In September starts the autumn and so it is time for some migratory birds to fly to their wintering grounds... If we get the right winds in Madeira, we might get some species blown off their migratory course...

27th of September 2020 at Porto Moniz - observed by Cheech (ZA)
Gull-billed tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Between the 25th & 28th of September 2020 at Tanque, Porto Santo - photographed by Claudia (POR)
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
2 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
2 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

24th of September 2020 at Porto Santo - reported by Natasha (POR)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

23rd of September 2020 at Faial
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

At Machico
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
12 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Another pelagic with a low number of species though quite rough sea and at least 1 well observed Zino's Petrel! It seems the coronavirus also affected the travelling of seabirds as it was supposed to be migration time and we hardly saw any of the seabird species we normally watch around Madeira by this time of year... As usual, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were a constant everyday.

26th August 2020 - ENE wind up to 18 knots and waves from northeast up to 1.3 meters
6 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 2 on the way up
14 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
2 Pterodroma sp. - not close enough for a definite ID
2 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

August should be a good season for some migratory birds to be blown off their course and be watched in Madeira archipelago though it has been a bit quiet around...

31st of August 2020 at Caniçal
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

18th of August 2020 at Ponta Delgada - observed by Gert (NED)
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes - Less than 5 records on the last 50 years, though last one was 2019

17th of August 2020 at Caniçal
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Off Machico
Great shearwater Puffinus gravis

15th of August 2020 at Porto Moniz
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
+20 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

The second Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition of 2020 was as weird as the year itself... The sea conditions were comfortable (maybe too comfortable!) as the wind was light and the waves were up to 1 meter but these were not enough to blow us a Zino's Petrel or/and a Madeiran Storm petrel :( . Despite this, we had Cory's shearwater and Bulwer's Petrel everyday and great views of sea mammals and some migratory seabirds:

12th of August 2020 - Northern wind up to 8 knots and 0.7 meter waves from north as well.
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
5 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus - great view on the way to the chumming position

After the cancellation of several Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition due to the coronavirus situation, we were finally able to welcome the 9 participants for the 1st Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition of 2020! Expectations were quite high and although we missed White-faced Storm Petrel we did get a few interesting species, beyond Cory's shearwater and Bulwer's Petrel which were present everyday:

4th of August 2020 - wind blowing from the northeast up to 15 knots and waves from same direction up to 1 meter
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - on the way to the chumming position
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
5 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta

July was the re-opening of Madeira airport and many other commercial activities though the number of tourists arriving to the island is still quite scarce... But some bird species still came to spend a few days in the archipelago before resuming their way:

28th of July 2020 at Caniçal
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

23rd of July 2020 at Caniçal
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

20th of July 2020 at Porto Moniz
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos