In the 2nd half of August usually starts the migration season for seabirds and we already saw a few species passing by Madeira. As for breeding birds we got all we were expecting at this time of year! As usual, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis were present everyday although we missed Yellow-legged gull on the chum.
22nd August 2023 - NNE wind up to 12 knots and waves up to 1 meter from same direction
6 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 2 on the way up and 1 on the way back
6 Common tern Sterna hirundo - 1 on the way up
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Madeiran storm petrel Oceanodroma castro
22nd August 2023 - 7 knots of Northern wind and 0.5 meter waves from NNE
2 Desertas / Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - on the way up
4 Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - 3 on the way up
4 Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus - flew high up above us
2 Common tern Sterna hirundo
15 Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea - 6 on the way back
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
2 Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira - 1 on the way back
21st August 2023 - NNE wind between 5 and 7 knots, large swell from NE up to 0.5 meters
On the way up:
4 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis
20 Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea
Barolo's shearwater Puffinus baroli - fly by the bow of the boat quite fast
Possible Common tern Sterna hirundo - flew far out
On the chum:
Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus puffinus - far away
9 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis
3 Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
4 Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris
Northern Bottlenose beaked whale Hyperoodon ampullatus - breaching out a bit far and only identified later by a photograph
Join Madeira Wildlife Monthly Newsletter. All the updates on your email every month.