Madeira Birdwatching in December 2017

December started very wet in Madeira which is not so good (and in some places not safe!) to go out birdwatching... Anyway, let's see what Santa will bring us in terms of vagrant bird species:

29th of December 2017 at São Vicente
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca - male
2 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

28th of December 2017 at Machico
Northern Pintail Anas acuta - male
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Funchal Botanical Garden - photographed by Richard Winters (NED)
Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

At Ribeira Brava - observed by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ponta do Pargo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
14 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

27th of December 2017 over Neves, Funchal - reported by Ole Steinset (NOR)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

At Porto Santo Golf Course - observations by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
3 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
7 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
8 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
4 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
3 Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
11 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Tanque pond, Porto Santo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
2 Red Knot Calidris canutus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

At Pico do Castelo, Porto Santo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
2 Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
7 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

At Parque Florestal dos Salões, Porto Santo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

26th of December 2017 at Machico - sighted by Jeff Higgott (UK)
Northern Pintail Anas acuta - male
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus - 1st winter

Near Palheiro Ferreiro
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

25th of December 2017 at Ponta do Rosto, Caniçal - spotted by Jeff Higgott (UK)
27 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

At Calheta - reported by Alan Jones (UK)
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

24th of December 2017 at Ponta do Pargo - sightings by Michel de Lange (NED)
2 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
13 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At São Vicente - watched by Jeff Higgott (UK)
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca- male in eclipse
2 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

22nd of December 2017 at São Vicente
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca- male in eclipse
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
2 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Ponta do Pargo
9 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At Ribeira do Faial - reported by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Black Redstart Phoenicuros ochruros

21st of December 2017 at Botanic Gardens - observed by Alan Jones (UK)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus – light phase, flying high over Botanic gardens

20th of December 2017 at Ponta do Sol - reported by Alan Jones (UK)
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - first winter flying east 200m off shore

19th of December 2017 at Caniço - sightings by Jeff Higgott (UK)
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

At Caniçal
3 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

15th of December 2017 at Ponta São Lourenço
4 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
2 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala

At Machico
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

12th of December 2017 at Machico - reported by Diana Brown (RSA)
Northern Pintail Anas acuta