Madeira Pelagic Expedition 22nd-24th May - We got them all!

Another successful pelagic expedition with all the aimed species observed! Some sightings were better than other but, hey that's birdwatching! The sea conditions started relatively calm but got rougher each day. Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were species present everyday in big numbers.

Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro

22nd of May 2019 - 13 knots of northeast wind and waves up to 0.5 meters when the trip started but increased to 1 meter for the end of the day
1 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - flying far within a group of Cory’s
White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca - the bird kept a distance which did not allow for everyone to have a good view
6 Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
3 Barolo’s shearwater Puffinus baroli - 1 flew quite close to the boat
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Read More

Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - first of 2019!

The first pelagic of the year started with 4 well observed Zino's Petrels though the second day we were surprised by an electronic failure on both the brand new engines which made us return to land just after dropping the first bucket of chum and on a very low speed. Fixed the problem and the 3rd day of pelagic was the best/record day for Barolo's shearwaters! Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were a constant in all three days!

Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira

Read More

Birding in Madeira, May 2019

May is a good month for birdwatching worldwide! In Madeira it started with some rain in the north and east tip of the island but it is normally real Spring month, so let's see which visitant species will visit Madeira during this month.

31st of May 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - reported by Luis, Alexandre e Frederico (POR)
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common Swift Apus apus

At Caniçal - observed by James (UK)
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

30th of May 2019 at Machico - sighting by James (UK)
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

29th of May 2019 at Machico - observed by James (UK)
5 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

28th of May 2019 at Caniçal
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Sanderling Calidris alba
4 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Read More

Birdwatching in Madeira in April 2019

April, in Madeira, started under water and cold temperatures which made us cancel a few tours. Heavy rain is not good to watch birds and it is also not safe to go around the island, under the unstable cliffs which like to release some rocks on these wet days... So let's hope that better days will come and bring us some interesting bird species!

30th of April 2019 at Caniçal
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

At Ribeira Brava
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus

28th of April 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - reported by Marcus (GER)
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator

24th of April 2019 at Ribeira Brava
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Ponta do Pargo
5 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Read More

Birdwatching in Madeira during March 2019

March is the start of Spring and we can already watch some of the native birds displaying! It is also the start of migration northwards, so lets see if we get some eastern winds to blow some vagrant birds to Madeira.

31st of March 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - recorded by Peter
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

29th of March 2019 at Ponta do Pargo
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
5 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

At São Vicente
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

Read More

Visitant birds to Madeira in February 2019

Despite the very cold weather in Europe, Madeira is still above 15ºC as the easterly winds bring some of the warmth of the North of Africa. Lets see which species will follow these winds from North Africa to Madeira archipelago:

28th of February 2019 at Ponta do Pargo
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

At São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ribeira Brava
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

26th of February 2019 at Machico
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Caniçal
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

21st of February 2019 at São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

Read More

Pages