The winds have been blowing quite strongly from the north, accelerating over the island's tips. This may interfere with bird flights, and it has certainly been affecting local air traffic. Let's see what March will bring to Madeira in terms of vagrant bird species:
1st of March 2026 at Santa Catarina Park
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
At Machico
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
This year, the weather has been quite extreme, with several storms affecting mainland Portugal and the Azores. Fortunately, Madeira has remained relatively safe from these conditions. We are hopeful that migratory birds will take note and find refuge here during their journey.
28th of February 2026 at Funchal harbour - observed by Andrew (UK)
Mew gull Larus canus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
3 Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
27th of February 2026 at Tanque, Porto Santo - reported by Andrew (UK)
3 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
At Santa Catarina Park - photographed by Axel (UK)
Segde Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
26th of February 2026 by the airport
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
22nd of February 2026 at Ponta São Lourenço
> 50 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Sand Martin Riparia riparia
New year, same old strategies... It is disheartening to see continued focus on new construction, increasing fireworks shows and, consequently the destruction of natural habitats. 2026 started with a week of
continuous rain which did not allow much birdwatching, but let's hope for some better conditions on the following weeks.
31st of January 2026 at Lugar de Baixo - report by Michel (NED)
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
At Sao Vicente
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
At Ribeira de Janela
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
30th of January 2026 at Funchal harbour - listed by Nicholas (UK)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Sanderling Calidris alba
At Machico river
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
13 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
29th of January 2026 at Praia Formosa, Funchal - observed by Nicholas (UK)
3 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
28th of January 2026 at Caniçal harbour
2 Sanderling Calidris alba
13 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Machico rivermouth
2 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - male
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
11 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Santo da Serra reservoir
2 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
At Funchal harbour - sightings by Nicholas (UK)
2 Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
Let's see which bird species are coming to spend Chritmas and New Year in Madeira, despite the amount of fireworks all over the island at this time of year...
31st of December 2025 off Porto Moniz - sightings by Michel (NED)
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
29th of December 2025 off Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
30 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
28th of December 2025 at Caniçal
2 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
2 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Although it is already November, air temperatures are still above 22ºC in Madeira and winds are mostly blowing from the south quadrant which is not so common... Let's see if there uncommon weather conditions will blow some uncommon birds into this small archipelago:
25th of November 2025 at Caniçal
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
17th of November 2025 at Camacha
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
9th of November 2025 at São Vicente - sightings by Michel (NED)
2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca - male
at Machico
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
8th of November 2025 at Ribeira Brava
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Off Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
11 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus
October brough the autumn weather and maybe with it can also blow some vagrant birds out of their migratory course and into this piece of land (still) called Madeira (which means "wood" in Portuguese). It's a shame to see so much construction and destruction of green areas. One day, they might have to change the name of the island from "Wood" to "Concrete"!
31st of October 2025 off Porto Moniz - reported by Michel (NED)
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster - an adult flying west
9 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus
30th of October 2025 at Caniçal
3 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
At Funchal
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
19th of October 2025 at Machico
2 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
2 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres