It's April and bird migration is starting to move northwards! Let's see which species the winds will blow into Madeira, as we are out of migration routes...

26th of April 2018 at São Vicente
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Funchal - Observed by Sinclair Manson (UK)
Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops

24th of April 2018 at Funchal
Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba - reported by Stephen Moores (UK)

21st of April 2018 at Ribeira Brava
> 15 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
At least 5 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
>10 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica - observed 30 min later by Goujon Gérard (FRA)

At Funchal - observation by Stephen Moores (UK)
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo

The first two weeks of March were very stormy with heavy rain, strong winds from western quadrant and rough sea. Not safe nor comfortable conditions to go out birding... But birds might be caught up on these storms and may be blown off their migration course and 'thrown' into this small piece of land called Madeira.

29th of March 2018 at Lugar de Baixo
2 Little Crake Porzana parva - a pair
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

At Lido area, Funchal - reported by Kerry Sutton-Spence (UK)
8 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

28th of March 2018 at Ponta do Pargo
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus

At Ribeira Brava
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

At Lugar de Baixo - observed & photographed by Mark Murray (UK)
Little Crake Porzana parva - male

February is a transition month, while some passerines start displaying, like Spectacled warbler, other birds are still in their winter schedule. In Madeira February started cooler than normal, with snow up on the highest peaks and also windy and wet. Not the best conditions to go out birding though...

24th of February 2018 at São Vicente
4 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
2 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ribeira Brava
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca - female
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ponta do Pargo
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

22nd of February 2018 at Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Caniçal
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

21st of February 2018 off Porto Moniz
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - adult

Happy New Year for all birders around the world!!! It seems clear that climate is changing and although in some parts of the globe temperatures are really low, in others, like Madeira, January started feeling like a spring month with temperatures as high as 24ºC in the first week. So lets see which bird species will fly away from the cold and land accidentally in this warm archipelago:

31st of January 2018 at Ponta do Pargo
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
>30 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

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

At Ribeira Brava
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca - female

30th of January 2018 at Caniço
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

At Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Northern Pintail Anas acuta - drake
15 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

December started very wet in Madeira which is not so good (and in some places not safe!) to go out birdwatching... Anyway, let's see what Santa will bring us in terms of vagrant bird species:

29th of December 2017 at São Vicente
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca - male
2 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

28th of December 2017 at Machico
Northern Pintail Anas acuta - male
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Funchal Botanical Garden - photographed by Richard Winters (NED)
Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

At Ribeira Brava - observed by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Ponta do Pargo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
14 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

27th of December 2017 over Neves, Funchal - reported by Ole Steinset (NOR)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

At Porto Santo Golf Course - observations by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
3 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
7 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
8 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
4 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
3 Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
11 White wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Tanque pond, Porto Santo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
2 Red Knot Calidris canutus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

At Pico do Castelo, Porto Santo - by Manuel Ribeiro (POR)
2 Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
7 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

End of October was very warm and with light winds which was almost better than summer! But in November, the month before Christmas, temperatures already dropped a little bit and rain is finally showing itself. Despite the weather events on the Atlantic on the last couple of months, so far no real rarities have shown up in Madeira archipelago, so lets keep birding around in search for some interesting vagrant birds.