Gran Canaria, Days Five to Seven

After the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch twitch on Thursday, I took Jacob out on his first 'pelagic'- a dolphin watching tourist boat out from Puerto Rico, with a company called Spirit of the Sea. Not a bad haul with Bottlenose Dolphins, Loggerhead Turtle, Flying fish, Cory's Shearwaters and a single Bulwer's Petrel. Unfortunately Jacob got sea sick and was trying to watch the dolphins while throwing up over the side of the boat. He is not too keen on going out to sea again and fingers crossed the experience hasn't put him off in the future- he is only six still so maybe a bit too much too soon. 

Friday was spent at Maspalomas, walking along the sand dunes and doing some touristy stuff (i.e. awful stuff) and our last day Saturday was spent at the Crocodile Park. Nothing else much to report from the last couple of family days- a couple of Hoopoes from the car was a sought after little lifer for Jacob and we also had a Monarch at the Crocodile park. 

So back home now after a great little family holiday with a World tick thrown in (also African Collared Dove Cat C tick ) and a few new leps and a lizard  lifer too. Would highly recommend Gran Canaria for any family enslaved birder as just the Chaffinch endemic to sneak out to bag. 

Cory's Shearwater (above) and Bulwer's Petrel (below) 

The best shot I could get of the Bottlenose Dolphins while trying to nurse Jacob at the same time

Sea sick Jacob

Monk Parakeet- these were common at our resort and in the surrounding areas

The Crocodile Park and Palmitos Park are the two big animal attractions for kids on Gran Canaria. Palmitos Park is the best landscaped 'zoo' I've been too (and I've been to a lot). 

Our holiday digs- Canary Island Chiffs, Common Waxbills, Canaries, Spanish Sparrows, Collared Doves, Blackbirds, Bertholot's Pipit, Plain Swifts and Monk Parakeets were present on the grounds

Maspalomas Sand Dunes- had a couple of juvenile Audouin's Gulls flying along the Beach

A few holiday snaps- Holly with Tapas (above), Jacob, me and his school friend who he bumped into out there (below) and Jacob and I below after he saw his first Hoopoe