In mainland Portugal birdwatchers are excited and talking about a mini boom of Larus glaucoides and Larus hyperboreus though this boom is about 7 to 8 records of these species on the coast of Portugal, from Figueira da Foz to Algarve, being 4 (3 adults and 1 first winter) the maximum number of Glaucus Gull individuals observed on the 31st of January 2009 in Peniche. All other records are about 1 single bird.

Winter has been cold and very wet in Madeira, even though still some nice vagrant birds have been recorded in this Island. Gordon Kirk has kindly sent his most interesting observations during his week in Madeira:

Hugo & Catarina, owners and guides of Madeira Wind Birds went on a self-guided birdwatching trip to mainland Portugal in the third week of January 2009 and here are the highlights of this winter trip:

16th January 2009 at Lagoa dos Salgados - Algarve
1 Great Snipe
5 Bald Ibis
House Martins
Crag Martins
Barn Swallows
3 Caspian Terns
Purple Swamphen

3rd January 2009 - another nice full-day birdwatching spent in Madeira Island with Madeira Wind Birds guides! A good starting for 2009 as we observed a total of 28 species from which some migrants or specials as:

Henrik Böhmer & Sigrid Ilsoe, from Denmark have kindly sent us their trip report of a week in Madeira in December 2008. We have selected the information and published only the unusual or vagrant birds sightings: