This time was a bit too calm for seabirds which should have been good for cetaceans but those decided to go on holidays somewhere else! The first 2 days were really 'too' calm while on the 3rd day we got some good wind but not enough to attract the Madeiran storm petrel or the now rare White-faced Storm petrel... Anyway, it was a relaxing trip with very good views of Pterodromas and our usual ocean companions: Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii.
21st June 2025 - WSW wind between 4 and 7 knots then shifting to NE wind up to 11 knots. Westerly swell 1.5 meters and then 0.5 meter wind waves from NE
Pomarine or Arctic Skua pursuing a Pterodroma sp.
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Scopoli's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
2 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus - a brief view by some of the participants
Common tern Sterna hirundo
3 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - all on the way back
June might still be good for some late migratory birds which got off their course to stop by Madeira, so let's see which species we will get this year!
20th of June 2025 at Caniçal
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
18th of June 2025 at Caniçal
6 to 8 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba - Occasional vagrant but usually just a single bird...
4 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
We've got perfect ocean and wind conditions and great views of the seabirds species that passed on the chum slick but we missed the now rare White-faced storm petrel and the always elusive Barolo's shearwater. As usual, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were the commonest birds in all 3 afternoons. Several flying fish were watched in all trips.
14th June 2025 - Northern wind up to 8 knots and 1.5 to 2 meters NW swell
>25 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - 2 on the way up; 3 on the chum slick and all others on the return
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
3 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 1 on the way back
3 Common tern Sterna hirundo - 2 on the way back
Pterodroma sp. on the return
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus - on the way back
3 Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni
The weather and sea conditions were perfect for 3 comfortable trips and for the seabirds to fly around and smell the chum but it seems that it was not enough for the local storm petrels to show up... Despite it, we have great views of the Pterodromas and the 'foreign' storm-petrels! Again, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were our companions throughtout the afternoons.
6th June 2025 - N wind between 9 and 12 knots. NE waves up to 0.7 meter
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 2 on the way up
2 Pterodroma sp. - both flew too distant to ID
At least 4 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus - 2 at the same time on the chum
5 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus - by the evening there were 3 at the same time on the slick
3 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Barolo’s Shearwater Puffinus baroli - flew across the end of the slick in a distance
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
It was a tough pelagic as the ocean swell and waves made it quite choppy and the wind was just about right for the seabirds which is not so comfortable on us... But we had excellent views of the petrels and storm petrels and even a Barolo's shearwater came to the chum and quite close to the boat! As usual, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were watched everyday while Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus only in the first 2 days.
28th May 2025 - NE wind between 12 and 14 knots with gusts of 17- 20 knots. 1.5 meter waves from NE
2 Pterodroma sp. - on the way up
2 Barolo’s Shearwater Puffinus baroli - 1 on the way up and 1 that came to the slick and close to the boat
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
2 Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Our Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expeditions have gotten off to a great start! Despite some challenging ocean conditions, we've successfully observed all of our target seabird species.
As expected, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii have been daily sightings. Additionally, the Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus has also been a consistent presence this time of year.
23rd May 2025 - 1.5 meter oceanic swell from NE, 1 meter wave from NNE and wind between 8 and 12 knots from NE
Barolo’s Shearwater Puffinus baroli - on the way up but very difficult observation with the bird flying away and disappearing in the waves but by the size and behaviour it must have been P. baroli
8 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
Lesser Black-backed gull Larus fuscus
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
5 European Storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira at same time on the slick for about 3 min and then a 3rd one joined for at least 5 more minutes. At least 2 of them kept flying around the chum for quite a while
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus