Although Madeira is not so attractive as it once was, due to fires, overbuilding and overcrowding, it might still work as a lifeline for some of the vagrant bird species that lost their way during migration...

27th of September 2024 at Faial
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

24th of September 2024 at Caniçal
3 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
3 Sanderling Calidris alba
14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

15th of September 2024 off Porto Moniz - seawatching record by Michel (NED)
15 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus - flying west

13th of September 2024 off Machico
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Usually in August starts migration and depending on wind and weather conditions sometimes Madeira gets a few vagrant birds which were diverted from their migration course... Some seabirds species do pass close to Madeira coasts so one can expect to watch some Great shearwaters, Manx shearwaters and Skuas.

30th of August 2024 off Porto Moniz - seawatched by Michel (NED)
2116 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis

From the 14th to the 24th of August 2024 at Madeira central mountainous massif
Madeira has suffered forest fires for 10 days, burning at least 5 thousand hectares (50 million square meters) on the highest mountains and down some valleys in the centre of the island. Huge loss of habitat for many species of fauna and flora! We believe one of most affected species by these fires was (again) the threaten seabird Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira but it is still too early to know exactly how much it was loss from this endemic species.

20th of August 2024 at Caniçal harbour
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Sanderling Calidris alba
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

8th of August 2024 at Cabo Girão - photographed by Paul (UK)
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides

Although the wind conditions were quite good it seemed the bird species changed the areas where they usually are around... On the first 2 days we could not watch a proper Zino's Petrel with some light but enough wind on the North side of the island and on the 3rd day, with quite strong wind we could not find storm petrels but had a very displayable Zino's Petrel instead! If it weren't the good numbers of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis it would have been a bit boring!

2nd August 2024 - NNE wind between 15 and 18 knots. 1.5 meter waves from the east
8 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 4 on the way up
5 Pterodroma sp. - 3 on the way up
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Common tern Sterna hirundo

Short finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus

Fortunately the wind, ocean and general conditions improved and this pelagic was another successful one with Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis watched everyday and most of the other breeding seabirds also being attracted to the chum!

27th July 2024 - 2 to 5 knots of west wind which after 1 hour shifted to NE between 8 and 10 knots. Northeast waves up to 1 meter
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 1 on the way up
Pterodroma sp. - 1 on the way up
6 Common tern Sterna hirundo
White-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca

This was the slowest pelagic expedition of 2024 in all aspects! Light wind conditions although increasing a little bit every day and quite hot temperatures of air (max around 28ºC) and ocean (between 24º and 25ºC). Maybe these conditions all together scared the seabirds and cetaceans away... Anyway, as usual, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were watched everyday but not such in big numbers as in previous pelagics.

20th July 2024 2024 - 9 to 10 knots of Northern wind and 1 meter NW waves
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 Common tern Sterna hirundo
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - one on the way back
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - flew past in a distance

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

July, as a summer month does usually bring much vagrant birds to Madeira though with all these climate changes it is just "like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!"

30th of July 2024 at Caniçal harbour
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla

26th of July 2024 off Machico
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

25th of July 2024 at Caniçal harbour
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla

21st of July 2024 at Lugar de Baixo - sighting by Sean (UK)
2 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus