August is that time of year when Madeira starts to get some visiting bird species which were blown out of their migration route... So let's see what this hot weather will bring us:

28th of August 2021 at Caniçal
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

At Machico - reported by Wayne (UK)
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Little Stint Calidris minuta

20th of August 2021 at Machico
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Another great pelagic with good observations and a second confirmed record of a Cape Verde shearwater for Madeira archipelago! Although White-faced Storm Petrel was observed when we were not expecting it at this time of the year, Madeiran Storm Petrel did not show in any of the 3 days, for the 1st time this year! As usual, Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were a constant everyday.

5th of August 2021 - North wind up to 14 knots and NE waves up to 0.7 meters
3 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - all on the way up
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - also on the ride to the chum
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii - Second for Madeira archipelago!
White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca

What a great 1st day of pelagic expedition with Pterodromas visiting the chum quite early and finishing with an observation of Swinhoe's Storm-petrel! The next days were quite rough though the show of seabirds continued with many Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis around.

29th of July 2021 - NE wind up to 8 knots swell from North up to 1.7 meters and waves from NE up to 0.8 meters which made the drift quite choppy!
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
2 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis

Atlantic Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis
Short-finned Pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Shortfin Mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus

A great pelagic with all the aimed bird species well observed! Even White-faced Storm Petrel appeared and stood quite a while feeding on the chum! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii were present every day.

24th of July 2021 - North wind up to 7 knots, NNW swell up to 1 meter and north waves up to 0.5 meters
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca
Common Tern Sterna hirundo- juvenile
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
2 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Common Bottlenose Dolphins Tursiops truncatus

Although most of our time has been spent on pelagic expeditions, July is not the best month for vagrant birds as it is a summer month when bird species are breeding on their colonies. Though there are always some visiting birds around...

25th of July 2021 at Caniçal
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

15th of July 2021 at Ponta São Lourenço
5 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

14th of July 2021 at Faial
3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

The forecasts were for very light wind but it ended up with enough breeze for the seabirds to smell the chum and come and check it! Thousands of Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii and hundreds of Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were watched through the 3 consecutive afternoons.

6th of July 2021 - Northeast wind up to 6 knots and 1 meter swell from same direction
6 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 2 on the way
5 Pterodroma sp. - 2 on the way to the chumming position
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta
Common Bottlenose Dolphins Tursiops truncatus
Shortfin Macko Shark Isurus oxyrinchus