August was a calm month regarding migrating birds passing by or stopping by Madeira. Ruddy turnstone was the only species recorded by Wind Birds, so there were no news for August 2023 other than the pelagic expedition. Now we sure hope September will bring some interesting species to the archipelago!
27th of September 2023 at Caniçal
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
26th of September 2023 at Porto Santo - observed by Andy (SPA
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - flew by Pico Castelo
25th of September 2023 at Porto Santo - observed by Andy (SPA)
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus - off Calheta
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - at Tanque pond
22nd of September 2023 at Machico river - photographed by Andreas (GER)
Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys - Most probably an escaped bird and maybe the same individual recorded on the 9th of July at Santa Cruz
In the 2nd half of August usually starts the migration season for seabirds and we already saw a few species passing by Madeira. As for breeding birds we got all we were expecting at this time of year! As usual, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were present everyday although we missed Yellow-legged gull on the chum.
22nd August 2023 - NNE wind up to 12 knots and waves up to 1 meter from same direction
6 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 2 on the way up and 1 on the way back
6 Common tern Sterna hirundo - 1 on the way up
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro
22nd August 2023 - 7 knots of Northern wind and 0.5 meter waves from NNE
2 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
4 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - 3 on the way up
4 Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus - flew high up above us
2 Common tern Sterna hirundo
15 Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea - 6 on the way back
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 1 on the way back
This time the ocean conditions did not help with the number of birds or bird species... It was a strange pelagic expedition with much less numbers of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis but also small numbers of species seen. We even only got 1 Yellow-legged gull on the chum during the 3 afternoons!
28th July 2023 - we started with 9 knots of north wind which decreased to 4 knots and 0.5 meter waves from NNE
3 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 1 on the way to the chumming position
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
It was another successful pelagic expedition but considering the good wind and rough ocean one would expect a few more Pterodromas and Oceanodromas to fly along with thousands of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and dozens of Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis...
22nd July 2023 - 15 knots of North wind and 1 meter waves from same direction
Common tern Sterna hirundo - on the way to the chumming position
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - on the way up
2 Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Another great pelagic went by and this time we got the 3 highlight species of these expeditions: Zino's Petrel, Madeiran storm petrel and White-faced Storm petrel plus the Red-billed Tropicbird ! Hat trick! Of course, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the default species everyday! ;)
17th July 2023 - Wind from the Northeast up to 14 knots and waves from same direction up to 1.5 meters
9 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
White-faced Storm petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
3 Pterodroma sp. - while in transit for the chumming position
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
2 Common tern Sterna hirundo
Another great pelagic expedition with very good numbers of Pterodromas! As normal, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were watched everyday.
11th July 2023 - East-northeast wind up to 12 knots, 1.7 meters swell from Northeast and 0.5 meter wave from ENE
11 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 3 on the way up
2 Pterodroma sp.
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
4 Common tern Sterna hirundo - 3 on the way back
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira