December is a low season in Madeira not only for birds as all seabirds have migrated but also for tourism. Although temperatures are better than in the rest of Europe, only the last week of December is a very busy week in this island, for the Christmas and New Year's festivities! So let's see what Santa will bring us in terms of birding sightings:
30th of December 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - sighting by Michel (NED)
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
27th of December 2019 at São Vicente
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Ponta do Pargo
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
6 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
At Ribeira Brava
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
25th of December 2019 at Porto Moniz - observed by Michel (NED)
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus - flying eastwards
23rd of December 2019 at São Vicente
Mew Gull Larus canus
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
2 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
2 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
At Ribeira Brava
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
22nd of December 2019 at Ponta do Pargo - reported by Michel (NED)
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
5 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
5 White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
21st of December 2019 at Porto Moniz - seawatched by Michel (NED)
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis
20th of December 2019 at Funchal harbour - recorded by Manuel (POR)
Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan - Less than 5 records on the last 50 years
4 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
33 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
at Porto Moniz - sighting by Michel (NED)
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
19th of December 2019 at Ribeira da Janela - by Michel (NED)
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
14th of December 2019 at São Vicente - observed by Taylor (UK)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
10th of December 2019 at Doca do Cavacas, Funchal - reported by Jon
Sanderling Calidris alba
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
7th of December 2019 at Faial
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
At Machico
12 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
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