Another successful pelagic expedition with the perfect wind conditions but some choppy sea! As always, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the most common species watched everyday.
29th May 2024 - Leaving Machico the wind was blowing strong, around 17 knots but as we went offshore it dropped down, so at the chumming position there were 8 to 10 knots of North wind while the waves came from Northeast up to 1.8 meters
3 Pterodroma sp. - on the way up, too far to ID them, though the closest one was probably Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
4 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
7 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
15+ Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta
A rough start for our 1st Zino's Petrel pelagic Expeditions of 2024 with strong wind and quite choppy sea but we had amazing views and number of Zino's Petrels! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the commonest species observed everyday.
11th May 2024 - The wind was Northeast blowing around 18 knots as we left the marina but as we went offshore to the chumming position it dropped down between 9 and 13 knots. The ocean was quite choppy with 2 meter waves from NNE direction
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
6 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 4 at the same time flying in pairs: 2 by the beginning of the slick and 2 by the end of it. 1 was on the way back.
Common tern Sterna hirundo
8 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
May tends to be a very good month for migratory birds to be blown off their migratory course into this small peace of land that is Madeira. Let see which species may be visiting us this May!
30th of May 2024 at Ponta São Lourenço
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
26th of May 2024 at Machico - reported by Alfred (SWI)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
24th of May 2024 at Calheta - observed by Simon (UK)
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
11th of May 2024 off Porto Moniz - sighting by Michel (NED)
2 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - flying towards Porto Santo
In April Spring should be 'well installed' and so northwards migration should be on and in Madeira one can watch birds displaying, nesting or already feeding their chicks! Last month was very low for visiting bird species to Madeira, so let's see if April will be more exciting.
30th of April 2024 at Caniçal - observed by Olivier (FRA)
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
27th of April 2024 at Lugar de Baixo - sightings by Olivier (FRA)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
At Câmara de Lobos
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
6 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
26th of April 2024 at Ponta São Lourenço - noted by Olivier (FRA)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
20th of April 2024 at Água de Pena
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
At Ponta do Pargo - photographed by Ueli (SWI)
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
At Lugar de Baixo - reported by Neil (GB-SCT)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
March should mean Spring though in Madeira it looks like we are 1 season delayed so Winter atmospheric conditions only arrived now... It has been very quiet in terms of vagrant birds in the island...
29th of March 2024 off Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
2 Great shearwater Ardenna gravis
26th of March 2024 at Santa Cruz
5 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
We keep beating air temperature records for each month in Madeira and birds are displaying like it is Spring time already... It is getting scary all this climate changes and mostly because we do not see anything being made to change it. :/ We do our part but we are still a minority and it is definitely not enough!
28th of February 2024 at Caniçal
2 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
21st of February 2024 at Caniço
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
At Caniçal
2 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
9th of February 2024 at São Vicente - reported by Jenny (UK)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus