Madeira Bird News

06
May
2013
madeirabirds

Madeira birdwatching news for May 2013

May is here and by the end of the month starts the Zino's Petrels Pelagic Expeditions! Meantime Bulwer's petrels are back to Madeira and can be observed on the Bird, dolphin & whale watching trips.

So here are the vagrant bird species observed during this month:

5th May 2013 Northeast of Madeira
1 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus

4th May 2013 at Seixal
1 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

3rd May 2013 at Deserta Grande by the house - recorded by Paul & Pam Callaway (UK)
1 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes - According to Romano et al, 2010, this bird is exceptional to Madeira archipelago, which means it was observed less than 5 times in the past 50 years

Rufous-tailed Robin

16
Apr
2013
madeirabirds

April 2013 birding news for Madeira

April started very quiet in what regards to vagrant birds... The wind has been light in contrast with March but we are still waiting for some strong easterly winds to blow some migrating birds into this island. Though we are watching again the breeding birds that already returned to Madeira after their migratory season, such as Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea borealis, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii!

As for vagrant bird species observed this month, these are:

30th of April 2013 at Lugar Baixo
1 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
1 Shoveler Anas clypeata

26th of April 2013 at Caniçal - reported by Asgeir Larsen (NOR)
2 Peregrin Falcons Falco peregrinus - a pair, male and female.

24th of April 2013 at Lugar Baixo
1 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
1 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
1 Shoveler Anas clypeata
2 Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis

Ponta do Pargo
2 Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica
4 Common House Martins Delichon urbicum

16
Apr
2013
madeirabirds

Frank Zino's bird report of Porto Santo on 13th April 2013

We here thank to our good friend Frank Zino for sending us his trip report about the bird species observed in Porto Santo island on the 13th of April 2013.

Tanque:
1 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
3 Coots Fulica atra - one adult with two young

Ruddy Shelduck

Dam below Pico Concelho
2 Ruddy Shellduck Tadorna ferruginea - a pair
1 Moorhen

13
Mar
2013
madeirabirds

March 2013 birding news for Madeira

On the first week of March Madeira was under a stormy weather with very strong winds blowing from the western quarter, so after the storm it is time to look for vagrant birds that might have been blown into the island. So Wind Birds company (re)started its tours after the storm with a very nice record: Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus on the 10th! According to Romano et al. 2010 this species is occasional to Madeira, so depending on the weather/wind conditions it visits Madeira sometimes. Other vagrants recorded were:

Short-eared Owl in Madeira

30th March in Lugar de Baixo
1 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
1 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

28th March in Ponta de São Lourenço
2 Great Skuas Stercorarius skua

Pico do Areeiro
1 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

27th March in Caniço - by Guido Teenck (GER)
1 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

11
Feb
2013
madeirabirds

Madeira Birdwatching news for February 2013

February started with some strong winds from the East quadrant which normally brings some different vagrant birds to Madeira. So lets see which birds landed in Madeira for the Carnival festivities or for celebrating the end of the winter.

Ring-necked Ducks in Porto Santo

24th February in Porto Santo Island
At Serrado Reservoir
5 Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris - Less than 5 records in the last 50 years (Romano et al. 2010)
1 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
1 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
1 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
c. 25 Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris

At Serra de Dentro Reservoir
8 Eurasian Teals Anas crecca

At Pico Conselho
2 Eurasian Teals Anas crecca - males
1 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

At Tanque
5 White Wagtails Motacilla alba
2 Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba yarrellii
1 Pintail Anas acuta - adult male
1 Gadwall Anas strepera
1 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
1 Great Snipe Gallinago media
1 Blue-winged Teal Anas discors - 3rd record for Madeira archipelago!
3 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta
1 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

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