The forecasts were quite good as there was some relatively flat sea (comfortable for us) but still a nice breeze (good for the seabirds) though it turned out to be quite weird days as the species expected for each chosen chumming site weren't the ones that turned up... Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were present everyday though numbers varied a lot and Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus where in great number on the 1st day, none spotted on the 2nd day and just a few on the 3rd day...
29th May 2026 - 11 to 13 knots of Northern wind and 1.5 meter waves from same direction
Desertas' petrel Pterodroma deserta - 1 on the way up
2 Pterodroma sp. - flying far, on the way up
3 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
4 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 1 came twice to the chum, all very well seen!
White-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
28th May 2026 - North wind 5 knots increasing in the afternoon to 7 knots. Flat sea
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
5 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro on the way back
No Manx shearwater was seen today
Atlantic spotted dolphins Stenella frontallis
27th May 2026 - 8 to 9 knots of NW wind and 1 to 1.5 meter waves from same direction
Possible Barolo’s shearwater - on the way up but too far for a positive ID and only some of the participants saw it.
Very big frenzy of Cory’s and Manx shearwater just before to the chumming position but no cetaceans
1 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus - among the frenzy flock
>10 Common tern Sterna hirundo
2 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
3 Great skua Stercorarius skua - 1 seen far away while chumming and 2 flying NW on the return ride
1 Pterodroma sp - 1 flew too far to ID and did not come to the chumming position
Possible Desertas' petrel Pterodroma deserta - - on the way back by sunset, photos suggested Pterodroma deserta
5 flying fish
We usually start the pelagics later in May to guarantee Desertas' Petrels which are the latest ones to arrive to Madeira, normally between mid and end of May. But April and early May tend to be good periods for migratory seabirds passing by. On this first Zino's Petrel pelagic expedition of 2026 we did not get Pterodroma deserta but we got the 2nd record of Pterodroma hasitata for Madeira! Everyday we got good number of Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii.
16th May 2026 - 2 meter long period swell with 12 knots of northeast wind
2 meter swell from North and 12 knots NE wind
4 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
4 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
2 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii - photographed by at least 1 of the participants
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
3 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
May is the month of uncertainties, like its name suggests - it may rain, it may be sunny, it may be cold or it may be hot... we just never know! It is similar with the birds, although it is migration time we may get some raritites or we may not!
18th of May 2026 at Camacha
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
10 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
at Caniçal
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
14th of May 2026 at Parque Santa Catarina in Funchal - observed by Donato (POR)
8 Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
At São Vicente - observed by Michel (NED)
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
13th of May 2026 at Caniçal
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
April's a good month for migration! Let's see which species are blown out of their migratory route into this small piece of land and concrete, called Madeira...
27th of April 2026 at Lugar de Baixo
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
24th of April 2026 at Santa Cruz
8 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
23rd of April 2026 at Caniçal
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
At Santo da Serra reservoir
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
At Santa Cruz
20 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
The winds have been blowing quite strongly from the north, accelerating over the island's tips. This may interfere with bird flights, and it has certainly been affecting local air traffic. Let's see what March will bring to Madeira in terms of vagrant bird species:
29th of March 2026 at Machico
Citrine wagtail Motacilla citreola - 2nd record for Madeira! The 1st was observed in Lugar de Baixo, September 2011.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
5 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
27th of March 2026 at Santo da Serra Reservoir
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
At Caniçal
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
26th of March 2026 at Camacha
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
This year, the weather has been quite extreme, with several storms affecting mainland Portugal and the Azores. Fortunately, Madeira has remained relatively safe from these conditions. We are hopeful that migratory birds will take note and find refuge here during their journey.
28th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - observed by Andrew (UK)
Mew gull Larus canus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
3 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
27th of February 2026 at Tanque, Porto Santo - reported by Andrew (UK)
3 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
At Santa Catarina Park - photographed by Axel (UK)
Segde Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
26th of February 2026 by the airport
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
22nd of February 2026 at Ponta São Lourenço
> 50 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia