Madeira Pelagic Expedition 22nd-24th May - We got them all!

Another successful pelagic expedition with all the aimed species observed! Some sightings were better than other but, hey that's birdwatching! The sea conditions started relatively calm but got rougher each day. Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were species present everyday in big numbers.

22nd of May 2019 - 13 knots of northeast wind and waves up to 0.5 meters when the trip started but increased to 1 meter for the end of the day
1 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - flying far within a group of Cory’s
White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca - the bird kept a distance which did not allow for everyone to have a good view
6 Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
3 Barolo’s shearwater Puffinus baroli - 1 flew quite close to the boat
5 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta
Short-beaked Common dolphin Delphinus delphis

23rd of May 2019 - Northern swell up to 2 meters with 10 seconds period and light north wind up to 10 knots
3 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - came very close to the boat and flew around, allowing a very good sighting to everyone onboard
6 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus

24th of May 2019 - Northeast wind up to 20 knots and eastern waves up to 2 meters
Probable Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way to the chumming position
5 Common Tern Sterna hirundo
4 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus
2 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Barolo’s shearwater Puffinus baroli

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta
Blue shark Prionace glauca
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus