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!

Another great pelagic expedition with the highlight of 2 Barolo's shearwater seen on 2 different days and positions! Skuas and Great shearwaters have been watched which means migration season is starting for the seabirds!

2nd of August 2016 - Northern wind up to 12 knots and waves up to 1.2 meters from NNW
1 probable Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta on the way up
Great shearwater Puffinus gravis on the way up
2 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

August is when we start to get some vagrant birds to Madeira, not only in land but also at sea.
During the second week of August wildfires hit Funchal and burnt a lot of people's homes and part of the Ecological Park of Funchal where Manx shearwaters have one of their nesting colonies. Fortunately Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus have already fledged in July so only next January they will visit their breeding area again. This time Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira were safe as the fires did not get close to their nests and they are still visiting their breeding colony.

30th August 2016 at Caniçal
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

29th August 2016 at Faial
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

28th August 2016 at Cabo Girão
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Another successful Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition run by Wind Birds! We've watched close all the aimed seabirds with the bonus that Great shearwaters are already passing through Madeira.

26th of July 2016 - A northerly light wind up to 8 knots and waves up to 0.5 meters from the same direction
Several Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis
Dozens of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
2 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
2 Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
1 Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 1 on the way back
1 White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
1 Pterodroma sp.
1 Common Tern Sterna hirundo

July is usually a quiet month for vagrant birds though some years some of the wintering birds extend their stay into summer...

27th July 2016 at Machico - reported by Daniel Haubreux and Thomas Cheyrezy (FRA)
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

26th July 2016 at Caniçal
1 Sanderling Calidris alba
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

There was no better way to start this Pelagic Expedition than watching close 11 Zino's Petrel and 24 Fea's Petrel... What an amazing day! Indeed a record of Pterodromas as Wind Birds never had before!