December's 2022 visiting species to Madeira

December is usually a good time of year for some visiting ducks as the rains fill up some water reservoirs... Let's see if this is the case this year... The rain is falling well so we now just need the wildfowl!

31st of December 2022 at São Vicente - reported by Slawomir (POL)
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

30th of December 2022 at Santo da Serra golf course
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

At Machico
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

29th of December 2022 at Funchal harbour
>20 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - had a lime green ring with D7VX inscription

28th of December 2022 at Fanal reported by Michel (NED)
2 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

At Paul do Mar - photographed by Slawomir (POL)
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

27th of December 2022 at Caniçal
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Funchal marina - observed by Nicholas (UK)
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba

Off Porto Moniz - birdwatched by Michel (NED)
Great Skua Stercorarius skua - flying west

26th of December 2022 off Porto Moniz - sea-watched by Michel (NED)
127 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla - most flying west, only 2 flying east

At Camara de Lobos - sighted by Nicholas (UK)
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

24th of December 2022 at Porto Moniz - scoped by Michel (NED)
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - flying east

23rd of December 2022 at Funchal harbour - observation by Nicholas (UK)
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
25 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
5 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - 4 first winter +1 second winter

At Porto Moniz - telescoped by Michel (NED)
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - flying west

21st of December 2022 at Machico
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica - reported by Mike (IRE)
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ponta da Cruz, Funchal - observed by Nicholas (UK)
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

17th of December 2022 at Caniçal
2 European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

At Santo da Serra
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

9th of December 2022 at Machico - sightings by Alessandro (GER)
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

8th of December 2022 at Seixal - observed by Alessandro (GER)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

7th of December 2022 at Funchal - reported by Alessandro (GER)
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

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