Birds recorded on Madeira,  27 December 1995 - 10 January 1996

by Werner Suter, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland,      werner.suter@wsl.ch or wsuter@freesurf.ch

Family holidays on Madeira over New Year: What a funny idea when birdwatching is meant to be more important than Funchal's firework on New Year's Eve (which nevertheless is worthwile to see)!  However, there was this cheap last-minute offer just before Christmas, and since we desperately needed some sun and recreation, we booked on the spot. I was aware of the fact that some of the more interesting seabirds were not around at this time of the year, but how could we have known that we were to hit an unusual period of rain and storm in the Western Atlantic that persisted already into its fourth and fifth week. But we had one calm and beautiful day, January 10 when we flew home! But we welcomed this after the experience with the incoming flight which had taken twice as long as normal since, at the first attempt, landing at Funchal was impossible and we had to return to Lisbon for refuelling.

Anyway, there we were, the four of us, only to fight an attack of flu first, but between December 31 and January 9, we explored the island with having a rental car. Unfortunately, when I wanted to visit Porto Santo towards the end of the stay, the ferryboat did not operate, due to the weather, I was told. There were no other boats operating that were useful for watching seabirds. Boat tours to the Desertas Islands that are famous for their breeding seabirds (no landing: National Park, called Parque Natural) are run only in summer, and renting one of the speedboats used for sportsfishing (marlin etc.) would have cost about U.S. $ 100.-/hr. Unfortunately, I also missed the two-weekly boat trip to Desertas Island run by the National Park Service to relieve the warden crew (anyway, going along would have been by special permit only). However, I met a French sailor who was waiting for better weather to sail on to the Canary Islands, and he agreed to take me out to sea for a full day, asking a much smaller sum. We sailed in his 8m-long yacht "Cheyenne" ca. 15-20 miles due south of Funchal and back. A more southeasterly course towards the Desertas Islands would have made returning the same day difficult because of the strong westerly winds. The rough sea (swell of 4-5 m) made birdwatching and particularly using the binoculars difficult, and there was this uneasy feeling in the stomach that did not help either ....!

Normally, the south coast of Madeira is drier than the North, but during our stay the prevailing winds blew from SW to W and brought rain to the south coast, and clouds and fog to the slopes (often down to Monte!) and south-facing valleys, and to the central ridge, the peaks and the high plateau in the west (Paúl da Serra). In such conditions, it was usually dry and often sunny and pleasant along the north and east coasts from Porto Moniz to Santa Cruz, although at Ponta de S. Lourenço it could be extremely windy. However, even at Funchal rainy spells were often short, followed by (equally short!) sunny periods etc. It was never cold along the coast even when it was raining, usually around 20°C, and the rains were sometimes a mere drizzle, but could also be rather strong.

We stayed in a small and very basic hotel in Funchal throughout, except on 6./7.1. when we spent the night at Porto Moniz. The following areas were visited:

Funchal:
28 - 30 December: checking the harbour area daily (overcast, rainy periods, low clouds, very strong westerly wind in the night of 29-30 December); 8 January (morning; strong rain and stormy); 9 January (sunny to overcast, strong wind now from NW)

East coast to Ponta de S. Lourenço:
31 December: Ponta de S. Lourenço, walk to Casa Sardinha (overcast and very strong winds, some rain); 5 January: drive via Camacho-Santo de Serra to Machico, Caniçal and Ponta de S. Lourenço (rather sunny and warm); 9 January: afternoon Levada walk from before Caniçal to Boca do Risco and back, evening around Prainha (weather see above)

At sea S off Funchal:
3 January (see above; overcast near coast, partly sunny offshore, windy and high swell of 4-5 m)

South coast to Ribeira Brava:
1 January: to Ribeira Brava and Tábua, then up to Encumeada (overcast and intermittent rain, fog at Encumeada); 6 January: drive to Ribeira Brava and Encumeada (rain and fog); 8 January: late afternoon to Camarâ de Lobos and Cabo Girâo (dry and some sunshine, later heavy rain)

Interior and north coast:
1 January: Encumeada to S. Vicente (sunny at coast, fog at Encumeada); 6 January: the same but continuing to Seixal-Porto Moniz, walk from above Ribeira de Janela halfway up to Fanal (sunny along coast, towards Fanal foggy and eventually rain, high sea); 7 January: Porto Moniz (sunny) to Paúl da Serra (thick fog and gale-force wind), short walk at Rabaçal to waterfall (just below the fog) and again on Paúl, then drive to S. Vicente-Ponta Delgada-Santana (sunny to cloudy along coast); 2 January: Pico de Areeiro (fog and gale-force wind, then fog blown away within few minutes), afterwards Ribeiro Frío, walk to Balcôes, and drive to Fajâ da Nogueiras, and Porto da Cruz (sunny to cloudy); 4 January: Levada walk from Ribeiro Frío to Portela, back to R. Frío by taxi, 2nd visit to Fajâ da Nogueiras (sunny-cloudy, no fog, not even on south slopes).

Birds recorded (38 species)

Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus): Off Funchal on 3.1. at least 6 plus c. 4-5 other smaller shearwaters not specifically identified (at least two seemed to be more brownish above - perhaps P. yelkouan - but underparts not seen). Usually single and most in the evening c. 2 km offshore; c. 30 about 1 km off Camarâ de Lobos, 8.1., flying then in raft, pre-breeding gathering?
Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis): Off Funchal at least 3-4 single birds, the first one 2 km offshore, 3.1.
Madeiran Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro): 10-12 single birds off Funchal, 3.1., all at least 3 km offshore (not all of them, however, were seen sufficiently well to exclude O. leucorrhoa with certainty). Surprisingly the most commonly encountered pelagic species, which is normally difficult to find at sea  (Zino & Biscoito 1994, P.A. Zino pers. comm.). This seems to hold mainly for the summer period (cf. Swash 1986, Jepson & Zonfrillo 1988, Moore 1988); feeding areas in winter may be different.
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta): There was apparently a roost in the park of Funchal's Casino Park Hotel (on 29th at dusk briefly 6-8 seen flying, on 3rd before dusk 6+4 flying along the shore, coming from east, and landing somewhere in the trees); 1 at Porto Moniz, 7.1.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea): Singles at Funchal Harbour, 27.12., flying over Monte, 4.1., at Caniçal, 5.1., and at S. Vicente, 7.1.
Wigeon (Anas penelope): A female-type bird on the small coastal pool W of Tábua (between Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol), 1.1.
Shoveler (Anas clypeata): A female-type bird on the same pool, 1.1.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus): 1 above the Botanical Garden, Funchal, 5.1.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo): Rather common in wooded areas and seen daily (up to 5/day) outside Funchal, but also twice over Funchal harbour area.
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus): rather common, recorded daily (up to 6/day) in more open habitat than buzzards, e.g. not seen around Ribeiro Frío, but commonly along the heavily cultivated south coast, also in Funchal and up to 4 over Ponta de S. Lourenço.
Quail (Coturnix coturnix): 2 calling at two sites on Ponta de S. Lourenço, at one of them 2 birds (a pair?) flushed, 5.1.
Coot (Fulica atra):  3 on the small coastal pool W of Tábua, 1.1.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus): 15 on Ponta de S. Lourenço, 31.12.
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos): 1 next to the small coastal pool W of Tábua (between Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol), 1.1. 
Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): Along Funchal beach and harbour area daily in varying numbers, usually 20 to > 50 seen; 5 at Seixal, 6.1.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus): Only along Funchal beach and harbour area, daily, but numbers seen varied between 30-40 and >100 (29.12.).
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis): Funchal Marina, at the mouth of Ribeira de San Joâo, a single first-winter bird photographed at close distance, 30.12. Not seen later. The preceeding night was stormy, with gale-force winds from W. The species has been recorded on Madeira before (e.g. 2 at Funchal, 7 December 1983, Bourne 1984, and at least 3 more records of 1-2 birds up to 1987 in Hoogendoorn & Steinhaus 1990).
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus graellsii/intermedius): At Funchal beach and harbour daily in smaller numbers, up to c. 20 ad./3rd winter and at least 10 1st/2nd-winter birds, the latter probably underrecorded. Also 3+ on the reservoir at Santo da Serra, 5.1., and 3+ at Camarâ de Lobos, 8.1. Birds varied considerably in size, usually being smaller and more slender and longer-winged than L. cachinnans atlantis, but some ad. were slightly bigger than nearby small atlantis-birds (which also varied in size). Darkness of the mantle also seemed to vary slightly, but was usually little darker than in atlantis.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus chachinnans atlantis): Common to abundant along coast (up to 300+ in Funchal harbour area), also inland (feeding on Paúl da Serra in thick fog) and crossing the island, flying up and down valleys, even up to Pico do Areeiro (>1800 m).
Rock Dove (Columba livia): Separation from Feral Doves (many of these white, occurring in towns and villages and also near small settlements in the upper valleys) not easy, since apparently pure-strain birds occurred along Feral Doves commonly, e.g. all along the south coast (Funchal, Ribeira Brava etc.); there, dark forms were also seen. Small flocks (3-10 birds) of typical livia-birds that did not contain birds showing domestic influence were seen along coastal cliffs above S. Vicente, along Ponta de S. Lourenço, and at Boca de Risco, but in general little attention was paid to try to figure out wild birds.
Madeiran Laurel Pigeon (Columba trocaz): Encumeada, 2 single birds flying, 1.1.; below Balcôes, 1 flushed, 2.1.; in the valley of the Ribeiro da Metade, below Fajâ da Nogueiras, 3-4 apparently eating berries in Laurel trees, 2.1. and 4.1.; Ribeira Grande (SE of S. Vicente), 2+1 flying up valley, probably coming from feeding in cultivations, 6.1.; 2 at Curral Falso (S of Ribeira da Janela), 6.1.; 2 flying above Boca do Risco, 9.1., where very little endemic forest left.
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus): 1 flushed at Ponta de S. Lourenço from rough grass not far below the end of the road, 31.12.
Plain-coloured Swift (Apus unicolor): Small flocks (max. >80/day on 1.1.) seen almost daily at all altitudes; they seemed to move around escaping bad weather.
Hoopoo (Upupa epops): 1 in pine plantation near Prainha (Ponta de S. Lourenço), 31.12. Usual in winter?
Berthelot's Pipit (Anthus bertheloti): At low altitude only at Ponta de S. Lourenço (c. 10 near Prainha and c. 20 in the outer peninsula) on every visit; c. 6 at one place on Paúl da Serra, 7.1. (further observations prevented by gale and fog). Very tame birds.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea): Widely distributed, seen daily (up to 6/day), not only in "typical" habitat but also in towns (including Funchal) and villages.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula): Widely distributed in gardens where often singing at dusk, but none found in endemic vegetation higher up: do they move to lower altitudes in winter? (Bannerman 1965 states otherwise).
Blackbird (Turdus merula): regularly seen (up to 6-8/day) in a wide range of habitats, from towns (incl. Central Funchal) and gardens near sea-level up to endemic vegetation above 1000 m (mainly in Tree heather-dominated types).
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos): 1, perhaps two different birds, flushed twice (calling "tsip") by pine plantation near Prainha (Ponta de S. Lourenço), 9.1. Apparently not often recorded on Madeira.
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris): 1 individual by the road in Tree heather near Cova de Negro (between Porto Moniz and Paúl da Serra), 7.1.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla): Widespread (up to 10/day) in a wide range of well-vegetated habitats (including town parks) but not heard or seen in dense endemic vegetation such as Tree heather scrub or Laurel forest.
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita): 1 in a hedge above Porto Moniz, 7.1.
Madeiran Firecrest (Regulus [ignicapillus] madeirensis): Common in endemic vegetation (Tree heather and Laurel), occasionally also lower down where Eucalyptus forest has still Laurel under-storey, moving around in small flocks; also 2 in an exotic park at Santo da Serra, 5.1.
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia): A flock of at least 22 individuals at Ponta de S. Lourenço, 5.1.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs): This distinct subspecies was commonly seen in Tree heather and Laurel forest (max. up to 15/day), at lower elevations penetrating into Eucalyptus forest similarly to the Firecrest; also 2 in the Park at Santo da Serra, 5.1. Often confiding; a male took food from our hand at the Levada walk between Ribeiro Frío and Portela.
Canary (Serinus canaria): Common to abundant in all types of cultivated or open (Ponta de S. Lourenço) land of lower elevations, including small parks in central Funchal. Largest flock of c. 100 at Ponta de S. Lourenço, 31.12. Much singing activity.
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis): 1-2 in Funchal, 27.12.; 4+ in flock of Canaries, Ponta de S. Lourenço, 31.12. and 10 on 5.1.; c. 5 at Santo da Serra, 5.1.; a flock of c. 20 at Camarâ de Lobos, 8.1.; calls heard from Pico do Facho, 9.1.
Linnet (Acanthis cannabina): Apparently rather uncommon. Positively identified only once: At least 2 birds calling near Prainha (Ponta de S. Lourenço), 9.1.; probably also heard the same day from Pico de Facho.

Some breeding birds not seen

Seabirds: Sea conditions (and transport facilities) prevented us to get near the Desertas Islands where there might have been a chance to see Fea's Petrel (the breeding season ends at that time with late chicks fledging early January, Zino & Biscoito 1994). Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) and Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) as well as terns (Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii) are absent from Madeiran waters in winter.
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa): Strong winds and fog prevented us from doing much walking at higher elevations where the species might still occur in good numbers, such as around Pico de Areeiro and at Paúl da Serra.
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus): Probably a summer visitor only (Bannerman 1965). In a flock of A. unicolor at Porto Moniz, we saw 2-3 rather brownish birds but since they did not differ in size nor in structure (width of arm etc.), we concluded that this was a light effect (most birds flying in the shade of a ravine but some birds in the warm morning sun).
Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata): We did not search for this localised bird in the good areas above Caniçal except for about half an hour's search of bramble patches around Pico de Facho on 9.1. which proved unsuccessful. It was very windy and several authors agree that S. conspicillata keeps hidden and silent on such days. We also spent only very little time in possible habitat at other places (Portela, Santo da Serra).
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis): Despite considerable attention paid, we did not see any Spanish Sparrows which still seemed to be common fifteen years ago (e.g. Swash 1986), but much less so ten years ago (Jepson & Zonfrillo 1988). It's present scarcity was confirmed by P.A. Zino (pers. comm.) who has not seen P. hispaniolensis for more than a year in his garden although it used to be common there before.

Other vertebrate species seen

Lesser Noctule (Nyctalus leisleri [=verrucosus, =madeirae]): c. 5 bats flying above Porto da Cruz at sunset, 2.1., were believed to be this species.
Unidentified Rat (Rattus sp.): A few road kills seen.
Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 1 at Encumeada, 1.1.

No marine mammals seen.

Madeiran Wall Lizard (Podarcis dugesii): Only on two warm and calm days were lizards manifest: many on the shore at Machico, 5.1.; many at Funchal, along the walls below Casino Park Hotel, 9.1. and several around Pico de Facho, same day.
Spanish Lake Frog (Rana perezi): 2 in Machico's town park, 5.1. 

References

Bannerman, D.A. & Bannerman, W.M. (1965): Birds of the Atlantic Islands. Vol. 2: A History of the Birds of Madeira, the Desertas, and the Porto Santo Islands. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.
Bourne, W.R.P. (1984): The birds of Madeira in the winter. Bocagiana 76: 1-6.
Hoogendoorn, W. & Steinhaus, G.A. (1990): Nearctic Gulls in the Western Palearctic. Dutch Birding 12: 109-164.
Jepson, P.R. & Zonfrillo, B. (1988): Bird notes from Madeira, summer 1986. Bocagiana 117: 1-10.
Moore, C.C. (1988): Brief notes on birds seen in and around Selvagem Grande, August 17th - 18th, 1987. Bocagiana 121: 1-5.
Swash, A.R.H. (1986): Observations of birds in the Madeiran Archipelago, summer 1981. Bocagiana 94: 1-13.
Zino, F. & Biscoito, M. (1994): Breeding seabirds in the Madeira archipelago. BirdLife Cons. Ser. 1: 172-185.

November 3, 1996