An amazing set of 3 afternoon pelagic trips varying a lot with position and ocean conditions! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were present everyday, though the Cory's had a nice display on the 1st day as we passed the tip of the island while on the 2nd evening there were hundreds (if not thousands) of Bulwer's around the chum slick. European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus were also observed everyday; though these are (supposedly) only passing through Madeira during their migration...
12th June 2024 - 10 knots of Northern wind and 2 meter waves from NE
9 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - 3 on the way up
14 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
9 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus - 7 at the same time
3 Common tern Sterna hirundo
8 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
3 Pterodroma sp. - did not get a good view to ID them
3 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Atlantic Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis
Perfect wind and sea conditions on this Zino's Petrel pelagic Expedition allowed us to have very good views of the petrels breeding in Madeira and a good list of storm-petrels! As normal, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were a constant, everyday.
1st June 2024 - 8 to 10 knots of NNW wind and NE waves up to 1.7 meters
2 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 Common tern Sterna hirundo
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
3 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus - 2 at the same time
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
4 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
1 possible Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - came together with the 2nd Zino’s but quickly flew away from the chum slick
June should be a summer month though there is still some late migratory birds being blown off their course into Madeira islands. Let see what June 2024 will bring us...
30th of June 2024 at Caniçal
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
2 Grey Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Sanderling Calidris alba
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
28th of June 2024 at Caniçal
2 Grey Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Sanderling Calidris alba
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
24th of June 2024 at Ribeira Brava - observed by Barry (UK)
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Another successful pelagic expedition with the perfect wind conditions but some choppy sea! As always, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the most common species watched everyday.
29th May 2024 - Leaving Machico the wind was blowing strong, around 17 knots but as we went offshore it dropped down, so at the chumming position there were 8 to 10 knots of North wind while the waves came from Northeast up to 1.8 meters
3 Pterodroma sp. - on the way up, too far to ID them, though the closest one was probably Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
4 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
7 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
15+ Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta
A rough start for our 1st Zino's Petrel pelagic Expeditions of 2024 with strong wind and quite choppy sea but we had amazing views and number of Zino's Petrels! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were the commonest species observed everyday.
11th May 2024 - The wind was Northeast blowing around 18 knots as we left the marina but as we went offshore to the chumming position it dropped down between 9 and 13 knots. The ocean was quite choppy with 2 meter waves from NNE direction
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
6 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 4 at the same time flying in pairs: 2 by the beginning of the slick and 2 by the end of it. 1 was on the way back.
Common tern Sterna hirundo
8 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
May tends to be a very good month for migratory birds to be blown off their migratory course into this small peace of land that is Madeira. Let see which species may be visiting us this May!
30th of May 2024 at Ponta São Lourenço
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
26th of May 2024 at Machico - reported by Alfred (SWI)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
24th of May 2024 at Calheta - observed by Simon (UK)
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
11th of May 2024 off Porto Moniz - sighting by Michel (NED)
2 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - flying towards Porto Santo