January 2022 - birdwatching observations in Madeira

Happy New Year! We sure hope this year will be better than the last ones, at least healthier in all ways! January started with quite warm temperatures which is not common for this time of year... Despite the low demand for birdwatching tours, let's see which vagrant species will pass by Madeira this month:

29th of January 2022 at Machico
2 Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
21 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

23rd of January 2022 at Ponta São Lourenço - reported by Manuel (POR)
Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca - Less than 5 records in the last 50 years!
> 50 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

At Aguas Mansas reservoir
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis - 2nd record for Madeira archipelago
13 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

19th of January 2022 at Machico
7 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
17 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

17th of January 2022 at Funchal - observed by Donato (POR)
60 to 80 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris - an unusual high number for Madeira!

At Santa Cruz
8 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

12th of January 2022 at São Vicente
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Câmara de Lobos - reported by Roy (UK)
13 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

10th of January 2022 at Funchal harbour - photographed by Manuel (POR)
Mew Gull Larus canus
8 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
12 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
6 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

4th of January 2022 at Caniçal
5 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At Machico
17 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

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