April and May: Thijs Valkenburg et al (Netherlands) and the Madeiran birders João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, have kindly provided sightings from his long stay in Madeira:

Squacco Heron. All photos below by: Thijs Valkenburg, Netherlands The male Green-winged Teal on 1st.. One of the Marsh Harriers seen. Female Red-footed Falcon on 1st May. The Ruff seen at Lugar de Baixo. One of the 18 European Bee-eaters. Red-rumped Swallow on 3rd May. One of several Tree Pipit's observed. One of the Whinchat seen. Two-barred Warbler (or Greenish Warbler?) Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides: 2 birds at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single one at the 1st of May (João Nunes, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis: single bird at Ribeira da Janela on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Black Kite Milvus migrans: a single bird at Ponta do Pargo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single bird at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus: single bird at Paúl da Serra on the 27th of April (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez) 2 birds at Paúl da Serra on the 29 th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) 2 birds at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single bird at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 1st of May (Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus: a single bird at Paúl da Serra and a single bird at Ponta do Pargo both on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Hobby Falco subbuteo: a single bird at Ponta do Pargo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus: 4 birds (2 females and 2 males) at Ponta do Pargo on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola: a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 1st of May (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, João Nunes) Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea: a single bird at Ribeira de Machico on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola: a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and 2 birds at lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 1st of May (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, João Nunes) Common Redshank Tringa totanus : a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 1st of May (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, João Nunes) Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus: a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 17th of April and also a dead bird on the same spot (João Nunes, Gonçalo Silva, Thijs Valkenburg) Ruff Philomachus pugnax: a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single bird seen at lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 1st of May (João Nunes, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur: 2 birds at ponta do Pargo on the 29th of April and on the 1st of May (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single bird at ponta de São Lourenço on the 3rd of May (Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Alpine Swift Apus melba: 2 birds at Paúl da Serra on the 27th of April and a single bird on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Bee-eater Merops apiaster: 18 birds at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica: a single bird at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 3rd of May (Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis: 3 birds at Ponta do Pargo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg), 15 birds at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) 4 birds on Ponta do Pargo on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) and on the 3rd of May there where 2 birds at Ponta de São Lourenço (Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava: 14 birds at Fanal on the 14th of April (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez), 30 birds at Ponta do Pargo, 3 birds at Paúl da Serra and a single bird at Lagoa do Lugar de Baixo on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg), 25 birds at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) and 12 birds at Ponta do Pargo on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe; several birds between the 27th of April and the 1st of May at Fanal, Parque Ecológico do Funchal, Paúl da Serra and Ponta do Pargo. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: Several birds around the island between the 27th of April and the 3rd of May at Fanal, Parque Ecológico do Funchal, Paúl da Serra, Ponta de São Lourenço and Ponta do Pargo, remarkable were the more than 20 birds at Parque Ecológico do Funchal on the 28th of April (Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes) Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis: a single bird at parque Ecológico do Funchal on the 28th of April (Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes) Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus: a single bird at Paúl da Serra on the 1st of May (Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez, Thijs Valkenburg) Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus: single bird at Paúl da Serra on the 27th of April (Thijs Valkenburg, Gonçalo Silva, Marsrida Suárez), a single bird at Parque Ecológico do Funchal on the 28th of April (Thijs Valkenburg) and a single bird at Canhas on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita; a single bird at Parque Ecológico do Funchal on the 28th of April (Thijs Valkenburg) Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus (trochiloides) plumbeitarsus: a single bird at Canhas on the 29th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg). If accepted, it is the first for the Macaronesian Islands. (Note that Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides haven't been recorded within Macaronesia. So, whatever species this is a mega). Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca: Several birds aroud the island between the 27th of April and the 3rd of May at Fanal, Parque Ecológico do Funchal, Paúl da Serra, Ponta de São Lourenço and Ponta do Pargo Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata: a single bird at Ponta de São Lourenço on the 30th of April (João Nunes, Dionísio Sousa, Thijs Valkenburg) Also a few thousand Swallow´s Hirundo rustica around the island the past 7 days and several hundred House martins Delichon urbica. Sightings and photos kindly provided by Thijs Valkenburg, Netherlands.

The Ring-billed Gull, seen all week. Photo: John Jackson Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: 2 at the Airport on 31st March. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis: A single 2nd cal year in Funchal harbour and on the beach all week. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus: A single 2nd cal year at Funchal beach on 5th April. Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus: 2 adult pale phase birds at sea off Cabo Girão on 6th April. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: At least one in Funchal area all week. "I was surprised not to see a single Plain Swift all week, but quite a few Pallids were around Funchal, mostly in pairs, but one group of around 25 near the football stadium on 7th April. And I didn't see any Red-footed Falcon photos on the website, so I thought you might like a couple I took of a female at Ponta do Pargo on 16 June 2003." See photos here» Sightings and photos kindly provided by John Jackson, UK.

Little Egret in Funchal. Photo: Tony Halliday "Hi Niklas, I had little time to go birding, however a short report follows my stay at the Carlton in Funchal. Kestrel seen in valley next to hotel on several occasions. Common Tern and Plain Swift, increasing numbers during the week. Due to poor weather a trip to Desertas was not possible so I did a short afternoon trip with Ventura Do Mar, lots of Cory's seen together with an Eagle, but too distant for positive ID. Little Egret seen several times in stream leading into Funchal harbour, also in lake in park above harbour. Common sandpiper with turnstones at Avenida das Comunidades. A short trip to Machico and the following seen: Little Egret, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Grey Wagtail, Canary. Turnstone and Blackbird. Around Funchal I also saw Robin, Yellow Legged Gull and Peregrine Falcon seen twice on chair lift trip." Sightings and photos kindly provided by Tony Halliday, UK.

One of two Booted Eagle seen. Photo: Reijo Hautala "Hi Niklas, I have, with my vife, visited quite offen the islands in the Atlantic ocean: Gran Canaria, Teneriffa, Fuerteventure, Gomera, cap Verde and Madeira. One of my hobby during the trips is to watch the birds. I visited Madeira on 9-23rd March 2008. During our holiday I saw some interesting birds, like Glossy Ibis (4), Booted Eagle (2), Ring-billed Gull and Garganey. One of my guide has been Tony Clarke's "Birds of the Atlantic Islands". I have not the email of Clarke, so I send some pictures to you. I hope you have some use of this information." View photos: Glossy Ibis, Booted Eagle and Garganey Sightings and photos kindly provided by Reijo Hautala, Finland.

20th March: Thijs Valkenburg & Carmen Gutierez (Netherlands and Madeira) have kindly provided sightings from the beginning of his long stay in Madeira:

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawerensis: Two first winter in Funchal Harbour. Alpine Swift Apus melba: One bird flying over Funchal Harbour together with a few Plain Swifts. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus: A single bird at a litle park near the sea at Funchal city (seen by Thijs). Sightings kindly provided by Thijs Valkenburg, Netherlands.