Vagrant birds boom in Madeira

Eastern winds and heat brought several vagrants to Madeira Island. During last few days (from the 25th to the 28th of April) very warm temperatures and strong winds from North Africa were felt in Madeira. On Madeira Wind Birds tours several vagrant birds and other interesting sightings were recorded:

Thursday 24th April 2008
In Ponta do Pargo
Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava iberiae

Observations by Hugo Romano and Madeira Wind Birds customers (UK)

Saturday 26th April 2008
In Caniçal
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
Bee-eater Merops apiaster
House Martins Delichon urbica
Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Observations by Hugo Romano and Madeira Wind Birds customers (UK)

At sea, in Funchal
House Martin - near the coast
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Several Cory Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea
7 Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii

Observations by Catarina Fagundes and Madeira Wind Birds customers (UK)

Sunday 27th April 2008
In Pico do Areeiro
Barn Swallows
House Martins
Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica

Observations by Hugo Romano and Madeira Wind Birds customers (UK)

In Seixal
Melanistic Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
7 Trocaz Pigeons Columba trocaz
Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Western Bonelli's warbler Phylloscopus bonelli - Not a certain record as it was only seen at a glance...

Observations by Hadoram Shirihai (Israel), Catarina Fagundes and Tania Pestana (Madeira Wind Birds)

On Saturday and Sunday Martins and Swallow were recorded everywhere in the Island.

More news and pictures will come with the trip report of Hadoram Shirihai on his trip to photograph Zino's Petrel with Madeira Wind Birds... Pay attention!