January 2023 birding observations for Madeira archipelago

Happy New Year! Rain and wind can divert some birds out of their migratory route into these little pieces of land named Madeira islands. Let's see what 2023 has reserved for us in terms of vagrant bird species:

29th of January 2023 at Funchal harbour - reported by Roger (UK)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
3 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - all 2nd cycle birds

27th of January 2023 at downtown Funchal
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

At Baía d'Abra
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

26th of January 2023 off Lido, Funchal - seawatched by Roger (UK)
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus
5 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus - four 2nd cycle and one 3rd cycle
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

25th of January 2023 at Madeira Archipelago - during the last week at least 57 Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica were found, most of them dead. According to Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 25th January 2023, 27 birds were found in Madeira (mostly on the North coast) from which only 2 were still breathing and 30 birds were collected in Porto Santo island, from which 4 were still alive. In mainland Portugal several birds have also been collected and were tested for avian flu but were negative, so the general thought is that these birds were most probably caught in a storm associated with the movement of a glacier front into western Europe and now have difficulty finding food...

At Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At Socorridos Valley - sighting by Roger (UK)
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

23rd of January 2023 at Porto da Cruz - found by Lourenço (POR)
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - dead bird at the beach

21st of January 2023 at Socorridos Valley - observed by Roger (UK)
3 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

20th of January 2022 at Fanal - observed by Nicolas (GER)
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

17th of January 2023 off Ponta da Cruz, Funchal - reported by Roger (UK)
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - resting at sea
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - they are starting to come back from their winter migration!

At Funchal harbour
6 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
3 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

16th of January 2023 at Machico
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

At São Gonçalo, Funchal
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Off Funchal - seawatched by Roger (UK)
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

14th of January 2023 at Baía d'Abra - photographed by Andrew & Gill (UK)
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer

12th of January 2023 at Funchal
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

At Machico
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
5 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

2nd of January 2023 at Funchal harbour - reported by Nicholas (UK)
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

1st of January 2023 at Funchal harbour - observed by Nicholas (UK)
Sanderling Calidris alba
4 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
1 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
3 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
9 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
15 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

At Caniço sighting by Michel (NED)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea