A rough start for our 1st Zino's Petrel pelagic Expeditions of 2024 with strong wind and quite choppy sea but we had amazing views and number of Zino's Petrels! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the commonest species observed everyday.
11th May 2024 - The wind was Northeast blowing around 18 knots as we left the marina but as we went offshore to the chumming position it dropped down between 9 and 13 knots. The ocean was quite choppy with 2 meter waves from NNE direction
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
6 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 4 at the same time flying in pairs: 2 by the beginning of the slick and 2 by the end of it. 1 was on the way back.
Common tern Sterna hirundo
8 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
10th May 2024 - North wind up to 17 knots while leaving the coast but between 10 to 12 knots at the chumming position. Waves were from north as well up to 1.5 meters.
Possible Barolo's shearwater Puffinus baroli - it flew away from the boat while riding up, so it was not a clear view but it was definitely a very small shearwater and the usual behaviour and jizz of Barolo's
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
European Herring gull Larus argentatus
> 20 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
9th May 2024 - Left the marina with light wind and arrived to the chumming position with only 6 knots of North wind which later increased to 14 knots. 1 meter waves from north and a short swell from southwest.
3 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
6 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
3 Common tern Sterna hirundo
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
5 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
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