AZORES 2013 - Wise Birding · PDF filewise birding holidays ltd – azores: terceira &...

WISE BIRDING HOLIDAYS LTD – AZORES: TERCEIRA & GRACIOSA TRIP REPORT SEP 2013

AZORES 2013 TERCERIA & GRACIOSA PELAGICS

1st – 6th September 2013

The following is a trip summary of birds and cetaceans seen during a trip to the Azores. I was

invited along by Peter Alfrey the founder of Azores Nature. Azores Nature is a not-for-profit

project with the aim of organising exploration/discovery trips to the Azores for serious

birders/naturalists. The main focus of the trip was to carry out a number of pelagic trips off the

island of Graciosa (the most northern of the Central Group) exploring the Bank of Fortune

where a number of exploratory pelagic have taken place previously.

In particular, the endemic Monteiro’s Storm Petrel was the focus of trip. Following the work of

various seabird scientists the Band-rumped Storm Petrel complex in the North Atlantic has

now been divided into 4 taxa. This is based on differences in vocalisations on breeding

grounds and on different breeding periods, “hot season” breeders in the summer months and

“cool season” breeders in the winter months. The 4 proposed species are as follows:

Monteiro’s Storm Petrel: Rare Summer breeder from the Azores

Grant’s Storm Petrel: Widespread winter breeder in North Atlantic

Madeiran Storm Petrel: Summer breeder from the Canaries and Madeira

Cape Verde Storm Petrel: Winter breeder from the Cape Verdes

Monteiro’s Storm Petrel is known only to nest on just two islets just off the island of

Graciosa. Birds breed during the 'hot season' and egg laying is believed to take place between

early May and early July, incubating just a single egg until as late as early August (Bolton et

al. 2008). Grant’s Storm Petrel is far more widespread with Azorean waters and breeds from

as early as August through until March in the Azores. Distinguishing these two species “at sea”

is clearly very difficult, but the timing of this trip was set to coincide with the end of the

breeding season for Monteiro’s Storm Petrel. Thereforel Storm Petrels in an obvious state of

moult at this time were assumed to be Monteiro’s Storm Petrels, whereas fresh plumaged birds

were assumed to be either, newly fledged Monteiro’s or ready to breed adult Grant’s Storm

Petrels.

Of course, there were plenty of other seabirds on the agenda with recent sightings of

Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel and Fea’s and Zino’s Petrel having been recorded off the bank of

fortune as well as some fantastic cetaceans encounters. The trip also allowed some time to

explore the island of Terceira, famous for its impressive list of nearctic waders throughout the

autumn period. Other key target species were the Azores Gull and the endemic races of

Chaffinch and Goldcrest, all potentially future splits.


Wise Birding Holidays and Azores Nature working in partnership

Tour Participants: Peter Alfrey, Ernie Davis, Chris Townend,

Daniel Mauras, Thomas Lang, Jurgen Blessing, Peter and Gudrun

Berndt, Stefan Pfutzke, Harro Muller, Darryl and Greg Spittle, Philip

Hansbro and Gerbrand Michielsen

HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIP

Monteiro’s Storm Petrel: Some excellent views allowing careful scrutiny of plumage & moult.

Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel: A single bird investigated the chum slick for around 5 minutes

Brown Booby: A great find by Pete and only the 3rd record for the Azores

Fea’s Petrel: A single bird gave great views as it investigated the chum slick.

Blue Shark, Oceanic White Tip, Common, Bottlenose and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

and 2 unidentified Beaked Whales: The cetacean and shark life around the Bank of Fortune

is truly impressive with many highlights on a daily basis. At times, the sea was boiling with

dolphin activity and Blue Sharks investigated our chum!

This Monteiro’s Storm Petrel was one of many sightings that we enjoyed.

See further details here: http://azoresnature.co.uk

http://azoresnature.co.uk/


Terecira Island......

HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL Seen well at the famous wader hotspot of Cabo da Praia Quarry on the island of Terceira. Note very strong face markings.

HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL In flight showing diagnostic dark rump.

ROSEATE TERN A juvenile moulting to 1st winter. This species is almost guaranteed in Terceira Harbour.


Terceira Island......

AZORES GULL – A very common species and very likely to become a future split.

AZORES NOCTULE BAT The only mammal endemic to the Azores.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Adult at Paul de Praia, Terceira.


Graciosa Island – The Bank of Fortune......

FEA’S PETREL – Zino’s Petrel has already been recorded in Azorean waters, so careful scrutiny is required!

FEA’S PETREL – This bird gave some great views as it investigated the chum slick

SWINHOE’S STORM PETREL – A real highlight was a single bird on the chum slick.


Graciosa Island - The Bank of Fortune......

BLUE SHARK with PILOT FISH – This beautiful shark came to investigate our chum!

SOOTY TERN – One of two birds seen well and presumed to be breeding on one of the islets.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE – A very common species.



“BAND-RUMPED” STORM PETREL – A fresh plumaged bird unassigned to species – Options are either a late moulting or juvenile Monteiro’s, or an adult Grant’s.

MONTEIRO’S STORM PETREL – This bird is in obvious wing moult and shows a slight fork in the tail.

BROWN BOOBY & CORY’S SHEARWATER – An expected find was this Brown Booby, the 3rd record for the Azores!



GREAT SHEARWATER – A good number of birds were present compared to previous trips.

CORY’S SHEARWATER – A daily sighting with some very impressive feeding flocks

SOOTY SHEARWATER – A small number of birds were seen passing through the area.



LONG-TAILED SKUA – Another bird from the group of three.

LONG-TAILED SKUA – A wonderful group of 3 birds passed overhead one evening.

MANX SHEARWATER – An uncommon species with no more than 4 birds seen.



ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN – Up to around twenty animals were seen varying from “spotted” adults to “unspotted” immatures like this one.

SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN – The commonest species of dolphin.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN – Up to around ten animals were recorded.


Seabird species recorded (#): Other marine wildlife:

Fea's Petrel (1) Beaked Whale sp (2)

Bulwer's Petrel (3) Spotted Dolphin (15+)

Cory's Shearwater (1000s) Common Dolphin (80+)

Great Shearwater (100+) Bottlenose Dolphin (8+)

Sooty Shearwater (20+) Loggerhead Turtle (7+)

Manx Shearwater (4) Blue Shark (3)

Wilson's Storm Petrel (1) Oceanic Whitetip Shark (1)

Swinhoe's Petrel (1)

Monteiro's Petrel (10+)

Brown Booby (1)

Arctic Skua (5)

Long-tailed Skua (3)

Roseate Tern (20+)

Common Tern (100s)

Sooty Tern (2)

Azores Gull (100s)

Bird highlights on Terceira:

Semipalmated Sandpiper (1)

Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Semipalmated Plover (2+)

Kentish Plover (40+)

Pectoral Sandpiper (1)

Curlew Sandpiper (2)

Sanderling (90)

Grey Plover (6)

Hudsonian Whimbrel (1)

Eurasian Whimbrel (4)

Garganey (1)

Common Waxbill (6+)

Mammal highlights on Terceira:

Azores Noctule (1)

All tours donate to conservation projects worldwide!

Wise Birding Holidays Ltd 3, Moormead, Budleigh Salterton, DEVON, EX9 6QA

Website: www.wisebirding.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wisebirdingholidays

Email: [email protected] Telephone: 07973 483227

http://www.wisebirding.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/wisebirdingholidays

mailto:[email protected]

AZORES 2013 - Wise Birding · PDF filewise birding holidays ltd – azores: terceira &...

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