We have been quiet with bird news for a while as we have passed several days at sea with Hadoram Shirihai trying to photograph Zino's Petrels... But for this matter you will have to wait for Hadoram's trip report which will be posted soon with many interesting observations!

For now we will update the observations of vagrant birds to Madeira, observed in land:


24th Abril 2009 at Caniçal
At least 40 Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus
6 Dunlins Calidris alpina
1 Booted Eagle Aquila pennata

At Ribeira Brava
1 Raven Corvus corax

Seawatching at São Vicente
Many Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus
Lots of Cory's Shearwaters

At Lugar de Baixo - observations by Rui Costa
1 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica - male

28th April 2009 and on 4th May 2009 - Observations by Rui Costa
At Lugar de Baixo
2 Bar-tailed Godwit - pair

At Ponta do Pargo
16 Whimbrels

30th April 2009 at Machico
3 Greenshank Tringa nebularia
1 Redshank Tringa totanus
13 Dunlins
1 Little Egret Egretta Garzetta

2nd May 2009 at Lugar de Baixo
8 Dunlins
1 Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis - still the 2nd record

At Ponta do Pargo
18 Whimbrels

5th May 2009 at Lugar de Baixo
2 Bar-tailed Godwits
1 Greenshank
4 Dunlins
1 Whimbrel
1 Green-winged Teal

At Ponta do Pargo
2 Peregrine/Barbary Falcons - seen at long distance
2 Yellow Wagtails - 1 Motacilla flava cinereocapilla and 1 Motacilla flava flava
7 Whimbrels