Sunday, April 11, 2010

Madeira 3-10 April





Dawdling round the hotel gardens we found Macaronesian Blackcap warbling noisily, Macaronesian Blackbirds, Atlantic Canary in the palm trees and Common Terns plunging into the sea. Yellow Legged Gulls overhead.

On our first Levada walk, Madeiran Firecrest, Goldfinch, Madeiran Buzzard gliding over the trees and Macaronesian Kestrel on a lamppost.

At ponta da Pargo Lydia found us a linnet, and first Robins evident.

At Blandy's gardens we had good views of Madeiran Chaffinches (pictured).

Out beyond Canical, Bertholet's Pipits abound and we and we also had a great view of a Shearwater doing its thing. There were 3 Grey Herons out on the fish tanks.
A Little Egret on the river at Machico.

Porto Moniz lived up to its reputation with Shearwaters passing regularly and we were able to pick out Cory's, Great and Manx.

A turnstone on the rocks.

On the Levada walk above PM one enters Lauraceous forest and, sure enough, the Trocaz pigeon makes an appearance, several times seen way below flying over the treetops. The Chaffinches are absurdly gregarious on this stretch.

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