Madeira Carnival and February 2009 sightings

9th to 16th February 2009 at Funchal harbor
Dan Greenwood (UK) sent us an e-mail with his interesting observations from which we took this paragraph:

"On Monday 09Feb09 there were 2 first winters and an adult. Following this initial sighting we visited the sight on each day until the 16th when 6 were present. The birds are generally sedentary but occasionally mobile moving east to the fort or out into harbour.It should be noted that the younger birds, the first and second winters showed plumage characteristics of Kumleins race but I am most careful not to claim such a race until they have been studied more carefully. I have seen many dubious claims of Kumleins from the UK in the past and the photo's often seem more like nominate Iceland. I would be very interested if observers would be able to visit the site and provide greater input into the final ID. The birds appeared to be happy where they were feeding and loafing, so hopefully they may still be around."

Other Dan's sightings included 1st winter Laughing Gull and 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

As for Madeira Wind Birds (Hugo & Catarina) sightings, here is a week's list:
17th February 2009 at Funchal harbor
7 Iceland Gulls - 3 adults & 4 immatures

18th February 2009 at Faial river bed
1 Coot
Seawatching from here:
Cory's shearwater
Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli

19th February 2009 at sea, between Funchal and Câmara de Lobos
1 Cory Shearwater
2 Kittiwake

Funchal harbor
3 Iceland Gulls - 2 first winters and 1 adult
1 Laughing Gull
Some Black-headed Gulls

Caniçal
15 Kittiwakes
1 Ring-billed Gull

Machico
2 Common Swifts

20th February 2009 at Caniçal
Some Kittiwakes
1 Ring-billed Gull
Calandra Larks
Skylarks
Woodlarks
Short-toed larks
Starlings
Seawatching from Caniçal we observed 1 Great Skua

Machico
Barn swallow
2 Little Egrets
1 Spotted Crake

Santana
1 White Wagtail

21st February 2009 atLido
Great Northern Diver

22nd February 2009 at Funchal harbor
Seawatching from Porto da Cruz
2 Great Skuas
Some Cory's Shearwaters
At least 7 Macaronesian Shearwaters
Few Manx Shearwaters
1 Whimbrel

23rd February 2009 at São Vicente
2 Whimbrels
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Common Sandpiper

Ribeira da Janela
Teal
Green-wing Teal

Porto Moniz
Black redstart - juvenile

Ponta do Pargo
1 Barn Swallow
1 Grey Heron

Lugar de Baixo
Green-wing Teal
2 Wigeons - male & female
1 Greenshank
1 Ringed Plover
2 Little Egrets (from which one was much taller and with a stripe that went from the bill until below the eye...We were not sure about reef egret)
1 Snipe
1 Dunlin

24th February 2009 at Santana
4 Cattle Egrets
2 Willow Warblers