Sightings on Madeira holiday 15-22nd February 2010 by Allen Pocock


Madeira Wind Birds thanks Allen Pocock for his e-mail with sightings and interesting comments which we agree and transcribe below:

"I thought you may be interested in some of my sightings on your fantastic island during my holiday there.

At Garajau: 2 Peregrines on 15th

At Lugar de Baixo: 4 AMERICAN Wigeon and Green-winged Teal on both 16th and 18th. Also Little Egret there on 16th

At Sao Vicente: 2 Whimbrel on 16th

Funchal beach: adult Ring-billed Gull and Sandwich Tern on 17th

At Sao Lourenco: 7 Whimbrel on 18th

From Porto da Cruz: 30+ Cory's and 12 Manx Shearwaters on 19th

At Machico: 2 Common Sandpipers, Little Egret and 2 probable Pallid Swifts on 20th (with Plain Swifts)

At Ribeira da Janela: on 21st Green-winged Teal and Eurasian Teal


May I also express my great sympathy to all the inhabitants of Madeira who suffered due to the heavy rainfall and consequent disaster. Particular sympathy is extended to those who lost relatives or friends.

Adeus,
Allen Pocock
(Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society,UK)


PS - I was particularly disappointed with what is happening at Ponta do Pargo (is a golf course worth it?) and to hear about the developments at the Zino's Petrel nesting site. In the words of a Joni Mitchell song... "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone"."