It was an unusual pelagic trip in terms of both the number of birds and the species we observed. Interestingly, we even missed the Yellow-legged Gull in the chum on two out of the three days. Typically, at this time of year, Madeiran Storm Petrel is the most challenging to spot, but this expedition proved to be different. Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the entertaining birds during the three afternoons.

17th July 2025 - 1st chumming spot: N wind up to 17knots. 2nd chumming spot: NNW wind between 5 and 7 knots. NE waves up to 1 meter
8 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - while chumming at the 1st spot
5 Pterodroma sp. - all on the way up
3 Common tern Sterna hirundo - 1 on the way up
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - on the way up, flying far
Possible Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - by the size it looked P. madeira but it was too quick and wrong timming as we were renewing the chum
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - Only at 20:50 but finally we had a great observation!

July began with strong winds on the east side of Madeira, causing many flight cancellations and diversions. This unfortunately led to shortened or canceled holidays for some visitors, while others trying to depart Madeira were stranded for a few extra days.
Given these strong northern winds, we're curious to see if any unusual birds have been pushed to our Atlantic island. We'll keep you updated on any interesting sightings:

12th of July 2025 at Machico
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

7th of July 2025 off Porto Moniz - reported by Michel (NED)
Great Skua Stercorarius skua - flying southwards

6th of July 2025 at Machico
Black Kite Milvus migrans

1st of July 2025 at Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Three days of offshore birding with predominantly medium to strong N–NE winds which are favorable for Pterodroma observations but quite hard on us, humans. Overall, a productive series of pelagic trips with the key species well observed. Steady passage of Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii everyday. Despite good coverage, hoped-for views of White-faced Storm-petrel or Barolo shearwater did not materialize.

27th June 2025 – N wind 8–10 knots, NE swell 1.5 m, N waves 0.8 m
4 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta – 1 on the way out, others around the chum slick
15 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus – 3 outbound, 4 simultaneously at chum, 3 on the return trip
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira – 1 individual feeding at the chum slick
3 Common tern Sterna hirundo
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Pterodroma sp. – not confidently identified

This time was a bit too calm for seabirds which should have been good for cetaceans but those decided to go on holidays somewhere else! The first 2 days were really 'too' calm while on the 3rd day we got some good wind but not enough to attract the Madeiran storm petrel or the now rare White-faced Storm petrel... Anyway, it was a relaxing trip with very good views of Pterodromas and our usual ocean companions: Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii.

21st June 2025 - WSW wind between 4 and 7 knots then shifting to NE wind up to 11 knots. Westerly swell 1.5 meters and then 0.5 meter wind waves from NE
Pomarine or Arctic Skua pursuing a Pterodroma sp.
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Scopoli's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
2 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus - a brief view by some of the participants
Common tern Sterna hirundo
3 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - all on the way back

June might still be good for some late migratory birds which got off their course to stop by Madeira, so let's see which species we will get this year!

20th of June 2025 at Caniçal
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

18th of June 2025 at Caniçal
6 to 8 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba - Occasional vagrant but usually just a single bird...
4 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Madeira Archipelago offers good conditions to birdwatchers, not only in terms of breeding birds but also vagrant bird species. Though there are only 47 breeding species to these islands, about half of them are endemic species or subspecies to Madeira or to Macaronesia region (Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands).

Madeira has three endemic species: Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocaz which is associated with the native forest of Madeira: the Laurel Forest; Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis, normally observed on forested areas and the rare Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira, a threatened seabird that nests on the highest mountains of Madeira. Regarding the Macaronesia bird species, one may observe Fea's/Desertas Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta, Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro, Atlantic Canary Serinus canaria, Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotti and the Plain Swift Apus unicolor.

One interesting feature of birding in Madeira is the high number of endemic subspecies from which the ornithological highlights go to the bluish Madeiran Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensis and the darker colours of Barn Owl Tyto alba schmitzi and Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi.

However, seabirds are the major attraction for birdwatchers because there are several colonies of world importance. In Madeira archipelago one may find 8 breeding seabirds species namely the rare Pterodromas (P. feae and P. madeira), Barolo's Shearwater Puffinus baroli, Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro and White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca. This last species being confined to breed in Selvagens Islands but observed offshore on Wind Birds' Pelagic Expeditions.

A pelagic trip on Madeira or seawatching from the coast gives you also the chance to observe some vagrant birds like Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis, Great Skua Stercorarius skua, Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus or European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus, between others;

Join one of Wind Birds tours and you will see not only Madeira birds but also amazing landscapes which are out of the common tourist routes!