This year, the weather has been quite extreme, with several storms affecting mainland Portugal and the Azores. Fortunately, Madeira has remained relatively safe from these conditions. We are hopeful that migratory birds will take note and find refuge here during their journey.
28th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - observed by Andrew (UK)
Mew gull Larus canus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
3 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
27th of February 2026 at Tanque, Porto Santo - reported by Andrew (UK)
3 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
At Santa Catarina Park - photographed by Axel (UK)
Segde Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
26th of February 2026 by the airport
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
22nd of February 2026 at Ponta São Lourenço
> 50 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
16th of February 2026 at Caniçal harbour
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
2 Sanderling Calidris alba
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Santo da Serra reservoir
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
11th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - reported by Roger (UK)
2 Mew gull Larus canus - both 2nd cy
5 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - "one ringed with a yellow APEN on left tarsus". The observer contacted the ringers and got the information that the bird was ringed in the nest as a chick ("weighed 195 grams at the time"), in June 2025, in Schladebach Gravel Pit, Leuna in eastern Germany by a NABU Merseburg/Team Leipzig team. According to the ringers, this sighting is the first record of this bird since it was ringed and marks the first time one of their ringed gulls has been reported in Madeira.
25 Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
10th of February 2026 at Machico - sightings by Sørensen (DEN)
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
8th of February 2026 at Porto Moniz
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - female
6th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - observed with scope by Nicholas (UK)
Mew Gull Larus canus - (late) first-winter bird
5th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - reported by Nicholas (UK)
2 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - "one with a yellow leg ring but too distant to read"
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
2 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii - although this is a breeding species, in the last 4 years they have been quite scarce around Madeira...
3rd of February 2026 at Palheiro reservoir - sightings by Nicholas (UK)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
1st of February 2026 at Santo da Serra reservoir - observation by Michel (NED)
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia - immature
At Machico
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia - immature, possibly the same bird as in Santo da Serra
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos