Birdwatching in Madeira, February 2017

Despite the strong winds and big waves that hit Azores and the North of mainland Portugal in the first days of February, Madeira started this Carnival month with sunshine, light wind and much smaller waves although on the 2nd week a lot of rain poured down. Manx shearwater and Cory's shearwater are 2 seabird species that are back to our waters and can be seen on a Bird, dolphin & whale watching trip! So far, the vagrant bird species in this archipelago are very much the same that landed here last December:

28th February 2017 at Faial - reported by Tim Drew (UK)
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

27th February 2017 at Porto Santo - observed by Tim Drew (UK)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - light phase
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - 1 juv at sea

25th February 2017 at Porto Moniz
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

At Ponta do Pargo
3 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

At São Vicente
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Pico do Arieiro by Tim Drew (UK)
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba

At Ponta Delgada - by Tim Drew (UK)
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

22nd February 2017 at Porto Moniz
European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ponta do Pargo
3 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At São Vicente
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Lugar de Baixo
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

21st February 2017 at Faial - sighted by Tim Drew (UK)
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - female

At Lugar de Baixo
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer

22nd February 2017 at Funchal harbour - by Tim Drew (UK)
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

19th February 2017 at Funchal harbour - Reported by Malcolm Russell (UK)
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

At Ponta de São Lourenço - watched by Tim Drew (UK)
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe

18th February 2017 at Ponta do Pargo - Observed by John Wheldon (UK)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

17th February 2017 at Paul da Serra
6 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

At Pico do Arieiro - Reported by John Wheldon (UK)
2 Black Kite Milvus migrans

At Camara de Lobos - Sighting by John Wheldon (UK)
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - it had a blue band on left leg (YJ63)

15th February 2017 at Caniçal
5 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
35 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
9 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

14th February 2017 at Ponta da Cruz - Observed by Malcolm Russell (UK)
2 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis - this is a rare vagrant bird to Madeira

7th February 2017 at Caniçal
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At Machico
American Wigeon Anas americana
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - a pair
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

4th February 2017 at Faial
4 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

At Machico
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - a pair
American Wigeon Anas americana
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

3rd February 2017 at Lugar de Baixo
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer
3 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
2 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
17 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At São Vicente
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

2nd February 2017 At Machico
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - a pair
American Wigeon Anas americana
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres