Madeira Birdwatching Trip Reports

Madeira Birdwatching trip reports is where we keep the records of the vagrant birds observed in Madeira each month and also the seabirds observed during the Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expeditions.

Madeira is out of the bird migration routes so most of the birds we get in Madeira archipelago are blown off course or lost with only a few species being common visitant birds to this region.

You, as a birdwatcher visiting Madeira, are welcome to send us your observations so you can help us keep these sightings page updated! If you are not sure whether the species is rare to Madeira, please check the species page on Madeira Birds List.

Trip Report
February 2024 - bird records for Madeira
January 2024 - Birding madeira news
Birdwatching around Madeira - November 2023
Birding in Madeira, October 2023
September 2023 - birdwatching news for Madeira
Migration pelagic expedition 21-23 August 2023
Undiversified pelagic expedition, 26th-28th July 2023
So many Bulwer's, so little other petrels! 20-22 July 2023
Hat trick pelagic expedition,15th-17th July 2023
Pterodromas pelagic pageant - 9th to 11th July 2023
4th-6th July 2023 - Troubled pelagic but great for Pterodromas!
St. Peter's pelagic feast - 28th-30th June 2023
Half a dozen of Zino's Petrels! Successful pelagic expedition 23rd-25th June 2023
Calm but great pelagic expedition, 14th-16th June 2023
Storm Oscar messed up our pelagic plans! 6th-9th Jun 2023
Good start of pelagic's season, 28-30 May 2023
April's 2023 birdwatching records for Madeira
March 2023 birding observations around Madeira
Birding in Madeira, February 2023 - it's been 19 years!
December's 2022 visiting species to Madeira
Birding news for Madeira, November 2022
Birdwatching around Madeira in September 2022
Birding in Madeira, August 2022
Light wind delays migration - pelagic August 13-15 pelagic 2022
Windy pelagic but without storm petrels...3rd-5th August 2022
All in 1 (day) pelagic expedition, 24th-26th July 2022
Harsh seas, great petrels' show, 19th - 21st July 2022
13-15th July 2022 - Unexpectedly good pelagic expedition!
Pelagic 5-7 July 2022. No Oceanodroma species this time...
July 2022 - birdwatching in Madeira
Rough but special pelagic expedition - 26th - 28th June 2022
No stormies pelagic but really nice anyway - 21st-23rd June 2022
Patience is a virtue! Pelagic expedition 16th-18th June 2022
A rich deep sea pelagic expedition, 11-13 June 2022
Got them all! Pelagic 5th-7th June 2022
Birding in Madeira - June 2022
A very choppy but full pelagic expedition, 1st - 3rd June 2022
Quiet pelagic days but we've watch the breeding seabirds well!
Great start for the Zino's Petrel Pelagics season! 17-19 May 2022
Birdwatching in Madeira, March 2022
2021 December birdwatching in Madeira
Birding in Madeira in November, 2021
October 2021, birding records for Madeira
2021, September bird records for Madeira
Another light wind pelagic expedition... August 24-26, 2021
Light wind pelagic... 2021, August 19-21
Seabirds migration started - 2021, August 14-16
Rough ocean but a good show of petrels - 10th-12th August 2021
Cape Verde Shearwater - pelagic expedition August 5th!
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel on the pelagic 29 July 2021
'Had them all' pelagic expedition! 24-26 July 2021
Birding in Madeira - July 2021
Despite the odds it was another great pelagic expedition, 6th - 8th July 2021
1st week July 2021 - Pelagic Expedition with some surprises!
Birdwatching in Madeira, June 2021
First 2021's Zino's Petrel Pelagic - May 26th, 27th and 28th
Birding in Madeira - May 2021
Birding in Madeira - March 2021
January 2021 birding observations for Madeira archipelago
December 2020 bird sightings in Madeira
Birding in Madeira, November 2020
October 2020 - birding in Madeira
Birdwatching in Madeira - September 2020
(No) migration pelagic expedition, August 24-26 2020
Birding in Madeira - August 2020
Another pelagic expedition but not so much for seabirds... 2020, Aug 10-12
Finally the 1st pelagic expedition of 2020! August 2-4
Birdwatching in Madeira, July 2020
Birdwatching after coronavirus confinement- June 2020
No birdwatching in April and May due to coronavirus confinement
Birdwatching in Madeira - March 2020
Birding in Madeira - February, 2020
2020 New Year Birdwatching in Madeira
Birdwatching in Madeira during December 2019
Birding in November, Madeira, 2019
Birding in Madeira in October 2019
Birding observations around Madeira during September 2019
Final deep sea pelagic of 2019 - there's more next year!
Storm-petrels are back! August 6-8 Pelagic Expedition
Birdwatching in August 2019 in Madeira
Birding Pelagic Expedition 31st July - 2nd August 2019
Petrels Pelagic Expedition - 23rd-25th July 2019
Zino's & Fea's Petrels Pelagic Expedition - July 2019
July birding reports for Madeira, 2019
Another great Pterodroma pelagic expedition! - 25th to 27th June 2019
Pterodromas pelagic expedition - 19th to 22nd June 2019
June 2019 birding observations in Madeira
Successful pelagic with all aimed species observed - 28-30 May 2019
Madeira Pelagic Expedition 22nd-24th May - We got them all!
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - first of 2019!
Birding in Madeira, May 2019
Birdwatching in Madeira in April 2019
Birdwatching in Madeira during March 2019
Visitant birds to Madeira in February 2019
2019 New Year's bird species visiting Madeira
Birds visiting Madeira for season holidays - December 2018
Birdwatching in Madeira, November 2018
Madeira, birdwatching in October 2018
September 2018 bird observations in Madeira archipelago
Migrating seabirds pelagic, 23-25 August 2018
Birdwatching in Madeira, August 2018
Madeira deep sea pelagic -1st to 3rd of August 2018
Petrels and Cetaceans pelagic 25-27th July 2018
July 2018 birding observations around Madeira
Great views of Pterodromas on the Pelagic Expedition early July 2018
26th to 28th June 2018 pelagic - calm... but with great observations!
'All in one' Pelagic Expedition - June 2018
Bird visitants to Madeira in June 2018
May 2018 Pelagic - Hard...but we got them all!
Birdwatching in Madeira, May 2018
Spring migration season - April 2018
Birdwatching in Madeira during March 2018
February 2018 bird visitors to Madeira
January 2018 birding observations
Madeira Birdwatching in December 2017
Birding in Madeira, November 2017
Birdwatching news for Madeira, October 2017
Birds visiting Madeira in September 2017
A big pelagic for the Western Palearctic Big Year team
Birdwatching in Madeira in August 2017
Great seabirds' list on 1st to 3rd of August pelagic!
Pelagic birds like windy conditions - 25th to 27th July pelagic expedition
12-14th July 2017 pelagic birds' expedition - rough...but a full plate!
Madeira - birdwatching in July 2017
A quiet but successful Madeira pelagic expedition, 26th-28th June 2017
Seabirds & Cetaceans - great observations from 6th to 8th June 2017
Birdwatching in June 2017, Madeira archipelago
Madeira deep sea pelagic - 24th to 26th of May 2017
Special(ists) Pelagic Expedition, Madeira, May 2017
Birdwatching in May around Madeira, 2017
Birds visiting Madeira in April 2017
Birding in Madeira, March 2017
Birdwatching in Madeira, February 2017
January 2017 - reports for vagrant birds in Madeira
Birdwatching in Madeira, November 2016
Vagrant birds in Madeira during October 2016
September 2016 birding observations for Madeira
Nice ending of a successful 2016 pelagics' season!
Seabirds migration started! Great pelagic expedition, 2-4 August 2016
August 2016 - visitant birds to Madeira
One more successful deep sea pelagic expedition, July 2016
July 2016 visitant birds to Madeira
A record of Pterodromas on 28-30 June pelagic!!!
13th-15th June 2016 pelagic: Great seabirds and cetaceans!
Petrels, Shearwaters & Storm-petrels = very successful pelagic!
Birdwatching in Madeira in June 2016
Storm-petrels pelagic, Madeira, May 2016
Great start for the Madeira Pelagics 2016!
May 2016 - birdwatching sightings in Madeira
April's 2016 visitant birds to Madeira
17th March 2016 - Research Pelagic Trip Report
March 2016 - Winter end and Spring start bird observations
February 2016 - visitant birds' observations to Madeira
Birds spending New Year 2016 at Madeira
Madeira Birdwatching in December 2015
Birding in Madeira in November 2015
Vagrant Bird News for Madeira in October 2015
Birdwatching for vagrant birds in Madeira, September 2015
Porto Moniz Seawatching report - 1st half of September 2015
Madeira Pelagics' 2015 Grand Finale
Seabirds migration pelagic expedition - 24th, 25th & 27th August 2015
Pelagic birdwatching has its bad days as well... 17th to 19th August 2015
Madeira Pelagic Trips, August 4, 5 & 6
Visitant birds to Madeira in August 2015
Pelagic trip off Madeira 28th to 30th July 2015 - list fulfilled!
Birds visiting Madeira in July 2015
Great cetaceans' pelagic trip in Madeira, June 2015
Madeira Petrels & Storm Petrels Pelagic Expedition, 16-18 June 2015
Madeira Pelagic Expedition marked by light wind, June 2015
June 2015 vagrant birds' sightings in Madeira
Seabirds observed on the Zino's Pelagic Expedition, 2nd to 4th of June 2015
May 2015 Madeira Pelagic Expedition - we saw them all!
May 2015 - visitant birds to Madeira
First amazing Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition of 2015
April 2015 birdwatching reports for Madeira
March 2015 birding report for Madeira
Madeira Birdwatching in February 2015
January 2015 Birdwatching reports for Madeira
Birdwatching records for Madeira during December 2014
November 2014 Birdwatching Report
Madeira birdwatching - sightings report, October 2014
September 2014 birdwatching news for Madeira
Birdwatching in August 2014 in Madeira
Pelagic birdwatching expedition in Madeira - 12th to 14th August 2014
Madeira Pelagic Birding - 5th-7th August 2014
Madeira Pelagic Trip - 29th to 31st July 2014
July 2014 vagrant bird species while birding in Madeira
Madeira deep sea pelagic Expedition - June, 24th to 26th
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - 17th to 19th June 2014
June 2014 birdwatching news for Madeira
May 2014 Zino's Pelagic Expedition Report
May reports for vagrant birds in Madeira
April's 2014 birding reports for Madeira
March 2014 birding records for Madeira
February 2014 birding records for Madeira
January 2014 birding records for Madeira
December 2013 birdwatching records for Madeira
November 2013 birdwatching reports for Madeira
Wilson's Snipe - first record for Madeira archipelago!
October 2013 birding news for Madeira
September 2013 birdwatching news for Madeira
Madeira Pelagic Expedition for Petrels - August 26th, 27th & 28th
Deep Sea Pelagic Expedition - August 9th, 10th & 12th
August 2013 vagrant birds for Madeira
Madeira Pelagic Expedition - 30th July to 2nd August 2013
July birdwatching news for Madeira
16th, 17th & 18th July 2013 - a marine mammals pelagic!
Pterodromas pelagic trip - 25th, 26th & 27th June 2013
Vagrant bird species observed in June 2013
2nd record of Long-tailed Duck to Madeira archipelago
Zino's Petrel Pelagic 2013 - May 28th, 29th & 30th
Mark Coller's seawatching report from 6th to 13th May 2013
Madeira birdwatching news for May 2013
April 2013 birding news for Madeira
Frank Zino's bird report of Porto Santo on 13th April 2013
March 2013 birding news for Madeira
Madeira Birdwatching news for February 2013
January 2013 birdwatching news for Madeira
December 2012 bird news for Madeira
November 2012 birdwatching news for Madeira
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - August 28, 29, 30
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - August 22, 23, 24
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - August 10, 11, 13
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - August 6, 7, 8
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - August 1, 2, 3
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - July 23, 24, 25
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - July 10, 11, 12
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - June 12, 13, 14
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - June 4, 5, 6
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - May 28, 29, 30
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2012 - May 22, 23, 24
February 2012 bird observations
1st record of American Coot for Madeira
January 2012 bird observations in Madeira
December 2011 bird observations in Madeira
November 2011 bird records in Madeira
October 2011 bird records in Madeira
September observations in Madeira & Porto Santo Islands
Zino's Petrel & Migration deep sea pelagic trip
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2011 - August 8, 9 & 10th
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2011 - August 4, 5 & 6th
Black Bellied Storm-petrel: Madeira 1st Record
Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Funchal Marina
5th Zino's Petrel Pelagic 2011
4th Zino's Petrel Pelagic 2011
3rd Zino's Petrel Pelagic 2011: 1st record South Polar Skua
2nd Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2011
2nd record of European Honey Buzzard for Madeira archipelago
Birding in Madeira by Graham Ekins
Zino's Petrels are back to Madeira!!!
1st record for Yellow-crowned Wagtail
1st record for Corn Bunting in Madeira
Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 1st for Madeira, 3rd for Western Palearctic
Porto Santo - January 2011 observations
Birds spending Christmas in Madeira Island
Scopoli Shearwater fly around Madeira Island
Ponta do Pargo still get some birds
Gadwalls and Reed Bunting in Madeira
Birdwatching Festival in Machico river
Ringing trip to Selvagens Islands
Another first record for Madeira - Pacific Golden Plover
2nd record for Solitary Sandpiper in Madeira
Migration pelagic 30th & 31st August and 1st & 3rd September 2010
Solitary Sandpiper at Lugar de Baixo
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Madeira - 1st record
Porto Moniz Seawatching 2010
Another great pelagic trip in Madeira seas - August 2010
Brown Booby seen twice on pelagic trips off Madeira
Another successful pelagic expedition
Swinhoe's Storm Petrel off Madeira
3rd Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - trip report
2nd Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - trip report
Mark Coller's special bird records in Madeira
The Ultimate Western Palearctic Pelagic Expedition: Madeira, May 2010 by Hadoram Shirihai
1st Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition - trip report
The Ultimate Western Palearctic Pelagic Expedition: Madeira, May 2010
Purple Sandpiper in Madeira - less than 5 records
April 9th - Red-rumped Swallow and European Bee-eater
16th March - Peregrine falcon at Porto Moniz
Birds & Dolphins watching trip - 10th March 2010
The vagrant's season has started
Sightings on Madeira holiday 15-22nd February 2010 by Allen Pocock
Sad news for Madeira Birdwatching
Cory's Shearwaters are back to Madeira for 2010!
Early February 2010 bird news
Bird observations at Funchal bay
Full-day birdwatching observations
Great Northern Loon again in Madeira
First birdwatching tour in Madeira in 2010
Vagrant birds in Madeira - December 2009
American ducks in Madeira Island
Wood Duck - another first record for Madeira by Wind Birds
Porto Santo trip report by Madeira Wind Birds - October 2009
Tired dotterels in Madeira
Wintering birds already in Madeira
Barbary Falcon in Porto Santo Island - 3rd record for Madeira
Porto Moniz Seawatching 2009
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) - 1st record for Madeira
Porto Santo latest sightings - August 2009
Desertas sea trip sightings
Bird records off Porto Moniz on the 24th August 2009 by Max Berlijn
Eleonora's Falcon - 3rd record for Madeira
Turnstones, Coots and Black-headed gulls already returning to Madeira
The best-ever pelagic in the Western Palearctic by Hadoram Shirihai 2009
Red-billed Tropicbird in Madeira
The first-ever unequivocal and photographically documented at-sea records of the Zino's Petrel
Summer visitants in Madeira
Sightings on a birdwatching full-day tour in Madeira
First Record of Breeding Coots in Madeira
2nd record of Wilson's Phalarope to Madeira
April's vagrants to Madeira
Andrew Moon birdwatching trip report
9 days at sea around Madeira Island with Hadoram Shirihai
Birds for Easter in Madeira
Birdwatching March news for Madeira
Vagrant bird reports for Madeira
Spanish Imperial Eagle - male shot in Guadiana Valley
Madeira Carnival and February 2009 sightings
Cory's Shearwaters are already in Madeira sea
Great Northern Loon observed in Madeira
Larks in Madeira
Vagrants in Funchal Harbor
Mini boom of Iceland and Glaucus Gulls in Portugal
Vagrant birds in Madeira
Lisbon & Algarve birdwatching trip
More vagrant birds to Madeira
Teals in Madeira Island
Henrik Böhmer & Sigrid Ilsoe birdwatching trip report
Gulls in Funchal
Madeira birdwacthing trip report by John Carter (UK)
Ducks season in Lugar de Baixo
American Wigeon in Madeira
Osprey in Madeira
Tom McCanna trip report and experience with a Gyr Falcon in Madeira
Gyr Falcon in Madeira - an escapee from somewhere
Magnificent Frigatebird - 1st record for Madeira Islands
Blue-winged Teal - 1st record for Madeira
Janne & Hanna Aalto (FIN) Madeira trip report - September 2008
More vagrant news in Madeira
Hadoram Shirihai report of Madeira Photo Expedition for Zino's Petrel at sea
Some sightings of bird migration
Madeira petrel photo expedition - the desire & challenge to experience the enigmatic Zino's Petrel at sea, by Hadoram Shirihai
Another surprise season starting...
Expert birdwatchers decided it is a Montagu's harrier
Montagu's or Pallid Harrier?
July 2008 bird observations
Interesting migrants in Madeira
Whales & dolphins observed in Madeira south coast
Again, a Peregrine Falcon in Madeira
2 Red-footed Falcons in Madeira
New! - Regular reports of whales and dolphins sightings
Madeira trip report by Peter Ransome (UK)
Porto Santo trip report by Riccardo Del Togno (ITA)
More vagrant bird news in Madeira Island
Full days (literally) through Madeira Nature!
Erik & Marianne Mølgaard Madeira trip report
Vagrant birds boom in Madeira
New waders visiting Madeira Island
Long-legged Buzzard enjoying Madeira Nature
Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling - 1st record for Madeira
Vagrant birds for Easter 2008 in Madeira
The story of Matilde - a Madeiran-Storm Petrel
Wintering Roseate Terns in Funchal
Tufted duck - 2nd record for Madeira
Full Day Nature Tour in Madeira on the 10th of March 2007
Birdwatching and Seawatching Report, July 2006
Jon & Gill Epstein (UK) - Full-day birdwatching
17th March 2005
18th September 2004