Despiste the good winds which normally brings us some interesting sightings during this migration period, this pelagic was a bit quiet for migratory seabirds... But we did see the breeding seabirds well! Of course, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were present everyday.

25th May 2022 - 16 knots of Northeast wind and NE waves up to 1.5 meters
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Fea’s petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
2 Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro
Comic Tern - Sterna hirundo/paradisaea

After hibernating for 6 months 'Oceanodroma' rhib is running Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expeditions again and with a great start! 7 Zino's petrel, 7 Madeiran storm petrel and 7 Barolo's shearwaters where watched properly on the 3 consecutive afternoons! As we feared, it was a bit early for Fea's/Desertas' Petrels as this is the time they start to arrive from their migration... Good number of cetacean species as well!
Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii we our company everyday!

19th May 2022 - West wind between 0 and 4 knots, 0.5 meters swell
Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus
7 Barolo’s shearwater Puffinus baroli
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo

After a couple of difficult years we had some days off so the bird news about Madeira where a little slow for a while... March, despeite being a Spring month brought some strong winds and some very low temperatures for Madeira.

27th of March 2022 at Funchal - observed by Roger (UK)
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus - in the gardens of the English Church
Great Skua Stercorarius skua - while seawatching from Lido area

Watched by Charles (UK)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - flying west over Funchal

25th of March 2022 at Funchal harbour - reported by Charles (UK)
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

23rd of March 2022 at Machico
14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

With summer temperatures during this winter month let's see which species will visit the island... Happy Holidays to all!!

31st of December 2021 at Funchal
5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta - flying at night, disoriented by the fireworks

30th of December 2021 at Machico
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

29th of December 2021 at Rabaçal - photographed by Stephen (GER)
Black Stork Ciconia nigra

23rd of December 2021 at Caniçal - reported by Stephen (GER)
2 Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - both dead at the beach

Despite the summer temperatures at the beginning of this month, migration is on and so some birds are still visiting Madeira...

30th of November 2021 at Calheta marina - reported by Nigel (UK)
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra

28th of November 2021 at Ponta do Sol
2 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

27th of November 2021 at Machico - photographed by Sarah (UK)
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus - fishing in the river

25th of November 2021 at Machico
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
4 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

24th of November 2021 at São Vicente
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ponta do Pargo
2 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - a pair, male and female
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
> 40 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

23rd of November 2021 at Pico do Areeiro - sighted by Isabel and Tania (POR)
2 Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

This time was our time for holiday, as Madeira is beautiful but can sometimes be too small for the ones who live it in... So the bird records for Madeira this month are very few as it is the number of birdwatchers in the island. Anyway, thanks to some local help we can still put up some birding news:

29th of October 2021 at Machico - observed by Ralf (GER)
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
18 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

At Água de Pena
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

28th of October 2021 at Ponta São Lourenço - reported by Ralf (GER)
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

27th of October 2021 at Machico
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Caniçal
3 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis