April's 2016 visitant birds to Madeira

April started colder this year although while birdwatching one can already spot Spring behaviours in wildlife... A pair of Common Moorhen in Machico already has 4 chicks and
Atlantic Canaries were observed carrying nesting material... Now we need some Eastern winds to blow some vagrant bird species into the island.

27th April 2016 at Ponta do Pargo
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

At Lugar de Baixo
2 Dunlin Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

17th April 2016 at Machico - reported by Yves Dubois (FRA)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
18 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

14th April 2016 at Lugar de Baixo
Baltic Dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
2 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Câmara de Lobos - observed by Yves Dubois
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
8 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

13th April 2016 at Machico
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

10th April 2016 at Faial - records by Yves Dubois
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

9th April 2016 at Ponta de São Lourenço
4 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
32 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

6th April 2016 at Lugar de Baixo
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

At Ribeira Brava
Red Knot Calidris canutus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ponta Sao Lourenço - reported by Yves Dubois (FRA)
4 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
27 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Great Skua Stercorarius skua

At Machico - sightings by Yves Dubois
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

5th April 2016 at Funchal
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

1st April 2016 at Gaula, Santa Cruz
Harris Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus - indeed, although it is April fools' day, this bird was perching on a telegraph pole by the side of the road in Gaula. OK, it had jesses so it is most probably the Harris Hawk used by a falconry company to scare the gulls and doves out of Funchal harbour and hotels. It looks like the Hawk decided to fly by its own and get to know other places of the island...

At Machico
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius curonicus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
7 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
21 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

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