Kestrel a Barbary Falcon appeared behind a hill and flew across giving us a good view. Driving further down we managed to find a parking space where there was Canarina canariensis tumbling down the hill. Whole gulley was almost covered. We identified Erica arborea and Apollanias barbujana there. For our last stop we drove down to Plaja de Fraile to look at the coastal flora. Euphorbia canariensis was the obvious plant and there were also Euphorbia aphylla and balsamifera, Astydemia latifolia, Forskahhlia angustifolia, Camhylathus salsoidies and Limonium pectinatum. Canaries were flying around mostly hiding in the Tamarix canariensis. We had some time to enjoy the patio when we got back to the hotel before checklists and had a good supper. Day 3 09.02.2014 Anaga Peninsula The clouds cleared as we drove to Anaga Peninsula. First we went to northern coast and made a walk in Chimanada. The gulley looked extraordinary with Fantastic Euphorbia canariensis against the dark colour of basalt ground. Two different Lavandulas- Lavandula buchii and Lavandula canariensis and Aeonium lidleyii was growing together with Euphorbia canariensis. Perioplaca laevigata and Camphylanthus salsoidies were also common. We couldn’t walk up to Echium simplex but enjoyed everything else. Steven found a nice flowering Frankenia capitata on the way back. Our next stop was back in the Anaga forest viewpoint where we saw Echium virescens and a Limonium. It was so windy so we couldn’t stay long here and drove to main viewpoint and there was no room in the car park so we drove to the next one called Punta de Ingles. We had our picnic here and then walked down a lovely Erica scoparia forest path recording Gennaria diphylla, Arisarum smirrhanum and many different ferns like Asplenium adianthum-nigrum and Polystichum setiforum. We also noted Ilex platyphyllum, Viburnum rigidum, Laurus azorica and Hedera helix ssp. canariensis. We drove a short distance more and stopped at the narrow ridge to be able to look at Echium virescens closely and there were Romulea grandiscapa and Silene canariensis right by the car. There was also nice flowering Argyranthemum broussonetii. We were back at the hotel before dark so everyone enjoyed the patio before dinner. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 2 Day 4 10.02.2014 Los Silos, El Jardin Botanico Another lovely day started after a good breakfast. We didn’t drive so far only a couple of kilometers far from the hotel we parked on a narrow street at the start of the Cuevas Negros walk path in Los Silos. First part of the walk through the village gardens and avocado orchards. In the canal watering these gardens were Salix canariensis and Bencomia caudata trees. There were many scrambling bushes like jasminum odorantissimum, Withania aristata and Bosea yervamora. We had very fine Canarina canariensis scrambling over a fig tree. An interesting colony of spiders waiting for their eggs took our attention. As we started to walk the plants changed as the rocky parts appeared. On the rocks there were Sedum rubrum and Aeonium tabuliforme. Fine leaved Sonchus filiformis wasn’t in flower but the leaves were attractive enough. We saw Bryonia verrucosa flowers and lovely fruits too. Two Barbary Partridges suddenly flew as we were walking. Higher up giant plants of Echium giganteum and attractive Ferula linkii appeared. I had good views of Grey Wagtail, Canary and Tenerife Blue Tit which is now recognized as a separate species. We drove back for the lunch and had our picnic in the peaceful patio then drove to Puerta de la Cruz to visit the botanic garden. An impressive lichen hanging all the way down from a tall tree welcomed us. The garden was full of plants from both Canaries and around the world. While enjoying an afternoon café across the botanic garden an incredible coinsidance happened and I met two clients of my coming SW Turkey trip. We drove back to the hotel from here. Day 5 11.02.2014 El Teide We had our last breakfast at El Patio then headed for El Teide mountain via Orotava Vallay. We made our first stop soon after the town Aguamunsa. There were many Arbutus canariensis trees in flower as well as Erica scoparia. Speckled Wood and Indian Red Admiral were flying around. We soon stopped again to photograph pink flowered Cistus symphytifolius. On the rocky parts along the road were Aeonium spathulatum and Greenovia aurea. Leaving the forest zone behind we were into lava fields covered with different vegetation to what we had so far. The main bushes around were Pterocephalus lasiospermus, Spartocytisus supranubius, Cheirolaphius teydii and Adenocarpus viscosus. We spent some time at the visitors center walking around the small botanic garden. Erysimum scoparium was in flower at the entrance. There were many Tenerife Lizards around. Echium wildpretii was not in flower but even just the rosette leaves were very attractive. There were a few plants of Aeonium smithii with crinkly leaves planted there. We drove up to the cable cars but because there was a very long queue we decided not to go up and instead enjoy the geology down below. There was a viewpoint near by where we had our picnic and took so many pics of the arid landscape. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 3 To get some exercise after lunch we went to Las Roques with again impressive rock formations and a path. We found two new plants to the tour. They were Argyranthemum teneriffae and Scrophularia glabrata. Berthelot’s Pipits and Canaries gave us good views. Having some time we decided to go to Himantoglossum metlesicsianum site for Peter and Cora to see. A nice drive along the lava fields into the pine forest took us there. The plant was still in perfect condition since we had seen it five days ago. It was also very good spot to see birds and we noted Blue Chaffinch, very good views of Tenerife Goldcrest and Blue Tit. Day 6 12.02.2014 Malpais de Guimar As we were getting ready to leave the hotel a male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed itself very well. There was a great cloud sea view as we headed for the coast. We took the fast road to get to Plaja de Guimar. It was a very good walk along the coast and very productive. The lava beach was mainly covered by Euphorbia balsamifera and the great Euphorbia canariensis. When we started to look closely we found many other plants among them. Fagonia cretica had its flowers all open in the sun. Camphylostema salsioides was well in flower here too. When we looked towards the see we spotted Turnstones, a Little Stint and a Whimbrel.