Bodensee pelagic

no luck with skuas but Mediteranean Gull are always nice!

more Madeira

Pico do Arieiro, the only known breeding area of the Zino's Petrel (at 1600m height!!)

Ruddy Shelduck @Machico, a genuine vagrant. Really!

A lost Spoonbill @Machico

cliffs on the west

Pectoral Sandpiper @Ribeira Brava

This rare vagrant was found by the Italian team at Ponta do Pargo

the wingpattern confirmes it is not a Senegal Thick-knee but a Stone-curlew

Plain Swift

one of the two Roseate Terns at Funchal Harbour

western tip of the island, good area for Rock Sparrows

but these are the best!

Zino's Petrel Pelagic - day 3

The initial plan to head south was changed due to high wind speed; chumming position was north of Madeira again. On the way we were accompanied by a mixed pod of Bottlenose and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, they were around the boat everywhere!

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Today's highlight was the excellent view of a pair(?) of Zino's Petrels which were attracted to the chum for prolonged time. Stunning birds and one of the rarest species in the world with a total breeding population of less than 100 pairs.

note the long and slender bill

these birds showed the more typical underwing pattern (with more extended white)

A Madeiran (=Band-rumped) Storm Petrel and a Great Shearwater showed briefly.

 

And of course there were Bulwers Petrels and Cory's Shearwaters:-)

The fast Rib "Oceanodroma" powered by 2 Yamaha 200hp outboards. Many thanks to Hugo and Catarina for the excellent trip again.

Zino's Petrel Pelagic - day 2

Chumming position inbetween Madeira, Desertas and Porto Santo, aiming for Storm Petrels. A rather cloudy and windy day but it was good fun again. I lost the count of Pterodroma's but there may have been 10 today! Some showed very well and could be identified as Fea's Petrel.

Fea's/Zino's Petrel

Fea's Petrel approaching, following pictures are from the same bird

note bill-structure

Another bird, not sure which

We could also enjoy 2 Great Shearwaters, they were attracted to the chum and came very close to the boat. Great birds!

Great Shearwater shearing the water

At the end of the day a storm petrel suddenly showed; it flew by very close and it was a Madeiran Storm Petrel indeed! Hope to get better shots next time:-)

Why did Nikon abandon closest-object focus priority after the D200 series!?

And of course there were many Cory's and Bulwers again!

Zino's Petrel Pelagic - day 1

Chumming position today was north of the island. The rather strong winds made us enjoy the waves and spray. On the way we saw the first Pterodroma which turned out to be a Zino's!

Zino's Petrel, note the diagnostic slender bill.

The hours of chumming produced 2 more Zino's. The last one also showed the typical light underwing but darkness had fallen, no pictures. Furthermore the chum attracted 10s of Bulwers Petrels and Cory's Shearwaters. No Storm-petrels (yet!).

Zino's nr.2; again a bird with rather dark underwings but note the bill.

Several dolphins were bow-riding during the trip back but it was to dark to determine the species.

Zino's nr.2