Madeira and the Desertas Islands

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on a concrete wall just east of Mole Island next to a big parking lot and sea watched until 9.30, but we only saw lingering Cory’s Shearwaters. We then drove uphill from Porto Moniz to the Ribeira de Janela area. It only took ten minutes to the valley called Levada da Janela, just following the signs at the top road. At Rabaçal just pass the car park where the levada starts. A road sign tells you its a dead end, but drive to the end further down in the valley and from the turn around area you have a wide view into the valley. It took surprisingly long before Hiele found the first (and only) Trocaz Pigeon in the area. We obtained good scope views as it was perched in a tree. Butterflies were identified as Madeira Speckled Woods and Long-tailed Blues. Levada da Janela, J. Westra Long-tailed Blue, Levada da Janela, J. Westra Early in the afternoon we went to Natural RM Floresta de Laurissilva at Chăo da Ribeira, but there were no birds or butterflies to get exited about. Another sea watch at Porto Moniz from 13.15 to 14.45 (only) produced five Manx Shearwaters, three Bulwer’s Petrels and many Cories. We hoped to escape the grey weather by driving southwards towards Fonte do Bispo, but not before driving downhill towards Prazeres and the coast, the skies opened up. A short search for Linnet ended with only seeing Madeira Grayling. At our next stop, the small reedy pond at Lugar de Baixo, we added Moorhen and Coot to our lists and we enjoyed a very nice meal at the beach. We ended our birding day with a final sea watch at Punta da Cruz from 19.30 to 20.00, where the usual suspects occurred such as a handful of Bulwer’s Petrels. Late in the evening we flew back to Amsterdam. Species list. Lifers in red. 1 Mallard, anas platyrhynchos; two at Lugar de Baixo. 2 Red-legged Partridge, alectoris rufa; one at Parque Ecologico do Funchal near Poiso. Introduced. 3 Desertas Petrel, pterodroma deserta; recently split from Fea’s Petrel, pterodroma feae. At least 24 seen in total! Some very close to the boat. Possibly Zino’s Petrel was also involved during the trip to and from the Desertas, but they could not be identified with certainty. Two were seen during a sea watch from Ponta da Cruz on July 22 nd ; two during seatrip off Caniçal on July 22 nd ; three en route with the Venturo do Mar to the Desertas on July 23 rd ; at least 15 during a small pelagic evening trip near Deserta 6
Grande on July 23 rd ; and two late morning en route from Desertas back to Madeira on July 24 th . 4 Zino’s Petrel, pterodroma madeira; possibly seen at sea, but easy during the organized tour with Madeira Wind Birds. The Zino’s Petrel colony was visited on a cold foggy night with a slight drizzle, high on Pico do Arieiro (1818 m), one of Madeira’s highest peaks. From 10.30 pm we could listen to the eerie calls of several Zino’s Petrel. One or two of the world’s rarest seabirds could be glimpsed when they flew right over our heads on this very dark and cold night. 5 Bulwer’s Petrel, bulweria bulwerii; common and easily seen from Ponta da Cruz at Funchal; we saw nine on July 22 nd . During the trip from Funchal to the Desertas on July 23 rd we saw at least 80 (!) and during our small pelagic evening trip near Deserta Grande that same day we saw at least 50. A walk on a nature trail around the warden’s research station on Deserta Grande late afternoon produced barking sounds of birds deep down in their nest holes under big rocks. Walking the same site at night revealed many birds flying into their burrows, sitting beside nest holes and flittering between the rocks. The return trip to Madeira gave another twelve Bulwer’s the next day. On July 26 th we saw three at Porto Moniz and later that day (19.30 -20.00) five during a short sea watch at Ponta da Cruz, Funchal. 6 Cory’s Shearwater, calonectris borealis; very common. 7 Manx Shearwater, puffinus puffinus; one seen from the Ventura do Mar near Deserta Grande on July 23 rd and five during a sea watch at Porto Moniz on July 26 th . 8 White-faced Storm Petrel, pelagodroma marina; our Ventura do Mar skipper called and pointed out this species riding a wave during the return trip from the Desertas to Madeira. I was right behind him and could connect to the bird right away. I saw it for only a few seconds, most of the birders on board were not so lucky. 9 Madeiran Storm Petrel, oceanodroma castro; it was pitch black before the first Madeiran Storm Petrel was heard on Deserta Grande on July 23 rd . They sound like a finger being squeaked across a wet glass, and they turned out to be very common. With some effort you could just see the smaller silhouettes of birds heading for their nests higher up on the steep cliffs. 10 Little Egret, egretta garzeta; one at Porto Funchal and one at Lugar de Baixo. 11 Buzzard, buteo buteo harteri; one near Caniçal. 12 Kestrel, falco tinnunculus canariensis; widespread in small numbers. 13 Moorhen, gallinula chloropus; two at Lugar de Baixo. 14 Coot, fulica atra; two at Lugar de Baixo. 15 Turnstone, arenaria interpres; at Ponta da Cruz. 7
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Madeira and the Desertas Islands

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