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Birding in Madeira (1 Viewer)

-from may to september for the breeding seabirds and cetacean
-From late august to mid-september is the best for migrating great and manx shearwater.
-spring and autumn for migrating landbirds and waders

I would go between 25th august and 15th september.

FD
 
I just spent 2 weeks in Madeira and Porto Santo in mid-August, and as far as I can tell it is the best time for sea birds. For me the highlights were:
Cory's Shearwater
Bulwer's Petrel
Fea's Petrel
Zino's Petrel (night trip up to Pico Arieiro)
Roseate Tern
Maderian Firecrest
Trocaz Pigeon
Rock Sparrow
Plain Swift
Canary
Berthelot's Pipit

In all saw about 35 species in all including a number of endemic subspecies. I was on a family holiday so had to limit the amount of time I spent birding.

Missed the storm petrel's, but I think I needed an overnight trip to the Desertas for those. Have a look at Madeira Wind Birds website, they have several trips available and a lot of information. I did a day's birdwatching with them and I would recommend them, also a good way to see the island.

I did spend 3 days on Porto Santo and the Spanish Sparrow, Rock Sparrows and Berthelot's Pipits were much easier to find there, in fact they were everywhere on the west of the island.

David
 
I was in Madeira last week (17 to 24 Oct).
I saw Fea's and possible Zino's from one of the Cats out of Funchal, still lots of Cory's around and a few Roseate Terns.
Best birds (for Madeira) were Pomarine Skua near the Desertas (from the Ventura do Mar) and a Cattle Egret at Lugar de Baixo, along with 14 Little Egrets.
Cetaceans were limited to Bottle nosed Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins and Pilot Whales.
 
I agree with August being an excellent month. My trip report from August 2010 here. Saw everything I wanted including great views of seabirds on the Madeira Wind Birds Zino's pelagic.
 
Thanks for the info Steve, just belatedly read the report & booked a place.

Does anyone have any info on camping opportunities on Madeira - will have a car for transport.
 
From a review of the Wind Birds trip reports it looks as if White-faced Storm-Petrel doesn't get seen after the end of July. Similarly with Leach's Storm-Petrel if you need that (as I do). So what's the advantage of August over May/June/July?
 
If I camp at the top of Pico Ruivo next month (there's some sort of campsite), should I be able to see/hear Zino's Petrels?
 
It seems Zino's tours is between April and August.
https://www.madeirawindbirds.com/en/tours/madeira_zinos_night_expedition.html

"Visited this famous place for Zino’s Petrel toge
ther with the excellent guide Amílcar Vasconcelos
from Madeira Aventura. According to Amílcar, who was a bit sceptical to the possibility of hearing and
seeing the Zino's this early in season, he had never
been at the breeding ledges earlier than late April. "

http://madeira.seawatching.net/reports/Maderia2005_RB.pdf


more reports
http://madeira.seawatching.net/reports.html


Very good information should be by dutch birder michel de Lange, but I can't find this page.
 
albatross02 said:
It seems Zino's tours is between April and August.
https://www.madeirawindbirds.com/en/tours/madeira_zinos_night_expedition.html

"Visited this famous place for Zino’s Petrel toge
ther with the excellent guide Amílcar Vasconcelos
from Madeira Aventura. According to Amílcar, who was a bit sceptical to the possibility of hearing and
seeing the Zino's this early in season, he had never
been at the breeding ledges earlier than late April. "

http://madeira.seawatching.net/reports/Maderia2005_RB.pdf


more reports
http://madeira.seawatching.net/reports.html


Very good information should be by dutch birder michel de Lange, but I can't find this page.
Click to expand...

Pico Ruivo is a couple of miles from Pico Areiro which is where most people go to see them, as there's a road up. The two peaks are at much the same altitude so the habitat should be the same, but I understand there are only 65-80 pairs of the birds so it may be that they're not on Ruivo at all. Ruivo would be better for camping though. Maybe I should ask Madeira Windbirds.
 
Madeira Windbirds has the best knowledge.
They even have a chat function on their homepage.

Very good knowledge of Madeira should have also Michel de Lange from Netherlands, but maybe only about sea watching ?
 
Hi there all - just a quick note; Im in Madeira for 10 days from 10 August 2018 & booking up couple go boat trips. Appreciate ant info people want t post ( and will also do so when there ) and if any other birders happen to be there similar time useful to have someone to share info with ?
 
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