February is still at the beginning and it is being marked by the strong winds blowing from Southeast. These winds not only bring warm temperatures from North Africa but also blow some vagrant birds out of their routes. On these last days, Madeira nature has recorded several species of vagrant birds:
6th February 2008
Ponta do Pargo
3 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - 2 males and 1 female
7 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
Ribeira da Janela
Common teal Annas crecca - male
Green-winged teal Annas carolinensis - male
8th February 2008
Caniçal
1 Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
4 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
6 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
4 Red-rumped swallow Cecropis/Hirundo daurica
Quails were heard
Machico
2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta
1 Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Lugar de Baixo
2 Dunlins
2 Curlew sandpipers
1 Sanderling
1 Greenshank
1 Little Stint
1 Scaup
More than 40 Turnstones
More than 20 Coots
6 Little Shearwaters flying on the sea
9th February 2008
Funchal port
1 Sandwich tern
1 Mediterranean Gull
More than 12 Black-headed Gulls
Lido
Roseate Tern - observed by Risto Saranto
Caniçal - observations by Risto Saranto
1 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Around 40 Barn Swallows