Madeira 6.-13.3.1992		Jari Korhonen (Finland)

A holiday trip without heavy birding, staying mainly in the city of Funchal. There was only one short trip to Cabo Girão and Camara de Lobos
as well as a boat trip to Porto Santo in 11.3. The Funchal city coastline was checked daily. In total 30 species were recorded.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra There was 1 female swimming outside the Funchal harbour the 10th.

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (borealis) 13 were seen at sea from the vessel ("Indepencia", a roofed catamaran) during a round trip from Funchal to Porto Santo the 11th. A few passed very close. In addition some 40 presumable Cory's Shearwaters moving in small flocks, far away upon the sea on western direction from the Lido in Funchal in 8th.

Shearwater species Calonectris/Puffinus sp. During late morning of  the 12th there were several shearwaters flying eastward in headwind, far away upon the sea, watched from the harbour. The larger ones were lighter (brown) than the dark smaller ones. Flight action markedly different between the species.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Funchal, the Lido 4+1 flying eastward the 8th, Funchal coast 1 overflying the 11th, Porto Santo some 10 flying eastward the 11th.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea At Funchal airport 2 overflying northward the 13th, near noon. Apparently they were on migration and had just reached the island.

Buzzard Buteo buteo (harterti)

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (canariensis)

Quail Coturnix coturnix A calling male at Porto Santo the 11th.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Funchal coastline, at mouth of the river Ribeira de são Juao 1 the 10th, 4 the 11th and 1 the 12th.

Sanderling Calidris alba 3+2 in winter plumage at Porto Santo "Golden Beach" the 11th.

Dunlin Calidris alpina Funchal, 1 in winter plumage with a Little Ringed Plover the 10th.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres At Funchal coastline: 13+9+30 the 6th, 65 before sunset the 7th, 30+15 the 8th, some 20 the 9th, some 20 the 12th.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundu At Funchal coastline: some 20 the 6th, 8 the 7th, 1 adult+ 4 first winters the 8th, some 20 (including 10 adults) the 9th, 18 adults+ 8 firs winters the 12th.

Common Gull Larus canus At Funchal coastline 1 first winter the 12th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus some among the Yellow-legged Gulls.

Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis

Common Tern Sterna hirundo Funchal coastline: 1 adult the 8th, 1 adult the 9th, 2 adults the 12th + 4 adults in harbour the 12th.

 Feral Dove Columba livia domestica

Plain Swift Apus unicolor Some 10 at Porto Santo the 11th.

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops At Porto Santo 2 the 11th.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Blackbird Turdus merula (cabrerae)

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (heinekeni)

Phylloscopus sp.  A quick view of a silent bird on a levada walk near Camacha the 9th.

Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensis

Canary Serinus canaria

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (parva)