November 2011 bird records in Madeira

November was good for migrating birds to stop by Madeira Island. Some European species and an American one made our birdwatching month with the 1st confirmed record of Hen Harrier for the archipelago:



26th November 2011 in Porto Santo - observations by Frank Zino
> 50 Coots Fulica atra
3 Greenshaks Tringa nebularia
1 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
1 Teal Anas crecca - female
1 Garganey Anas querquedula
3 Skylarks Alauda arvensis

24th November 2011 in Faial
1 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - female
1 Greenshank
2 White Wagtails Motacilla alba
1 Little Egret
1 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2 Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos



18th November 2011 in Machico
2 Little Egrets
1 Snipe Gallinago gallinago
1 Teal - female
1 Dunlin Calidris alpina
1 Common Sandpiper

17th November 2011 in Faial
2 Greenshank
2 White Wagtails
2 Little Egrets
2 Common sandpiper

In Caniçal
1 Starling Sturnus vulgaris
2 White Wagtails
Some Larks sp.

16th November 2011 in Machico - observed by Mr. Fitzgerald (UK)
Black Stork Ciconia nigra



13th November 2011 in Faial
2 White Wagtails
1 Little Egret
1 Common sandpiper
1 Greenshank
1 White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
1 Kingfisher
1 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

10th November 2011 along Machico river
1 Dunlin
23 Turnstones
1 Common Sandpiper



In Caniçal
about 40 Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto flying
1 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus - 1st confirmed record for Madeira (there were 2 dubious records before)
3 Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis
1 Gannet Morus bassanus - juvenile at sea

In Ponta do Pargo - observations by Heikki Vasamies (Finland)
12 White Wagtails
1 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
21 Skylarks
2 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
2 Wheaters Oenanthe oenanthe

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea observed by Heikki in Funchal marina

9th November 2011 in Porto Santo - observations by Frank Zino
1 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
1 White Stork Ciconia ciconia

In Funchal beach/harbor - observations by Heikki Vasamies (Finland)
3 Little Egrets
1 Sanderling Calidris alba
1 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
4 Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus