Special(ists) Pelagic Expedition, Madeira, May 2017

There is no better way to start the pelagics' season than exchanging experiences and observations with a group of pelagic seabirds' specialists! The renowned Brian Patteson, Kate Sutherland and Peter Flood, who run pelagic trips in the USA joined Wind Birds team for 3 amazing afternoons at sea! Regarding weather and sea conditions, we may say we had the four seasons but the bird species aimed were all very well observed!!!

Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira — Zino's Petrel *Pterodroma madeira* by Peter Flood

9th May 2017 - Wind was light, up to 7 knots from SW and waves were coming from NW up to 1.5 meters. Some calm hours chumming...
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Presumable Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - did not fly close enough for a definite ID but seemed quite a bulky bird
>8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Common Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus
2 Loggehead Turtle Caretta caretta

Leach Storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa and European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus — Leach Storm-petrels *Oceanodroma leucorhoa* and European Storm petrel *Hydrobates pelagicus* by Peter Flood

10th May 2017 - Much rougher afternoon than the day before... 17 to 20 knots of wind from W and waves up to 2.5 meters from NW
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
4 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Pterodroma sp. - seen on the way back

Common Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus

Sabine's gull Xema sabini — Sabine's gull *Xema sabini* by Peter Flood

12th May 2017 - Perfect conditions for both birds and birdwatchers! Wind from West between 12 and 15 knots and waves from SW up to 1.5 meters
At least 5 Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa - at the same time on the chum
At least 5 White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca - at the same time on the chum
European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Sabine's gull Xema sabini - sat by the chum slick the whole afternoon
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
2 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
2 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
>4 Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro

White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca — White-faced Storm Petrel *Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca* by Peter Flood

Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis

In a decreasing order of quantities, we had on all 3 days Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus