On the 20th December 2009 along the Lido promenade in Funchal Catarina & Hugo, from Madeira Wind Birds recorded what is called a LBJ, i.e. a Little Brown Job which turned out to be, most probably, a Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis. We asked for some help on the identification of the bird to some world experienced birdwatchers and we got 2 answers for the same species: a juvenile female Dark-eyed Junco or an adult female Slate-colored Junco which is a subspecies of the Dark-eyed most widespread in eastern North America.

After two successful expeditions with Hadoram Shirihai to find and photograph Zino's Petrel at sea Madeira Wind Birds will start to operate its Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition in May 2010!

7th March 2009
Lugar de Baixo
Green-wing Teal Anas carolinensis
Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Caniçal
Common Gull Larus canus

Airport gardens
3 Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba yarellii
22 White Wagtails Motacilla alba alba

8th March 2009
Caniço - observed by Jan Legg (UK)
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

On the 4th of November 2008 at Lugar de Baixo pond Madeira Wind Birds and its customers have observed the bird on the photos. After a detailed observation everyone decided it is an American Wigeon Anas americana which, after the strong western winds occurred last week is not such a difficult thing to happen.

On Sunday, the 26th of October 2008 an Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus was observed in Funchal coast, just near Santiago Fortress. Thanks to Tom McCanna who called to alert Madeira Wind Birds, Catarina & Hugo were able to observe this bird of prey too. This bird had black jesses on both legs and it seemed also two silver thin rings. It is certainly an escapee bird from a Falconry though most probably not from Madeira as there is no knowledge of any falconry in Madeira.

Relevant observations during our birdwatching and seawatching trips in July 2006.