March 2014 birding records for Madeira

March is here and Spring is arriving to Madeira! This is a good season to start watching the first land birds blown off course from their migration between Africa and Europe.

31st March 2014 at Santa Cruz
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

at Lugar de Baixo - sightings by Ton and Annemiek Eggenhuizen (NED)
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

at Ponta de São Lourenço - reported by Ton & Annemiek Eggenhuizen
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides

30th March 2014 at Caniçal
Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus
at Machico
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
7 Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres

at Santa Cruz
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri

29th March 2014 at Ribeira Brava
2 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
3 Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres

at Lugar de Baixo
2 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra - with 3 chicks

at Ponta do Pargo
1 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

at São Vicente
1 Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

28th March 2014 at Ribeira da Janela - reported by Ton and Annemiek Eggenhuizen
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

25th March 2014 at São Vicente
2 Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

at Lugar de Baixo
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra - with 3 chicks

24th March 2014 at Caniçal
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
6 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

23rd March 2014 at Lagoa das Águas Mansas
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus

at Santo da Serra Reservoir
14 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
1 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

at Pico do Areeiro
4 Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis

21st March 2014 at Pico do Areeiro
4 Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis

20th March 2014 at Machico
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

at Faial
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus

at Ponta do Pargo
Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica
Common House Martins Delichon erbium
Sand Martin Riparia riparia

19th March 2014 at Lugar de Baixo
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

18th March 2014 off Calheta
2 Northern Gannets Morus bassanus
1 Great Skua Stercorarius skua

12th March 2014 at Ponta do Pargo
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus

at Lugar de Baixo pond
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra - with 4 chicks
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - with 4 chicks
9 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

10th March 2014 at Machico
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

8th March 2014 at Ponta do Pargo
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennata
2 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
2 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix

at Lugar de Baixo pond
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
8 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra - with 6 chicks

at São Vicente
2 Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

7th March 2014 at Machico
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

at Caniçal
Great Northern Loon Gavia immer
12 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
9 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

at Santo da Serra Reservoir
22 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
2 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

2nd March 2014 at Pico do Arieiro - reported by Martin Lewis (UK)
2 Black Kite Milvus migrans
1 Red Kite Milvus milvus

At Santo da Serra
2 Black Kite Milvus migrans

1st March 2014 at Machico
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
White Wagtail Motacilla alba