The long-staying Green-winged teal at Lugar de Baixo has died

On the 15th February 2011 the long-staying Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis at Lugar de Baixo Pond has died. This was the second record for Madeira and was living here since October 2008.

Hugo was on a full-day birdwatching tour with Karine & John from Denmark and on their stop at this pond they found the drake green-winged teal dead. Hugo informed the Natural History Museum of Funchal to collect the bird as there was no specimen there.

Mr. Silva, the man responsible for the museum's collection soon arrived to the pond to get the bird while it was still fresh. Unfortunately the bird had some bites on the left side of its neck and head which we presume were from rats and so the specimen may not be in such a good shape for a skin to the MMF museum. There was also some Muscovy ducks and Moorhens biting the dead bird which were scared away while we could not get the bird. We would really like to see this friendly american duck at the museum but it seems we got a bit late to the pond...

The first record of Green-winged teal for Madeira dates from the 11th February 2007 and is still present in Ribeira da Janela today, together with a drake Eurasian Teal.


Last interesting sightings in Madeira and Porto Santo were:
13th February 2011 in Porto Santo Golf course:
1 Merganser is still present
1 Shoveler
1 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Bean Goose
1 Pink-footed Goose

8th February 2011 in Ribeira da Janela, Madeira
1 Hudsonian Whimbrel

6th February 2011 at sea around Caniçal, Madeira
2 Great Skuas
Several Manx shearwater
1 Cory shearwater