Madeira - english version

By clicking on the images you can enlargen them!

PELAGIC BIRDING AT MADEIRA 1st – 3rd AUGUST, 2012

Together with my brother Jorma, Jukka Nurmi, Markus Varesvuo, and their spouses to Madeira aiming at productive seabird photography. The trip was the three-day “Zino’s pelagic birding”, organized by Catarina and Hugo from Madeira Wind Birds (www.madeirawindbirds.com). On each day we were at sea from 3 to 10 p.m., on the first day North, second day South, and third day East of Madeira (about 15 miles each day). After reaching the target site, the “chum” was poured over board and repeatedly twice thereafter each day with an interval of about two hours. Then, we drifted with the chum about two miles each day, trying to keep beside it and having the sun behind. Two German birdwatchers, Felix and Christian, accompanied us - thanks for company!

We had overcast all days but the two latter were partly quite cloudy. The temperature was nicely about 25oC. Wind is important for seabirds as we came to see, the first day had the fewest birds and the lightest wind (about 3 Bf or 5 m/s), on both the second and third day the wind was stronger, about 5 Bf (10 m/s) from North-East. This produced more birds but also made us wet and put some challenge in photography since everything was moving: the photographers (in the swinging boat), the birds (and usually in a very quick and unpredictable fashion), and the background (the waves).

We saw (and photographed!) almost all species on our wishing list, despite the White-faced Storm Petrel. However, to compensate that we had some surprises that were not so expected. Below you can find a description of those seabirds we managed to see and a selection of photographs. 

 

Bulwer’s Petrel (Bulweria bulweri) by far the most common seabird, each day we saw far over one hundred individuals. In practice the species was present at the chum all the time, by one or more individuals.

Light conditions at sea were very variable affecting considerably the colouration of the birds, the general impact of Bulwer's Petrel is very dark

bulbul2.jpg 

In sunshine the general impact is very different, as well as the colour of the sea. In good light the lighter feathering on upper wing is clearly visible

bulbul3.jpg

Bulwer's Petrel in backlight

bulbul4.jpg

These birds are very skilful flyers and able to fly also very close to the sea surface

bulbul5.jpg

Bulwer´s Petrel may look surprisingly different in variable conditions, compare e.g. to the photo above

bulbul7.jpg

"Chum" leaves an oily surface which creates a photographic background

bulbul8.jpg

When the boat is on the bottom of the wave you may get nice photographic arrangements with sea, sky, and birds

bulbul9.jpg

There is something dove-like in the Bulwer's Petrel, but in some conditions it is reminiscent of a Storm Petrel and sometimes it may give a Swift-like appearance

bulbul10.jpg

Although Bulwer's has very long wings, in some positions the effect is very different

bulbul11.jpg

Light conditions were generally very good for photography

bulbul12.jpg

Getting into flight from sea surface is easy

bulbul13.jpg

Sometimes Bulwer's Petrels jump on the surface in a Storm Petrel fashion, and may thus be confused with dark-rumped Storm Petrels

bulbul15.jpg

Something edible has been found

bulbul16.jpg

Here a Bulwer's Petrel is standing on the surface like a Storm Petrel

bulbul17.jpg


Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)Cory’s was another numerous and visible species, which was actually more abundant than Bulwer’s Petrel on the open sea after the shoreline. Not as interested in chum as Bulwer’s but still seen close to the boat quite often. Altogether we saw hundreds of Cory’s.

Cory's Shearwater is a magnificent bird although from a distance may give a gull-like appearance

caldio1.jpg 

Cory's is much easier target for photography than Bulwer's, both because of size and contrasts

caldio2.jpg

This photo is not in a wrong position, the bird is rounding

caldio3.jpg

The back has fairly obvious scaled apperance, the legs are pink

caldio4.jpg

Coming straight towards the camera, with tubenoses well visible

caldio6.jpg

The underside is very white, whereas the upperside is fairly dark

caldio7.jpg

Here you can compare the general effect to the photo above

caldio8.jpg

Obviously it doesn't matter if the wingtip shears the surface

caldio9.jpg

Cory's gliding in backlight

caldio12.jpg

Sea, sky and seabirds - we enjoyed these a good stuff but could have enjoyed even more

caldio14.jpg

A typical gliding position above the surface

caldio16.jpg

One of the last Cory's of the trip in the evening lights of Friday

caldio17.jpg


Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)one of the surprises, on the first day one bird was circling around the boat for a while, letting everybody to take pictures.

According to its name, Sooty gives a very dark impact 

pufgri2.jpg

The bird is actually dark brown but from a distance or in poorer light conditions may appear black

pufgri3.jpg

Wing underside is the only region where there is some lighter feathering, as can be seen

pufgri1.jpg

The arm has also a lighter border which can be seen only from certain angles

pufgri4.jpg

In strong light the general apperance is surprisingly different

pufgri5.jpg

Sooty Shearwater was a nice surprise in these waters at this time and further still it circled around our boat for a while

pufgri6.jpg


Manx’s Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)the only seabird we did not succeed to capture in photos. On the first day one individual came from the North passing by quickly to the South.


Fea’s Petrel (Pterodroma feae deserta)the exact species of the Soft-plumaged Petrels seen is still under examination but apparently most were Fea’s, of the subspecies deserta. We saw altogether about 15 Soft-plumaged Petrels and got decent photos of most of them. The birds below are probably all Fea's (Deserta's) Petrels.

Soft-plumaged Petrels are very elegant birds

ptefea1.jpg 

Deserta's Petrel, their breeding site Desertas in the background

ptefea2.jpg

Here we a good seabird atmosphere and you can see also the weather on Thursday

ptefea3.jpg

The best difference from Zino's Petrel is the thick bill which is quite well visible here

ptefea4.jpg

A Soft-plumaged Petrel in backlight, this individual has a fairly intermediate bill and may be impossible to identify with certainty

ptefea5.jpg

Maybe the rarirty is one cause for the attractiveness but these are also very beautiful birds

ptefea6.jpg

This is a typical Deserta's Petrel with a very thick bill

ptefea7.jpg

The same bird as above

ptefea8.jpg

Here you can see the heavy bill clearly, cf. to the Zino's later on

ptefea9.jpg

This individual is from the last day, with the bill of similar size

ptefea10.jpg

Zino’s Pterel (Pterodroma madeira) on the first day we saw only one bird of this species group and this was definitely a Zino’s. Whether we saw other Zino’s too is not yet clear. This species is critically endangered and the whole world population breeds on the mountainous parts of Madeira and is estimated to about 100 pairs. For those interested in Pterodroma identification, photos of the different individuals we managed to photograph can be found here. I will add species information after obtaining expert opinions on these individuals.

Zino's Petrel, the bill is thinner and general appearance less bulky

ptemad1.jpg

The darkness of the upperside is greatly influenced by light

ptemad2.jpg

The best site to see Zino's is North to Madeira, why we headed there on the first day

ptemad3.jpg

 

Here you can see the bill structure well

ptemad4.jpg

All Soft-plumaged Petrels have a strikingly rounded head

ptemad5.jpg

Zino's against the sky, some individuals have much more white on the underwing than this one

ptemad6.jpg

Madeiran Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro)sparser than expected, on the second day we saw three and on the third two individuals, with some photographic success especially with one individual on the second day.

All Storm petrels appeared suddenly, without anyone seeing them to arrive. Here a Madeiran Storm Petrel in a typical flight position.

ocecas1.jpg

 

Storm Petrels typicall bounce on the sea

ocecas2.jpg

Ashtonisingly, one of these has been found in Finland, too

ocecas5.jpg

Madeiran Storm Petrel by the chum

ocecas7.jpg

There were few possibilities to train Storm Petrel identification, later in the Autumn also Leach's Strom Petrels appear on these waters

ocecas8.jpg

In this backlight photo you may see all typical identification features of a Madeiran Storm Petrel

ocecas10.jpg

Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)one of the most delighting surprises and compensated nicely the missing White-Faced. Appeared during the last evening at the chum and spent the rest of the evening there, dancing on the sea surface for us to admire. 

Wilson's is a true fairy, bouncing on the surface all the time

oceoce1.jpg

 

Here you can see both the typical stance and the diagnostic yellow webs

oceoce2.jpg

Wilson's feeding

oceoce3.jpg

The bird was very active and jumped from the surface every now and then moving a bit forward

oceoce4.jpg

Here you can see well the upperside and rump

oceoce6.jpg

In this flight photo you can see the long legs

oceoce8.jpg

Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)on the second day on individual migrated to the South, quite far away (nicely spotted by our German friends).


Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)was regularly present at the Funchal harbour, especially during early mornings and late evenings. Is easiest to spot because of a faster wing-beat or from the sound resembling slightly a Spotted Redshank.

Roseate Tern in flight, a rosy tone is slightly visible on the belly

stedou1.jpg

Roseate Tern on the Funchal harbour pier

stedou2.jpg

 

And here with fellow individuals

stedou3.jpg

Apparently there was a juvenile on the sea side because the bird took fish there

stedou5.jpg

Against a very dark background a silvery white tern is difficult for correct exposure

stedou4.jpg

Here a Roseate Tern with fish on a more ordinary background

stedou6.jpg

Madeiran Pigeon Columba trocaz – not very rare in the mountainous areas but difficult to find and especially to take photos, usually shy. We had an unexpected luck as can be seen!

Incredible luck,  a "wary" Madeiran Pigeon feeding on the levada in about 10 yards distance!

coltro2.jpg

 

On the ground there is no white visible

coltro3.jpg

Apparently there are few good photos of this species, stays mainly in thick forests and up in the trees

coltro5.jpg

As the levada was filled with tourists, all planets were in the right position, even the light in the usually quite dark levadas was good at this point

coltro7.jpg

Madeiran Swift Apus unicolor – Swifts were common but it remained a bit unclear how many of them were Madeiran and how many Pallid Swifts, both were common.

The clearest separating feature to Pallid Swift is the more deeply forked tail

apuuni1.jpg 


Our warmest thanks are to Catarina and Hugo for their professional and friendly guidance. For those who want to see pelagic birds at a close distance and to photograph them within the WP region, this is probably the best option. The advices that are sent by the guides before the trip we recommend to follow closely. More pictures you may find from my photo album:

http://www.ollitenovuo.com/albumi/www.ollitenovuo.com/kuva-albumi/lintukuvat/www.ollitenovuo.com/kuva-albumi/lintukuvat/uusimmat/

or from my brother's webpages:

http://jtenovuo.1g.fi/kuvat/Uusimmat+ulkomailta++-+Latest+abroad/