Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition 2011 - August 8, 9 & 10th

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. This was an historical pelagic expedition as on its 1st day a 1st record for the Western Palearctic was recorded - Black-bellied Storm-petrel Fregetta tropica!

8th August 2011
Cory's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea
Bulwer's petrels Bulweria bulwerii
2 Zino's/Fea's Petrels Pterodroma sp on the way to the position
1 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus on the way
2 Grey phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius flying together
1 Wilson Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
1 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis
1 European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
1 Black-bellied Storm-petrel Fregetta tropica - 1st record for the Western Palearctic

Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus on the way to
Shark - Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus on the chum

9th August 2011
Bulwer's petrels
Cory's shearwaters
5 Fea's petrels Pterodroma feae/deserta on the way
3 Fea's petrels on the chum
At least 9 Madeira Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro on the chum at the same time
1 Wilson Storm-petrel
2 White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina on chum
2 Great shearwater - 1 flying far and another close to the boat on the return

10th August 2011
2 Grey Phalaropes on the way
Cory's sheawaters
Bulwer's petrels
3 Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea
1 White-faced Storm-petrel
2 Madeiran Storm-petrels