First, our deepest sympathy to the loss of lives and homes in the south of Spain due to the extreme weather events. It is heartbreaking to watch the consequences of climate change!
Considering the rough weather events through the Western Palearctic in the 1st days of November and the ones that are still forming in the Atlantic ocean, one might expect some different bird species to be blown into Madeira but it is really scary to think if rainfall like that hits Madeira this winter, after last August fires which burnt a huge part of the central mountainous massif...
19th of November 2024 at Caniçal
14 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Reported by Ian (UK)
At Baía d'Abra
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
At Santana
Black Kite Milvus migrans
18th of November 2024 off Porto Moniz observed by Michel (NED)
Great White Egret Ardea alba - flying eastwards
15th of November 2024 off Porto Moniz reported by Michel (NED)
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - flying east
13th of November 2024 at Caniçal
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
16 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
October should be an autumn month but temperatures in Madeira are still like summer... Migration should be on its way, so let's see which bird species will visit Madeira archipelago this month.
24th of October 2024 at Caniçal
5 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
19th of October 2024 at São Vicente - observed by Hannu (FIN)
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
18th of October 2024 at Lugar de Baixo
Little Crake Porzana parva - photographed by Hannu (FIN) - less than 5 records in the last 50 years!
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Although Madeira is not so attractive as it once was, due to fires, overbuilding and overcrowding, it might still work as a lifeline for some of the vagrant bird species that lost their way during migration...
27th of September 2024 at Faial
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
24th of September 2024 at Caniçal
3 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
3 Sanderling Calidris alba
14 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
15th of September 2024 off Porto Moniz - seawatching record by Michel (NED)
15 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus - flying west
13th of September 2024 off Machico
2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Usually in August starts migration and depending on wind and weather conditions sometimes Madeira gets a few vagrant birds which were diverted from their migration course... Some seabirds species do pass close to Madeira coasts so one can expect to watch some Great shearwaters, Manx shearwaters and Skuas.
30th of August 2024 off Porto Moniz - seawatched by Michel (NED)
2116 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis
From the 14th to the 24th of August 2024 at Madeira central mountainous massif
Madeira has suffered forest fires for 10 days, burning at least 5 thousand hectares (50 million square meters) on the highest mountains and down some valleys in the centre of the island. Huge loss of habitat for many species of fauna and flora! We believe one of most affected species by these fires was (again) the threaten seabird Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira but it is still too early to know exactly how much it was loss from this endemic species.
20th of August 2024 at Caniçal harbour
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Sanderling Calidris alba
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
8th of August 2024 at Cabo Girão - photographed by Paul (UK)
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
Although the wind conditions were quite good it seemed the bird species changed the areas where they usually are around... On the first 2 days we could not watch a proper Zino's Petrel with some light but enough wind on the North side of the island and on the 3rd day, with quite strong wind we could not find storm petrels but had a very displayable Zino's Petrel instead! If it weren't the good numbers of Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis it would have been a bit boring!
2nd August 2024 - NNE wind between 15 and 18 knots. 1.5 meter waves from the east
8 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 4 on the way up
5 Pterodroma sp. - 3 on the way up
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Short finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus
Fortunately the wind, ocean and general conditions improved and this pelagic was another successful one with Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis watched everyday and most of the other breeding seabirds also being attracted to the chum!
27th July 2024 - 2 to 5 knots of west wind which after 1 hour shifted to NE between 8 and 10 knots. Northeast waves up to 1 meter
3 Desertas/Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 1 on the way up
Pterodroma sp. - 1 on the way up
6 Common tern Sterna hirundo
White-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca