(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Daily Bucket: Volcanos and Cloud Forests in the Canary Islands. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-11-25 October is a favorite month for traveling. The veggie garden is about finished in Michigan and it’s past high tourist season in most areas we want to visit. Our trip to the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands, originally scheduled in 2021, had been cancelled and postponed at least twice due to Covid-19, so we were ready to go! This Bucket focuses on the Canary Islands. Canary Islands, west of the coast of Morocco. THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS. WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE DAILY BUCKET FEATURE, CHECK OUT THIS DIARY: DAILY BUCKET PHENOLOGY: 11 YEARS OF RECORDING EARTH'S VITAL SIGNS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS The Canaries are supposedly named after Canids (dogs), rather than the ubiquitous yellow birds. Not really after dogs either, but seals or “sea dogs”, thanks to Pliny the Elder. Wild or Atlantic canaries (Serinus canaria) are named after the islands and are native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. The Canary Islands have only two endemic terrestrial mammals: the Canary Shrew (Crocidura canariensis) and the Canary Big-eared Bat (Plecotus teneriffae). The first human inhabitants of the Canaries were Berbers from North Africa. They were invaded and conquered by the Spanish in the 1400s. Sailing away from Tenerife. I must have jolted my camera, to great effect. We visited 3 of the eight main islands, not including landing in Tenerife. The islands are volcanic and sub-tropical, but with distinct microclimates. After flying into Tenerife in the evening, we boarded ship and set sail for La Gomera. Our ship was small, with about 93 passengers (59 cabins). La Gomera San Sebastián, La Gomera, with Mount Teide (Tenerife) on the horizon. Mount Teide is the tallest mountain in Spain. One of the native Euphorbias in the foreground. The Canary Island National Parks had been closed for weeks due to high temperatures, increased fire danger, and active fires. The schools had been closed, too. Very luckily for us, the heat wave broke on the day we arrived and we were able to hike in the Garajonay National Park on La Gomera. The park is known for the Laurisilva cloud forest, dominated by broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. Garajonay National Park Laurisilva forest on La Gomera Lichens and ferns on the forest floor. Roque de Agando, I think the highest peak on La Gomera. Old wooden wine press at the Juego de Bolas Visitor Center and Botanical Gardens. Not the giant lizard El Hierro's size and geography supports entirely endemic species including the critically endangered El Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi), for which there is a captive breeding programme, allowing its reintroduction.[20] The non-barren parts of the interior rely on relief precipitation, not much more than the average of 19 rainfall days per year, high relative humidity and geothermal springs. This non-arid parts have thermophilous (geothermal heat-liking) juniper clumps and a pine forest with other evergreens.[20] In 2000, El Hierro was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, with 60% of its territory protected to preserve its natural and cultural diversity.[20] Among cetaceans in these waters, it is notable that several species of lesser known beaked whales inhabit around the island.[21] Laurisilva forest on El Hierro We hiked the Camino de la Llania, through more Laurel Cloud Forest and Canary Island Pine forest, as well as open arid areas. Wild Lemon Thyme (Thymus spp.), Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.), Viper’s Bugloss (Echium gentianoides), Aloe. Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis) Spanish Moss and Lichens Moss on tree trunks Morella faya (Myrica faya), the fruit are an important food source for birds. Pines and Junipers Back to the arid coast The late afternoon sun hitting the dry coastal hills on El Hierro. Our day had started out relatively clear, but by the time we were ready to head back to the coast the clouds had blown in so thickly that you couldn’t see beyond a few feet. The difference in the weather and vegetation of the arid coast and the interior cloud forest was striking on all the islands we visited. We stopped to view lava scars from the 2021 eruption. La Palma and Tenerife are the most volcanically active islands in the Canaries. Lava scars from the Cumbre Vieja eruption in 2021 on La Palma Next was a hike part way around the Caldera de Taburiente, which collapsed about a half million years ago. Canary Island Pine forest in the caldera. Trail around the caldera. We saw European Kestrels frequently, but I couldn’t get pictures of them. There were many small birds, including wild canaries and Chiffchaffs. The Canary Islands Raven (Corvus coral canariensis), very common. This Chough was perched on the top of the excellent Volcano Visitor Center on La Palma, calling to a buddy who was somewhere in the botanical gardens. Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax barbarus), subspecies found in La Palma. Back in the port of Santa Cruz, we enjoyed a walk around town. One of my favorite beverages is a 2% radler beer, I haven’t been able to find 2% beer in the US. Good night, La Palma. We departed the Canary Islands for the Cape Verde archipelago (about 2 days at sea). A juvenile Red-footed Booby flew around the ship one afternoon (Sula sula, identified by the naturalist on staff). There were a few other pelagic birds. The Booby video is 1:19 in length. It was successfully catching Flying fish, although I wasn’t able to capture that on video. Juvenile Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) Red-footed Booby sightings. We saw multitudes of Flying Fish (video 0:11 seconds, don’t blink or you’ll miss them). They can glide up to 650 feet. Sunset on the Atlantic Ocean, heading south to the Cape Verde Islands. in sw michigan The high today will be in the 30s f and overcast. Temperatures are dropping into the 20s overnight. Now it’s your turn! What’s happening in your backyard? Any observations from travels near or far? [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/25/2206509/-The-Daily-Bucket-Volcanos-and-Cloud-Forests-in-the-Canary-Islands?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/