The arid island of Fuerteventura holds a diversity of habitats with different specialties, from Canary Island stonechat in gorges to trumpeter finches in deserts or introduced species in lawns and gardens.

Houbaras, coursers, Berthelot’s pipits, sandgrouse, tropicbirds and Barolo shearwater converge in a barren corner of Fuerteventura, covered in a fine red carpet of plants and a mystique for the aboriginal islanders.

Dramatic wildfires are sweeping across northeast Iberia this summer. A visit to Fuente Dé in Picos de Europa National Park still yielded alpine specialties, persisting beneath the heavy smog from a nearby blaze.

A highlight of a recent trip to Somiedo was Saliencia lakes. The incredible montane landscape offered great views of breeding water pipits, common rock thrushes, Egyptian vultures and Alpine choughs.

The enigmatic Dupont’s lark is extremely range-restricted in our region. Some friends and I try tracking them down at their habitat, and end up having a fantastic migration day with 13 raptor species seen.