Transparent utfyllnad Recent sightings 2008

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Note: All sightings on this page are presented in (reversed) chronological order. If the latest report added to this page have been done during an earlier date than the date in top, it is notified here:

31th March to 7th April: John Jackson (UK) have kindly provided sightings as follows:
 

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.

24-31st March: Tony Halliday (UK) have kindly provided sightings as follows:
 

"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.
9-23rd March: Reijo Hautala (Finland) have kindly provided sightings as follows:
 

"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.
4-11th March: Astrid Schuster & Bo Svenning Petersen (Denmark) have kindly provided sightings as follows:
 

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea: C. 5 W Caniço de Baixo 6/3 and 7/3; c. 15 W Porto Moniz 7/3.
Gannet Morus bassanus: 1 ad. E Caniço de Baixo 6/3; 1 ad. E Porto Moniz 7/3.
Greater Scaup Aythya marila: 1 female Lugar de Baixo 6/3 and 10/3. The bird (2nd record for Madeira) had been present since November 2007.
Quail Coturnix coturnix: 7 heard Ponta de São Lourenço (just beyond the car park) 8/3.
Little Stint Calidris minuta: 1 Lugar de Baixo 6/3 and 10/3.
Snipe Gallinago gallinago: 1 Lugar de Baixo 10/3.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua: 1 W Porto Moniz 7/3.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: 2 Funchal harbour 5/3, and c. 15 on 10/3.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis: 1 1st winter Funchal harbour 10/3.
Common Gull Larus canus: 1 1st winter Funchal harbour 10/3 (much rarer than Ring-billed Gull!).
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: 2 Ponta do Pargo 6/3; c. 25 Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
House Martin Delichon urbica: 3 Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis: 1 Porto Moniz harbour 7/3.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: 3 at the ranger station, Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus: 1 male at the ranger station, Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe: 1 male Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata: 2 Ponta do Pargo 6/3.
Phylloscopus sp.: C. 4, at least 1 of which probably Chiffchaff P. collybita, at the ranger station, Ponta de São Lourenço 8/3.
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis: C. 5 Caniçal 8/3.
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia: C. 50 Ponta de São Lourenço (about 100 m W of the ranger station) 8/3.

Please check their trip report here»

Sightings kindly provided by Astrid Schuster & Bo Svenning Petersen, Denmark.

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.

11-17th March: Calle Andersson & Lina Lönnberg (Sweden) have kindly provided sightings from their visit on Madeira as follows:
 

11/3
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata: A single on the walking path between Carnico and Carnico de Baxio

13/3
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos: A single at Machico.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: 4 at Ponta de São Lourenço.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: 6 at Ponta de São Lourenço.

16/3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo: 2 at Lugar de Baixo-
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus: A single at Lugar de Baixo.
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild: 30 at Lugar de Baixo.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: A single at Lugar de Baixo.
Linnet Carduelis cannabina: A single at Paúl de Serra.

17/3
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii: A single in Funchal harbour.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawerensis: A single in Funchal harbour.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: A single in Funchal harbour.

Sightings kindly provided by Calle Andersson, Sweden.
17th March: Thijs Valkenburg et. al (Netherlands) have kindly provided sightings from the beginning of his long stay in Madeira:
  Greater Scaup Aythya marila: A single. at Lugar de Baixo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes and Thijs Valkenburg). (Most probably the same bird present since November 2007 and only the 2nd record for Madeira).
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata: A single at Caniçal 16th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes). Probably the same bird seen in the area since January 2008.
Little Stint Calidris minuta: A single at Lugar de Baixo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes and Thijs Valkenburg). (Most probably the same bird present since November 2007). Fourth record since 2002, but only with a few records before that!
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago: A single at Lugar de Baixo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes and Thijs Valkenburg).
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia: A single at Lugar de Baixo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes and Thijs Valkenburg).
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: 6 birds in Funchal harbour on 14th March (Thijs Valkenburg)
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii: A single in Funchal harbour on 14th March (Thijs Valkenburg)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: 16 inds. at Ponta do Pargo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg) and a single at Caniçal 16th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes).
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica: A single at Ponta do Pargo on 15th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg)
House Martin Delichon urbicum: A single at Caniçal 16th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes)
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis: 5 birds at Pico do Areeiro on 14th March (Thijs Valkenburg).
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe: A single at Pico do Areeiro on 14th March (Thijs Valkenburg).
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita: A single at Pico do Areeiro on 14th March (Thijs Valkenburg) and two birds at at Caniçal on 16th March (Isabel Fagundes, Thijs Valkenburg, João Nunes).

Sightings kindly provided by Thijs Valkenburg, Netherlands.
28th February: Bob Hotchkis (England) have kindly provided sightings from his trip:
 

Hello,

Today Thursday 28th Febraury 2008 about 1pm I saw a Peregrine Falcon around the sea stacks (one of the stacks has a prominent rock window) at the end of the Ribeira da Janela valley. We have just been looking at your website and understand that this is worth recording

Sightings kindly provided by Bob Hotchkis, England.
17–22nd February: Paul Fisher (Britain) have kindly provided sightings as follows:
 

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris d. borealis: Six at sea (Catamaran from Funchal) on 20th.
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis baroli: Eight at sea (Catamaran from Funchal) on 20th.
Quail Coturnix coturnix: 2-3 at Ponta de São Lourenço on 22nd.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus: A first winter in Funchal harbour on 17 and 20th.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: Eight birds in Funchal harbour on 20th.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawerensis: A first winter in Funchal harbour on 17 and 20th.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus: One at sea on 20th.
Sandwich Tern Stena sandvicensis: A single in Funchal harbour on 20th.
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: A single at Caniçal on 22nd.
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia madeirensis: At least 12 at Ponta de São Lourenço on 22nd.

Sunfish: One seen from the Catamaran on 20th.

Sightings kindly provided by Paul Fisher, Britain.
7–12th January: Roland Vösa (Finland) have kindly provided sightings from his trip as follows:
 

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer: One bird seen from hotel in Funchal, swimming to Funchal harbour, on 12th. Fifth record for Madeira.
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus: 18 birds in two flocks at sea off Southern Madeira on 10th.
Red Knot Calidris canutus: A single at Machico river mouth on 10th.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus: One first winter in Funchal Harbour on 10th and two on 12th.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: 10 in Funchal Harbour on 10th.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawerensis: One first winter in Funchal Harbour on 10th and two on 12th.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sanvicensis: 2 at sea off Southern Madeira on 10th and one first winter in Funchal Harbour on 12th.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba: A single at Machico river mouth on 10th.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus: A single heard clearly calling 5-6 times across the road from other garden (Tropical garden area) on 8th, I tried to see the bird but I didn't. However, I have heard yellow-browed warbler in Finland for several times. Fourth record for Madeira.

Sightings kindly provided by Roland Vösa, Finland.