October 2011 bird records in Madeira

The Madeira bird news of October include some rare vagrants and some more common while the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, on the 2nd of October 2011, was still around Funchal marina but now with its best plumage!

30th October 2011 in Ponta do Pargo
About 10 Skylarks Alauda arvensis
1 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Porto Moniz
1 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

26th October 2011 on a bird, dolphin & whale watching trip, Caniçal
1 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
1 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
3 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea
2 Turnstones Arenaria interpres
1 Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae
Several Cory's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea borealis



26th October 2011 in Machico
2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos
3 Moorhens Gallinula chloropus
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - rare vagrant to Madeira



25th October 2011 in Machico
American Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica - a juvenile bird observed by Heikki Vasamies (Finland) - This is the 3rd record for Madeira, with the previous records seen in Funchal on the 8th November 1969 (specimen at the Natural History Museum in Funchal) and on the 2nd January 1976
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos
3 Moorhens Gallinula chloropus
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

On a bird, dolphin & whale watching trip, around Ponta São Lourenço
Gannet Morus bassanus - 1st year bird

15th October 2011 in São Vicente
2 Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus
2 Common SandpipersActitis hypoleucos

5th October 2011 in Porto Moniz
Little Tern Sterna albifrons - rare vagrant to Madeira with less than 5 records on the last 50 years