March is the start of Spring and we can already watch some of the native birds displaying! It is also the start of migration northwards, so lets see if we get some eastern winds to blow some vagrant birds to Madeira.

19th of March 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - observations by Dave (UK)
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
2 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
30 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

At Fajã da Ovelha
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

18th of March 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - observed and photographed by Dave (UK)
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
40 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
8 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At São Vicente
Common Redshank Tringa totanus

At Porto Moniz
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Despite the very cold weather in Europe, Madeira is still above 15ºC as the easterly winds bring some of the warmth of the North of Africa. Lets see which species will follow these winds from North Africa to Madeira archipelago:

28th of February 2019 at Ponta do Pargo
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

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

At Ribeira Brava
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

26th of February 2019 at Machico
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Caniçal
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

21st of February 2019 at São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

Happy New Year to all of you who read our Madeira birding news! This year started with light southerly winds which usually do not blow any migratory birds into Madeira but we'll keep looking for them!

25th of January 2018 at São Vicente
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Ribeira Brava
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

23rd of January 2018 at Porto Santo - reported by Robert (GER)
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

19th of January 2018 at Porto Santo - photographed by Robert (GER)
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris - 2 cy bird at Tanque Reservoir
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer - by the beach

December started with strong easterly winds and very warm temperatures, beating the records of the last 50 years. Lets see if these inviting temperatures and the winds pushed some any interesting birds into the Madeira archipelago.

30th of December 2018 at Caniçal
2 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus - flying off the coast
Great Skua Stercorarius skua - off the coast
21 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - at the fish farm
46 Little Egret Egretta garzetta - close to the fish farm
2 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
2 Sanderling Calidris alba
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

27th of December 2018 at Ribeira Brava
2 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus - flying westwards, off the coast

At Ponta do Pargo
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

At São Vicente
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

It's November and air and sea temperatures are still above 20ºC... Perfect conditions for the migrating birds to stop by and rest for a few days before continuing their journey! So let's see which bird species will visit Madeira during this month:

19th of November 2018at Machico - observed by Dave (UK)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ribeira Brava - by Michel de Lange (NED)
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - flying east

18th of November 2018at Porto Moniz - seawatching by Michel de Lange (NED)
216 Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis

17th of November 2018at Porto Moniz - by Michel de Lange (NED)
3 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

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!