Madeira birdwatching news for May 2013

May is here and by the end of the month starts the Zino's Petrels Pelagic Expeditions! Meantime Bulwer's petrel are back to Madeira and can be observed on the Bird, dolphin & whale watching trips.

So here are the vagrant bird species observed during this month:
31st May 2013 - reported by David Bird (UK), Thomas Köster & Bettina Gründig (GER)
Red Kite Milvus milvus - near Bica da Cana - This record is considered exceptional as there are less than 5 records in the last 50 years

At Lugar de Baixo
1 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
1 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

30th May 2013 in Caniçal
1 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

15th May 2013 in Porto Santo - reported by Roger Halsey (UK)
1 Garganey Anas querquedula
1 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

On the return ferry trip to Funchal
1 Great Skua Stercorarius skua

At Parque Santa Catarina, Funchal - reported by Robin Brace (UK)
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

15th May 2013 in Porto Santo - reported by Roger Halsey (UK)
1 Garganey Anas querquedula
1 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

On the return ferry trip to Funchal
1 Great Skua Stercorarius skua

13th May 2013 at Lugar de Baixo - sightings by Roger Halsey
3 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
1 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
1 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Offshore Caheta
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini

6th-13th May 2013 Mark Coller's (UK) seawatching report from Funchal

5th May 2013 Northeast of Madeira
1 Sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus

4th May 2013 at Seixal
1 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

At Ponta do Pargo
> 50 Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica
1 House Martin Delichon urbicum

At Lugar de Baixo
1 Shoveler Anas clypeata

3rd May 2013 at Caniçal bay
Great Skua Stercorarius skua

At Deserta Grande by the house - recorded by Paul & Pam Callaway (UK)
1 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes - According to Romano et al, 2010, this bird is exceptional to Madeira archipelago, which means it was observed less than 5 times in the past 50 years

At sea - by Paul & Pam Callaway (UK)
2 Sabine's Gulls Xema sabini - flying north midway between Madeira and Deserta Grande

Near Funchal harbour - observed by Timo Oinonen and Birgitta Hendrell-Oinonen (FIN)
1 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima