Madeira Birdwatching in December 2015

December has started warmer and drier than usual and although some storms are happening on the North Atlantic, in Madeira it still feels like summer and it still is quiet in terms of vagrant birds around! So lets see which bird species will visit us for Christmas and New Year:

28th of December 2015 at Caniçal
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

At Machico
> 17 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

22nd of December 2015 at Lugar de Baixo
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
15 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

At Ponta do Pargo
2 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - a pair

At São Vicente
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

21st of December 2015 at Machico
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
> 20 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

17th of December 2015 at São Vicente
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus

At Ponta do Pargo
European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
> 20 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

At Lugar de Baixo
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
4 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina

At Ribeira Brava
2 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus