October birdwatching news for Madeira

31st October 2012 at Caniçal
1 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

30th October 2012 at Faial - reported by Heikki Vasamies, Finland
2 Mallards Anas platyrhynchos
1 Wigeon Anas penelope - female
1 Pintail Anas acuta - male
1 Cinnamon/Blue-winged Teal Anas cyanoptera/discors - "After cheking the photos available I start to favour Blue-winged Teal. The features that seem to support A. discors are:

  • distinct border between greyer head and warmer breast, suggesting the area that will become the males bluish grey head
  • isn't there a hint of the white crecent on the forehead (above the dark line)?

Seeing a photo of a 1 cy male cinnamon, it shows how uniform the overall colour of the bird is in head/breast/belly. Also the head markings are almost non-existent (even though there seems to be some variation in this)."

29th October 2012 at Lugar de Baixo - reported by Heikki Vasamies, Finland
1 female Garganey Anas querquedula
2 Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis

At Ribeira Brava
1 Dunlin Calidris alpina

At Funchal harbor - reported by Isidro Bartolomé, Spain
3 Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia flying west to east at 14:00

20th October 2012 at Lugar de Baixo
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
1 Dunlin Calidris alpina

19th October 2012 at Funchal
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - an immature bird.

Faial
Presumed Cinammon teal Anas cyanoptera Possible first record!
1 Nothern Pintail Anas acuta
2 Mallards Anas platyrhynchus
1 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
3 Coots Fulica atra
1 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

17th October 2012 at Lugar de Baixo
Little Egret Egretta garzettaz
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Ponta do Pargo
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
30+ Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa

São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
1 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Ribeira da Janela
1 Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis

16th October 2012 at Calheta
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - an immature bird. This is the 3rd record for Madeira!
Several Turnstones Arenaria interpres

10th October 2012 at Bica da Cana - reported by Ken Hall, UK
1 Black Kite Milvus migrans

5th October 2012 at Machico
1 Dunlin Calidris alpina
1 Sanderling Calidris alba
1 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Several Turnstones Arenaria interpres

4th October 2012 at Faial
1 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
1 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

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