March equals Spring in Madeira archipelago and the right wind direction might push some warblers out of their migratory course and bring them to visit Madeira! So let's watch which vagrant birds might end up here...
26th of March 2023 at Caniçal
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
3 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
20th of March 2023 at Funchal harbour - recorded by Steffen (GER)
2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
16th of March 2023 at Santa Cruz
15 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
15th of March 2023 at Caniçal
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
4 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
In February some of the breeding species start to display, as Spectacled Warbler and Atlantic Canary. As for passing birds, we already had a few records of Common House Martin and Barn Swallow in January, so we guess Spring is trying to get announced... Also, this month Wind Birds, as a birdwatching company, turns 19! So let's celebrate it with some interesting bird sightings!
28th of February 2023 at Ponta do Pargo -observed by Michel (NED)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
26th of February 2023 at Ponta do Pargo - reported by Michel (NED)
3 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
25th of February 2023 at Santo da Serra
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
At Caniçal
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
24th of February 2023 at Ponta do Sol - observation by Arto (FIN)
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - 2cy
22nd of February 2023 at Santo da Serra
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
At Machico
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Funchal
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Happy New Year! Rain and wind can divert some birds out of their migratory route into these little pieces of land named Madeira islands. Let's see what 2023 has reserved for us in terms of vagrant bird species:
29th of January 2023 at Funchal harbour - reported by Roger (UK)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
3 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - all 2nd cycle birds
27th of January 2023 at downtown Funchal
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
At Baía d'Abra
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
26th of January 2023 off Lido, Funchal - seawatched by Roger (UK)
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus
5 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - four 2nd cycle and one 3rd cycle
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
25th of January 2023 at Madeira Archipelago - during the last week at least 57 Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica were found, most of them dead. According to Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 25th January 2023, 27 birds were found in Madeira (mostly on the North coast) from which only 2 were still breathing and 30 birds were collected in Porto Santo island, from which 4 were still alive. In mainland Portugal several birds have also been collected and were tested for avian flu but were negative, so the general thought is that these birds were most probably caught in a storm associated with the movement of a glacier front into western Europe and now have difficulty finding food...
At Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Socorridos Valley - sighting by Roger (UK)
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
23rd of January 2023 at Porto da Cruz - found by Lourenço (POR)
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - dead bird at the beach
December is usually a good time of year for some visiting ducks as the rains fill up some water reservoirs... Let's see if this is the case this year... The rain is falling well so we now just need the wildfowl!
31st of December 2022 at São Vicente - reported by Slawomir (POL)
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
30th of December 2022 at Santo da Serra golf course
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
At Machico
10 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
29th of December 2022 at Funchal harbour
>20 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - had a lime green ring with D7VX inscription
28th of December 2022 at Fanal reported by Michel (NED)
2 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
At Paul do Mar - photographed by Slawomir (POL)
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
27th of December 2022 at Caniçal
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Deep in Autumn, November tends to be a good month for some migratory birds to stop by Madeira, normally waders and ducks... Let's see which bird species will pass by Madeira this year!
30th of November 2022 at Deserta Grande - reported by Andy & Kelly (UK)
Snow bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
29th of November 2022 at Caniçal
2 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
At Machico
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
17th of November 2022 at Câmara de Lobos - observed by Stephen (UK)
Sanderling Calidris alba
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
September is starting with some easterly winds which during migration are good to blow some birds out of their course, into Madeira...
28th of September 2022 at Machico
Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
22 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
At Caniçal
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
22nd of September 2022 at Funchal harbour - reported by Neil (UK)
2 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres