Madeira, October 30 - November 12, 1999
Neil Money, Heathfield House, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, KW14 8XP; Neil.Money-CASE@BTInternet.com
Background
This trip was in two parts. The first week we joined a small group led by Antero Topp focusing on sea birds. Antero also arranged all accommodation, pelagic trips and internal transport. The second week, after the rest of the group had left, we stayed on for a further week focusing largely on walking the levadas.
	Antero knows the Island well and leads groups during the late summer and autumn. He arranges dedicated pelagic trips which are much more beneficial than trying to arrange for oneself or just joining a game fishing trip. I strongly recommend that anyone visiting the Island for the birds joins one of Antero's trips. He can be contacted at antero.topp@pp.inet.fi.
	With daytime temperatures around 22/23°C with a mixture of sun and cloud, the weather was very pleasant and in the main ideal for birding. On the day we visited Porto Santo the wind was very strong and the seas rough as the tail end of a low passed through. This caused the cancellation of a pelagic trip on the day following.
Accommodation and Food
We stayed at the small Hotel do Centro in the Rua do Carmo 20, Funchal (tel 200 11 10 fax 23 39 15). Ideally situated in the centre of Funchal away from the main tourist hotel areas. The standard of accommodation is high but with only minimal catering facilities. The only meal provided is a very basic breakfast. However, because of its location there are a number of small cafes nearby which opened early and provided breakfast.
	There are many restaurants in and around Funchal and we tried a number. While the overall standard of the food is high, one or two establishments stand out for quality. Two of the best are next to each other in the old town in the Rua D Carlos: Restaurante O Tapassol (tel 22 50 23 9050) and Le Jardin Restaurante (tel 222 864). It is best to book at both if you do not want to wait, and particularly if you want a table on the terrace at O Tapassol. The food and wines are excellent and reasonably priced. Try the flamed tuna at Le Jardin. Another recommended restaurant is Restaurante Londres, Rua da Carreira 64, slightly cheaper than the other two and with no opportunity to sit outside, but still with excellent food and wine.

As in much of southern Europe I suspect that vegetarians will not get a great deal of choice unless they eat fish.
Birds - Endemic Species and Subspecies
Madeira is not blessed with a great variety of breeding species, and it lies off the main migration route for passerines. However it does have a number of interesting aspects that warrant a visit.
	The seabirds are a major attraction. November is late in the season, and more species would have been recorded on a visit earlier in the autumn. However, we had excellent views of all the species seen including views of Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae at close range settled on the sea. (Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira is now so rare than no one should visit Madeira with the expectation of seeing it.)

The only land species endemic to Madeira is the Long-toed Pigeon Columba trocaz. With patience good views can be obtained, though photographers may have difficulties getting close enough unless they are lucky.
	Two species are endemic to the East Atlantic Islands rather than just to Madeira: Berthelot's Pipit Anthus bertolotii and Canary Serinus canaria canaria. Both are common in suitable habitat and were well seen on this trip.
One of the most interesting features of birding in Madeira is the number of endemic subspecies of otherwise common European birds, some clearly identifiable in the field. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis, Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata bella, Blackcap Sylvia atricappila obscura, Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs madeirensis all have distinctive plumages. Close observation of Chaffinch will reveal in addition to plumage differences an obviously longer and thinner bill. Other sub species have been identified in the species list that follows.
Itinerary
30th October	Travel to Funchal from London Gatwick by scheduled BA flight.	
31st October	Pelagic trip from Funchal to waters close to Ilhas Desertas. Visit to harbour and beach at Funchal.	
1st November
	Mini bus trip calling at: Ribeira Frio with walk to Balcoes; Pico do Arieiro; Canical; Ponta de Sao Lourenco (sea watch).	
2nd November
	Pelagic trip from Funchal south west and then back along south coast. Funchal Beach and Harbour, Parque de Santa Catarina and Jardim de Sao Fancisco.	
3rd November	Mini bus trip calling at: Porto Moniz (sea watch); Ponto do Pargo (sea watch); Paul da Serra and Ribeira Brava. Visit to Funchal Beach and Harbour on return.	
4th November	To Porto Santo by ferry. Mini bus trip round island.	
5th November
	Sea conditions too rough for scheduled pelagic. Visit to Funchal Beach and Harbour with sea watch from harbour wall. Mini bus trip to Machico, Canical and Ponta de Sao Lourenco (sea watch).	
6th November	Funchal.	
7th November	Walk from Monte to Vale Paraiso via Levada dos Tornos and Levada da Serra Faial.	
8th November
	Funchal Beach and Harbour, Parque de Santa Catarina and Jardim de Sao Fancisco. Ribeira Brava by public transport.	
9th November

	Joined organised walking tour. Mini bus to Rabacal then walk along Levada do Risco to Risco waterfall, then Levada das 25 Fontes to 25 Fontes and then return to start of road to Calheta via the Rabacal tunnel.	
10th November

	Public transport to Ribeira Frio and then walk to Portela via Levada da Serra Faial and Levada da Portela. Return to Funchal by public transport. Visit to Funchal Beach and Harbour, Parque de Santa Catarina and Jardim de Sao Fancisco.	
11th November	Walk from Funchal to Socorridos Valley via Levada dos Piornais and Levada do Curral.	
12th November	Return to London Gatwick by scheduled BA flight.	
Books
•	The Birdwatchers' Guide to Portugal and Madeira. C C Moore, G Elias & H Costa, Prion 
•	Levadas and Footpaths of Madeira. Raimundo Quintal, Francisco Ribeiro Editions 
•	Landscapes of Madeira. John & Pat Underwood, Sunflower Books 
•	Madeira. AA Baedeker 
•	Insight Guides: Madeira. APA Publications 
Species List
A Birdwatchers' Guide to Portugal and Madeira. C C Moore, G Elias & H Costa (1997) uses the flowing symbols to define status:
•	R: Resident and regular breeder 
•	S: Migrant breeder, present only in breeding period 
•	P: Passage migrant 
•	W: Regular winter visitor 
•	A: Accidental species 
•	1: Abundant 
•	2: Common 
•	3: Fairly common or widespread 
•	4: Scarce or localised 
•	5: Rare or very localised 

Species	Scientific Name	Comment	Status re
Moore et al	
FEA'S PETREL
	Pterodroma feae
	Seen on pelagics: 9 on 31st Oct;20 on 2nd Nov; from ferry: 5 on 4th Nov; from land: 8 on 3rd Nov & 2 on 5th Nov	R 5	
CORY'S SHEARWATER
	Calonestris diomedea
	Seen on pelagics: 21 on 31st Oct; 88 0n 2nd Nov; from ferry and at Porto Santo 350 on 4th Nov; from land: 20 on 1st Nov, 180 on 3rd Nov & 180 on 5th Nov.	R 2	
LITTLE SHEARWATER	Puffinus assimilis	Seen on pelagics: 1 on 31st Oct; 2 on 2nd Nov
	R 4	
MADEIRAN STORM-PETREL	Oceanodroma castro	1 on 31st Oct pelagic; 3 from ferry on 4thNov
	R 3 : S 3	
LITTLE EGRET
	Egretta garzetta
	1 Funchal Beach 2nd Nov; 1 Porto Santo 4th Nov; 7 at Machico 5th Nov & 5 on 10th Nov; 1 Funchal Harbour 8th Nov	R 4	
GREY HERON	Ardea cinerea	2 Porto Santo 4th Nov; 1 Calheta 9th Nov	R 4	
HEN HARRIER	Circus cyaneus	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov - possibly first Madeiran record	not listed	
EURASIAN SPARRROWHAWK	Accipiter nisus granti
	1 Ribeira Brava 3rd Nov

	R 5	
COMMON BUZZARD	Buteo buteo harterti	Seen daily throughout with maximum 15 on 3rd Nov; maximum flock 5 over Quebradas 11th Nov.	R 4	
EURASIAN KESTREL	Falco tinnunculus canariensis	Seen daily throughout with maximum 20 on 3rd Nov	R 3	
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER	Charadrius dubius	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov
	R 5	
COMMON SNIPE
	Gallinago gallinago	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov
	W 4	
WHIMBREL
	Numenius phaeopus	2 Porto Moniz 3rd Nov
	P 4	
COMMON SANDPIPER	Actitis hypoleucos	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov; 2 Machico 5th Nov
	P 5	
RUDDY TURNSTONE	Arenaria interpres	Common at Funchal beach and harbour with maximum 25 on 2nd Nov	P 4 : W 5	
GREY PHALAROPE	Phalaropus fulicarius	1 on 31st Oct pelagic
	A	
POMARINE SKUA	Stercorarius pomarinus	3 on sea watch near Ponta do Castelo on 1st; 1 on pelagic 2nd Nov
	P 5	
GREAT SKUA	Catharacta skua	1 from ferry 4th Nov	P 5	
BLACK-HEADED GULL	Larus ridibundus
	Seen on pelagics: 2 on 31st Oct & 2 on 2nd Nov; 3 at Porto Santo 4th Nov; 1 Funchal 7th Nov & 11th Nov	P 4 : W 5	
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL	Larus fuscus graellsii	Seen daily at Funchal harbour with maximum 20 on 2nd Nov
	P 3 : W 3	
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL	Larus michahellis atlantis	Common and widespread
	R 2	
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL	Larus marinus
	3 Funchal harbour 31st Oct & 2nd Nov; 1 Porto Santo 4th Nov
	A	
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE	Rissa tridactyla

	Seen from land and on pelagics and from ferry: 5 on 31st Oct; 12 on 2nd Nov; 1 on 3rd Nov; 5 on 4th Nov; 8 on 5th Nov
	W 5 : P 5	
SANDWICH TERN	Sterna sandvicensis	2 Funchal harbour 31st Oct with 1 on 1st Nov & 1 on 7th Nov; 2 Ribeira Brava 8th Nov	A	
COMMON TERN	Sterna hirundo	Seen daily with maximum of 20 on 1st Nov	S 3	
FERAL PIGEON	Columba livia	Abundant and widespread		
LONG-TOED PIGEON	Columba trocaz
	5 Balcoes 1st Nov; 6 Risco near Rabacal 9th Nov; 1 Cabeco Furado 10th Nov.	R 4	
PLAIN SWIFT	Apus unicolor	Seen in varying number daily with max 300 on 3rd Nov	S 3	
HOOPOE	Upupa epops	5 Porto Santo 4th Nov	S 5 : P 5	
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET	Psittacula krameri	1 Funchal harbour 31st Oct
		
BARN SWALLOW	Hirundo rustica
	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov
	P 5	
HOUSE MARTIN	Delichon urbica	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov	P 5	
BERTHELOT'S PIPIT	Anthus bertolotii	20 Sao Lourenco 1st & 5th Nov; 1 Ponto da Pargo 3rd Nov; 8 Porto Santo 4th Nov	R 4	
RED-THROATED PIPIT	Anthus cervinu
S
	1 Porto Santo 4th Nov

	A	
WHITE WAGTAIL	Motacilla alba
	5 Porto Santo 4t Nov
	P 5	
GREY WAGTAIL
	Motacilla cinerea schmitzi	Common & widespread. Maximum 30 on 3rd Nov
	R 3	
ROBIN
	Erithacus rubecula	Fairly common in higher wooded areas. Maximum 12 Lavada dos Tornos & Lavada da Serra 7th Nov	R 3 : W 3	
STONECHAT
	Saxicola torquata	2 Sao Lourenco 1st & 5th Nov
	A	
BLACKBIRD
	Turdus merula cabrerae	Widespread in small numbers. 20 in gardens of Government buildings west of Parque de Santa Catarina, Funchal 10th Nov	R 3	
SPECTACLED WARBLER
	Sylvia conspicillata bella	1 Ponto da Pargo 3rd Nov

	R 5	
BLACKCAP

	Sylvia atricappila obscura	Fairly common & widespread. Maximum 22 Lavada dos Tornos & Lavada da Serra 7th Nov; 15 in gardens of Government buildings west of Parque de Santa Catarina, Funchal 10th Nov	R 2	
FIRECREST

	Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis	Common in higher woodlands. 100+ along Lavada da Sierrra do Faial between Ribeira Frio and Portela 10th Nov
	R 4	
SPANISH SPARROW	Passer hispaniolensis	Common on Porto Santo with 65 seen on 4th Nov
	R 5	
ROCK SPARROW
	Petronia petronia madeirensis	Seen east of Canical with 45 on 1st Nov & 1 on 5th Nov. 2 Porto Santo on 4th Nov
	R 4	
CHAFFINCH
	Fringilla coelebs madeirensis	Common in higher woodland with 20 on 1st Nov; 4 on 3rd Nov; 11 on 7th Nov; 50+ along Lavada da Sierrra do Faial between Ribeira Frio and Portela 10th Nov	R 3	
CANARY
	Serinus canaria canaria	Common & widespread. Maximum 150 on 3rd Nov
	R 3	
GOLDFINCH
	Carduelis carduelis parva	Seen in small numbers with maximum of 35 on 3rd Nov
	R 3	

Additional Species Recorded by Other Members of Group 31st October to 5th November				
SANDERLING	Calidris alba	20 Porto Santo 4th Nov	P 5	
NORTHERN WHEATEAR	Oenanthe oenanthe	1 Pico do Arieio 1st Nov	P 5