Birding in Madeira - February, 2020

February started with warmer temperatures than previous years and that, despite delighting the tourists that visit the island, is quite worrying in a nature conservation perspective... Forest fires have already started and threatened not only the flora and fauna of the island but also humans and their goods. But, let's see which birds are also enjoying this Spring weather in Madeira:

28th of February 2020 at Ponta do Pargo
2 Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti - there are less than 5 records for Madeira, on the last 50 years!
2 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
2 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

At São Vicente
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

27th of February 2020 at Machico
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

21st of February 2020 at Caniçal
2 Sanderling Calidris alba
2 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

15th of February 2020 at São Vicente - sighting by Michel (NED)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

14th of February 2020 at São Vicente
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ponta do Pargo
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita - it was singing!
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus - it was very yellow when compared to the other Chiffchaff
4 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
10 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

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

At Porto Moniz - reported by Michel (NED)
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

13th of February 2020 at Santa Cruz
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

At Caniçal - reported by Hans (NED)
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

12th of February 2020 at São Vicente
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

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

11th of February 2020 at Ponta do Pargo - observed by Michel (NED)
4 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis