Madeira 3.-10.12.2001		Jari Korhonen (Finland)

This was mainly a family holiday without heavy birding. I checked the Funchal coastline daily 4.-10.12., apart from the 6th. On the 6th I visited Ponta de São Laurenço by public transportation and walked the rest of the trip from Caniçal onwards. The bus trip to Gurral das Freiras in the afternoon of the 8th did not offer any surprises, only few species already seen elsewhere. During the week 26 species were recorded.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta Funchal coast, 2 the 4th +1 at a pond in the Santa Catarina Park, Funchal the 4th, Funchal coast 1 the 5th, Machico 1 the 6th.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (granti) Funchal city, 1st calendar year male landed to a large "spruce" to roost at dusk the 4th.

Buzzard Buteo buteo (harterti)

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (canariensis)

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Funchal coast, 1 at  mouth of the river Ribeira de Santa Luzia the 8th and 9th.

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus During walk from Caniçal to Ponta de São Laurenço 1 overflying the 6th.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres At Funchal coastline: some 10 the 4th, 2 the 5th, 8 the 7th, 6 the 8th, 6+7 the 9th, 6 the 10th.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus At Funchal coastline: 1 first winter the 4th, 2 first winters the 5th and 3 first winters between the 7th and 10th.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus At Funchal coastline: 20 the 4th, 12 the 5th, 22 the 7th, 15 the 8th, some 20 the 9th and 10th.

Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis

Feral Dove Columba livia domestica

Plain Swift Apus unicolor A few in Funchal city.

Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis During walk from Caniçal to Ponta de São Laurenço 1 called flying over the 6th.

Berthelot's Pipit Anthus bertheloti (madeirensis) Several (some 10) during walk from Caniçal to Ponta de São Laurenço and some 10 extremely tame there the 6th.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba On lawns in Funchal: 1 near harbour the 4th and 3 near the Lido the 9th.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Blackbird Turdus merula (cabrerae)

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (heinekeni)

Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris During walk from Caniçal to Ponta de São Laurenço a flock of 16 landed on a wire the 6th.

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Common in the village of Caniçal, where some 40 the 6th.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensis

Canary Serinus canaria

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (parva) In Caniçal 2 and some 40 during walk from Caniçal to Ponta de São Laurenço the 6th.

Common Waxbill Esralda astrid A flock of some 50 on a patch of wasteland in Funchal, near the Lido, at the terminal point of bus line 6, both the 7th and 9th.