A quick update on our trip.
4th August
Owing to a flight cancellation, we opted to fly out on 4th August instead of 5th, staying in Lisbon within walking distance of the airport.
Also within walking distance is the Parque da Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases, where we enjoyed a pleasant morning's birding with Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, and Ring-necked and Blue-crowned Parakeets (the latter a likely future Cat C).
5 August
Pelagic not possible owing to the weather and we explore the island, finding Quail surprisingly numerous. Cleared up all the passerines including Robin and Blackcap, and a light passage of Roseate Terns was the highlight on the coast.
6 August
Meet our boat chaps at 1200 and in choppy conditions head to South of Graciosa where calmer. Chumming didn't bring in much but with the seas improving we moved a few miles East of Graciosa. Double figures of Monteiro's would ordinarily be the highlight, as they gave incredible views around the boat. But not today as Graeme picks out a Trinadade Petrel (intermediate) which performs with two majestic passes.
The Azores is emerging as the place to see this tricky global mega, with all but two accepted records in the WP from this archipelago.
One likely Grant's candidate, three Great Shearwaters and a Wilson's Stormie completes a spectacular 7 hours at sea, which also included Loggerhead Turtle feeding on remnant squid, and 40+ Atlantic Spotted Dolphin.
Celebratory drinks and beer flowed this night!
7 August
Meet our boatman at 0700 and go further out, to the famous Bank of Fortune area. The regular chumming brought in wave after wave of ca 40 Monteiro's Stormie, with even better views than yesterday. Through careful study we found 3 or 4 Grant's Stormie using a combination of features, including whether in secondary moult, square ended shorter tail, brown toned appearance to upperparts on some birds, and appearing slightly bulkier. Many Monteiro's had not started their wing moult but some were in early primary moult (dropped primaries 1 to 3).
A pod of Bottlenose Dolphins and a whale sp breaching added to the mammal list, and a single Manx Shearwater added to the variety. No megas today but what a 2-day experience.
A quick note on travel. It's easy. Just be more organised. Efficiently through all passport controls with barely a glance.
A quick shout out to Rolando and Jose who were brilliant. We'd strongly recommend Nautigraciosa, they know where the birds are and will do everything to get good views.
www.divingraciosa.com
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