Madeira

Despite being a popular holiday destination, the island of Madeira has virtually no beaches. Its flanks simply rise too steeply out of the sea to create them. As elsewhere in Macaronesia, the prevailing, moisture-laden wind means that the lushest vegetation can be found on the northern side. A special kind of forest called laurisilva, widespread in Europe millions of years ago, still thrives across much of Madeira, largely thanks to the incredibly steep topography which has made farming almost impossible. Laurisilva is home to a range of endemic taxa, such as Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocazand Madeira Firecrest Regulusmadeirensis.Others such as Madeiran Scops Owl Otus mauliand Madeiran Rail Rallus loweibecame extinct when Europeans arrived over 500 years ago. Most of these photographs were taken during a week in October 2006 when Magnus and René had planned to visit Bugio in the Desertas chain, southwest of the main island of Madeira. This treeless island is home to the only colony of Desertas Petrels Pterodroma deserta in the world. The weather had other plans, however, and it was not until 2011 that Magnus obtained recordings of Deserta Petrel. In October, few of the island’s specialities were singing, so many of the recordings presented here were made on previous trips to the island.

Madeiran Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensis, Fajã de Nogueira, Santana, Madeira, 4 April 2002 (Magnus Robb). Song of male, answering another in the distance. Background: Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis and European RobinErithacus rubecula.

Madeiran Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi, Casa das Queimadas, Santana, Madeira, 3 April 2002 (Magnus Robb). Song of a male. Background: Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis, Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, European Robin Erithacus rubecula, Madeiran Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensisand European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis.

Atlantic CanarySerinus canaria, Ponta do Pargo, Calheta, Madeira, 5 April 2002 (Magnus Robb). Song of a male. Background: European Robin Erithacus rubecula.

Berthelot’s PipitAnthus berthelotii, Ponta do Altar, Machico, Madeira, 11:07, 1 July 2006 (Magnus Robb). Song of a perched male. Background: Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculusand insects.

Zino’s PetrelPterodroma madeira, Pico do Arieiro, Funchal, Madeira, 00:56, 25 June 2006 (Magnus Robb). Nocturnal display flights over colony, located c 1600 m above sea level.

Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocaz, Fajã de Nogueira, Santana, Madeira, 11:58, 22 October 2006 (Magnus Robb).  Songs of several, very quiet despite being at a range of only a few metres. Background: Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis, Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and European Robin Erithacus rubecula.