Our Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expeditions have gotten off to a great start! Despite some challenging ocean conditions, we've successfully observed all of our target seabird species.
As expected, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii have been daily sightings. Additionally, the Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus has also been a consistent presence this time of year.
23rd May 2025 - 1.5 meter oceanic swell from NE, 1 meter wave from NNE and wind between 8 and 12 knots from NE
Barolo’s Shearwater Puffinus baroli - on the way up but very difficult observation with the bird flying away and disappearing in the waves but by the size and behaviour it must have been P. baroli
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
5 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira at same time on the slick for about 3 min and then a 3rd one joined for at least 5 more minutes. At least 2 of them kept flying around the chum for quite a while
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
22nd May 2025 - 1.5 meters NE waves and 11 to 13 knots of NNE wind
7 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
4 Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
1 Probable Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - did not come close enough but the jizz and the witish underwing led us to believe it was a P. madeira
Atlantic Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis - both on the way up and on the way back
21st May 2025 - 1 to 1.5 meters waves from NE and north wind between 6 and 9 knots
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
5 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
5 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus - 2 of them together at the chum slick
2 Pterodroma sp.
Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta - came to the chum