New year, same old strategies... It is disheartening to see continued focus on new construction, increasing fireworks shows and, consequently the destruction of natural habitats. 2026 started with a week of
continuous rain which did not allow much birdwatching, but let's hope for some better conditions on the following weeks.
31st of January 2026 at Lugar de Baixo - report by Michel (NED)
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
At Sao Vicente
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
At Ribeira de Janela
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
30th of January 2026 at Funchal harbour - listed by Nicholas (UK)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Sanderling Calidris alba
At Machico river
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
13 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
29th of January 2026 at Praia Formosa, Funchal - observed by Nicholas (UK)
3 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
28th of January 2026 at Caniçal harbour
2 Sanderling Calidris alba
13 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Machico rivermouth
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - male
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Santo da Serra reservoir
2 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
At Funchal harbour - sightings by Nicholas (UK)
2 Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
27th of January 2026 at Porto Moniz - observation by Michel (NED)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
26th of January 2026 at Caniçal
3 Sardinian warbler Sylvia melanocephala
5 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
At Funchal harbour - reported by Nicholas (UK)
Mew gull Larus canus - (late) first winter
Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus some birds
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
24th of January 2026 off Porto Moniz - counted by Michel (NED)
46 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
23rd of January 2026 at Camacha
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Off Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
55 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
19th of January 2026 at Cardais, Santa Cruz
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
12th of January 2026 at Porto da Cruz
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
11th of January 2026 at Machico
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - a pair
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
1st of January 2026 at Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres