Pelagic birdwatching has its bad days as well... 17th to 19th August 2015

It started well with good wind and 4 Fea's Petrels observed on the way to the chumming position and although we did not see Zino's Petrel on the 1st day we did see good seabird species and that made us hope for a great pelagic... Unfortunately the next 2 days were not so exciting and both Zino's Petrel and Madeiran Storm Petrel were missed on this pelagic expedition. Again, Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis and Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii were always there, though in different numbers each day.

17th August 2015 - swell from NW up to 2 meters, North wind up to 12 knots. Several showers
5 Fea's petrel Pterodroma feae/deserta - 4 on the way to the chumming position + 1 at the chum
4 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus - 2 at the same time on the chum
6 Great shearwater Puffinus gravis
2 Sabine's Gull Xema sabini

3 Bryde's whale Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
Atlantic Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis
1 Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta

18th August 2015 - NW Waves up to 2 meters, NE wind up to 10 knots
Several Great shearwater Puffinus gravis - a few on the way up, amongst rafts of Cory's shearwater and a few others on the chum
2 Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius - also known as Grey Phalarope

Atlantic Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis
Short-beaked Common Dolphins Delphinus delphis
Baleen whale Balaenoptera sp.

19th August 2015 - NE wind up to 12 knots, waves from East up to 0.5 meters
Great shearwater Puffinus gravis