June is a transition month between Spring and Summer and usually Madeira is a stop over for some birds in migration...

28th of June 2022 off Machico
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus

23rd of June 2022 at Caniçal - reported by Simon (UK)
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

12th of June 2022 at Funchal - sightings by a group of birdwatchers (UK)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

This pelagic started with strong westerly wind and rough ocean and ended up with very light wind but still quite choppy... As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus were watched everyday.

3rd June 2022 - 9 knots NNE wind dropping down to 1 knot by 7:00pm. 0.6 meter waves from same direction
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Wilson's storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Despiste the good winds which normally brings us some interesting sightings during this migration period, this pelagic was a bit quiet for migratory seabirds... But we did see the breeding seabirds well! Of course, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were present everyday.

25th May 2022 - 16 knots of Northeast wind and NE waves up to 1.5 meters
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Fea’s petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
2 Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro
Comic Tern - Sterna hirundo/paradisaea

After hibernating for 6 months 'Oceanodroma' rhib is running Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expeditions again and with a great start! 7 Zino's petrel, 7 Madeiran storm petrel and 7 Barolo's shearwaters where watched properly on the 3 consecutive afternoons! As we feared, it was a bit early for Fea's/Desertas' Petrels as this is the time they start to arrive from their migration... Good number of cetacean species as well!
Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis, Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii we our company everyday!

19th May 2022 - West wind between 0 and 4 knots, 0.5 meters swell
Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus
7 Barolo’s shearwater Puffinus baroli
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo

After a couple of difficult years we had some days off so the bird news about Madeira where a little slow for a while... March, despeite being a Spring month brought some strong winds and some very low temperatures for Madeira.

27th of March 2022 at Funchal - observed by Roger (UK)
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus - in the gardens of the English Church
Great Skua Stercorarius skua - while seawatching from Lido area

Watched by Charles (UK)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - flying west over Funchal

25th of March 2022 at Funchal harbour - reported by Charles (UK)
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

23rd of March 2022 at Machico
14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

With summer temperatures during this winter month let's see which species will visit the island... Happy Holidays to all!!

31st of December 2021 at Funchal
5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta - flying at night, disoriented by the fireworks

30th of December 2021 at Machico
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

29th of December 2021 at Rabaçal - photographed by Stephen (GER)
Black Stork Ciconia nigra

23rd of December 2021 at Caniçal - reported by Stephen (GER)
2 Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - both dead at the beach