Birds act like Spring is already here but regarding temperatures and general weather it is still winter in Madeira. In April due to the snow in the first weeks and then strong winds and heavy rains into the end of the month we were unable to run a Zino's Night Expedition (hey, safety above all!) but on the 3rd of May we finally made it and, despite the still strong and very cold wind up in the mountains we were able to hear more than 500 calls and see more than 14 silhouettes of this rare endemism of Madeira: Zino's Petrel! Now lets see which species May will bring to Madeira, with special interest in the pelagic birds as Wind Birds' Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition are just about to start!
23rd May 2016 off Machico
Great Skua Stercorarius skua
22nd May 2016 at Porto Santo Golf course
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
4 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
At Tanque Pond, Porto Santo
2 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
6 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum
18th May 2016 at São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
At Lugar de Baixo
2 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
17th May 2016 at Caniçal
8 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
15th May 2016 at Caniçal
7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Dunlin Calidris alpina
14th May 2016 at Ponta do Pargo
4 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
At Lugar de Baixo
2 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
13th May 2016 at Paul da Serra - observation reported by Wolfgang Knoblach and Jurgen Wagner (GER)
Black Kite Milvus migrans
8th May 2016 at Ponta do Pargo
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata - 1st confirmed record!
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe
At least 20 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
At Lugar de Baixo
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
3 Dunlin Calidris alpina alpina
At São Vicente
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
3rd May 2016 at Ponta do Pargo - reported by Michel de Lange (NED)
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
At least 6 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
1st May 2016 at Santa Cruz
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
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