June 2014 birdwatching news for Madeira

June is the first summer month though some late migrating bird species might still be around or visit Madeira. Lets see what Madeira gets:

21st June 2014
Ponta do Pargo
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

19th June 2014
Machico
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus

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May 2014 Zino's Pelagic Expedition Report

2014 Madeira pelagic expeditions started with a long list of seabirds seen! 17 species of marine birds and 3 species of cetaceans were observed during the 3 days of Wind Birds' ocean adventures! Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis were seen in good number on all pelagic trips, together with the following special seabirds:

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May reports for vagrant birds in Madeira

May is always a good month for vagrant birds in Madeira as a migration season. The 10th of May, the World Migratory Bird Day, surprised us with a Western Reef Heron which was the second confirmed record for Madeira archipelago!
While birdwatching on Madeira these are the other vagrant birds observed during Wind Birds' tours or by some birdwatchers visiting the islands:

Spotted Sandpiper in Madeira

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April's 2014 birding reports for Madeira

On the very first days of April the wind blowed strongly from west quadrant and rain fell heavily... As this is a migration month, lets see which vagrant species were blown off their route. Meantime, since the 4th of April Wind Birds is running its Zino's Petrel Night Expedition to hear and see the silhouettes of the rare Pterodroma madeira with success!

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Zino's Petrels are back to Madeira for 2014 breeding season!

On the 4th of April 2014 Wind Birds started running their Zino’s Night Expedition to hear and sometimes see the silhouettes of this rare endemic seabird. On this first night tour of 2014 there was just a bit of moon though the night was very clear, there was no wind and we heard more than 70 calls! This means that Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira are back from their migration and are already visiting their breeding colony!

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March 2014 birding records for Madeira

March is here and Spring is arriving to Madeira! This is a good season to start watching the first land birds blown off course from their migration between Africa and Europe.

31st March 2014 at Santa Cruz
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

at Lugar de Baixo - sightings by Ton and Annemiek Eggenhuizen (NED)
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

at Ponta de São Lourenço - reported by Ton & Annemiek Eggenhuizen
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides

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