September is normally a good month for vagrant birds and this year, 2011, was not an exception. From American to European vagrants Madeira was visited mainly by sandpipers, though the highlights were the 1st record for Citrine wagtail and the 2nd for American Golden Plover.

Although the wind this time did not blow much on our Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition, we did get several vagrant seabirds species on the chum and passing by. Blainville's beaked whales and Bottlenose dolphins were also some of the species seen and a fantastic sunset surprised us on the 1st day...

It seems seabirds migration has started earlier this year as during our Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition on the 8th, 9th and 10th of August several migrating birds, which we would expect to the end of this month were already observed, such as Great Shearwaters.

One more Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition which has been a success, as all the target species were seen close by. These are the only real pelagic trips that are run in Madeira and the only trips where you get the chance to see all the breeding seabirds in Madeira archipelago and some vagrant birds as well.

Video by Max Berlijn of the Yellow Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Funchal Marina, August 1, 2011.

Update: This birds was last seen August 22nd by Funchal Marina.