Despite the strong winds and big waves that hit Azores and the North of mainland Portugal in the first days of February, Madeira started this Carnival month with sunshine, light wind and much smaller waves although on the 2nd week a lot of rain poured down. Manx shearwater and Cory's shearwater are 2 seabird species that are back to our waters and can be seen on a Bird, dolphin & whale watching trip! So far, the vagrant bird species in this archipelago are very much the same that landed here last December:

28th February 2017 at Faial - reported by Tim Drew (UK)
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

27th February 2017 at Porto Santo - observed by Tim Drew (UK)
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - light phase
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - 1 juv at sea

25th February 2017 at Porto Moniz
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

At Ponta do Pargo
3 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

First of all, Happy New Year for all of you! We hope you have a joyful 2017 with plenty of bird observations and great unique records! Here is the list of birds that have visited Madeira on this first month of 2017:

25th January 2017 at São Vicente
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

At Lugar de Baixo
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

24th January 2017 at Caniçal
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

At Machico
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
American Wigeon Anas americana
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

It seems November will be a month for more interesting visitant birds to Madeira...at least judging from the first week records...

20th November 2016 at Palheiro Gardens, Funchal - observation by Julian & Jill Aburrow
2 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

12th November 2016 at São Vicente
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Ponta do Pargo
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
13 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe

At Lugar de Baixo
2 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
2 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
>2 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
3 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

At Ribeira Brava
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

At Machico - recorded by Michel de Lange (NED)
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

It seems that migration this year has been a little delayed but this is October already so we sure hope to get some interesting bird species accidentally stopping by Madeira...

31st October 2016 at Caniçal
5 Red Knot Calidris canutus
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
15 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ponta de São Lourenço
16 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
20 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus

At Ponta da Cruz - reported by Steve Bright (UK)
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

At Curral das Freiras - sighting reported by Christine Thompson (UK)
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

September is normally a good month for vagrant birds as migration is going on... It has been a bit quiet regarding seabirds' migration, as seawatching from Porto Moniz hasn't been much motivating, but maybe later in the month it may get more interesting...

30th September 2016 at Chão da Ribeira, Seixal
2 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

At Ribeira Brava
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Ribeira da Janela - sighting by Jorick & Marije West (NED)
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

After the previous pelagic expedition, in early August, we foreseen a greater activity of migrating seabirds for this final pelagic of 2016 though it turned out a bit quiet, specially for Max Shearwaters and for Skuas... Well, that is birdwatching!! But what it really counts is that we (Wind Birds & customers) managed to see and ID Zino's Petrel in all 2016 pelagics! So this deep sea expedition was another successful one and a great ending for the 2016 deep sea pelagics' season!
Now its time to book your place on a Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition for 2017!