Azores Birds

Azores trip report - 7th to 15th November 2008

A week birdwatching holiday joined with a week family holiday on the amazing archipelago of Azores. Though only 3 islands were visited, those green islands surrounded by a deep blue sea are amazing not only for many migrating birds but also for birdwacthers…

7th Nov - São Miguel Island
Common birds like House Sparrows, Starlings, Canaries and Grey Wagtails were seen on the way to the harbor

Ponta Delgada harbor
Yellow-legged Gulls
4 Common Terns
1 Sanderling
1 Little Egret
1 Artic Tern
Turnstones

Seawatching from the harbor
Dozens of Cory’s Shearwaters
Few Manx Shearwaters
2 Little Shearwaters
1 Black-headed Gull

At the evening we saw dozens of terns roosting at the marina pier on Ponta Delgada but we did not have binoculars and it was dark already…

8th Nov - Flores Island
Santa Cruz das Flores, just after landed
1 Grey Heron
1 Turnstone
Common birds like: Starlings, Chaffinches, Blackcaps, Blackbirds and House Sparrows

Lagoa Branca
7 American Wigeons

Lagoa Comprida
2 Goldcrests
1 Yellow-legged gull

Lajes Harbor
1 Sanderling
9 Turnstones

9th Nov - Flores Island
Fajã Grande
1 Whimbrel
2 Black-headed Gulls
3 Semipalmated Plovers
2 Little Egrets
1 Sanderling
Turnstones
Many common birds as: Chaffinches, Starlings, Blackcaps, Blackbirds, Goldcrests, Canaries, House Sparrows, Yellow-legged Gulls, 3 Linnets and 2 Golfinches

Lagoa Branca
5 Hybrid Black Ducks
1 Grey Heron

Santa Cruz Airport
1 Grey Heron

Ponta Delgada Harbor
1 Surf Scoter
1 Whimbrel

10th Nov morning - Flores Island
Fajã Grande
1 Semipalmated Plover
1 Sanderling
6 Turnstones

Santa Cruz Harbor
1 dying Cory’s Shearwater
1 Grey Plover

Santa Cruz airport
2 Grey Herons
Lots of Yellow-legged Gulls

10th Nov afternoon - Corvo Island
Fojo
Many common birds: Canaries, Blackcaps,Chaffinches, Starlings and Blackbirds
1 Great White Egret

11th Nov - Corvo Island
Around Corvo airport
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Great White Egret
2 Little Egrets
9 Cory Shearwaters sitting at sea
3 Turnstones
1 Whimbrel
1 Sanderling
Common birds: Canaries, Chaffinches, House Sparrows, Starlings, Blackcaps and Grey Wagtail

12th Nov - Corvo Island
Caldeirão
6 American Wigeons
Some Eurasian Wigeons
15 Mallards
1 Female Ring-necked Duck
1 Male Tufted Duck
1 Great White Egret
1 Grey Heron
1 Wilson Snipe

13th Nov - São Miguel Island
Lagoa das Furnas
7 American Wigeon
14 Eurasian Wigeon
40 Teals
1 Gadwall
1 Green-wingged Teal
5 Ring-necked Ducks
1 Tufted Duck
1 Little Egret
15 Grey Herons
5 Coots

Tronqueira
4 Azores Bullfinches flying
2 Wood Pigeons

14th Nov - São Miguel Island
Lagoa das Furnas
18 Eurasian Wigeons
3 Teals
1 Pied-billed Grebe
8 Coots
1 Tufted Duck

15th Nov - São Miguel Island
Lagoa Verde
1 Shoveler
1 Great Scaup
1 Grey Heron
Coots

Lagoa Azul
1 Pintail
1 White-rumped Sandpiper
1 Gadwall
Mallards
Waxbills

17th Nov - São Miguel Island
Mosteiros
1 Whimbrel
1 Redshank
1 Little Egret
2 Turnstones
40 Cory’s Shearwaters at sea

20th Nov - São Miguel Island
Lagoa das Furnas
4 Ring-necked Ducks
1 Greater Scaup
3 Little Egrets
10 Grey Herons
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
1 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Osprey
12 Coots

Terra Nostra Park
The already famous Wood Duck was there along with Canada Geese, Mute Swans and a Mandarin Duck

Near Monte Escuro
1 Fieldfare

Azores Birds & Birdwatching

Azores is an isolated archipelago of 9 oceanic islands, where land species arrived through the wind, the sea, other animals or through human help. Geologically these islands are the youngest of Macaronesia (biogeographical region that comprehends the archipelago of Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde) and are true ecological and evolutionary laboratories.

As Darwin once written, “Regarding the small size of these islands the sheer amount of endemic species is really remarkable. Furthermore, every mountain is crowned by a young crater and the borders of each lava flow are still clearly recognizable. We have to conclude that not long ago, the ocean was reigning out here. It seems to me, that here in space as well as in time, the secret of all secrets, that is the appearance of new creatures on earth is readily perceptible.” (1845).

Regarding vertebrates, Azores as a distant archipelago, only have 49 land species from which 37 are breeding birds, 9 introduced mammals except the endemic Azores bat Nyctalus azoreum, 2 amphibians, 1 reptile. In what concerns to birds, Azores only have one endemic species which is Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula murina - the most threaten passerine in Europe, and ten endemic subspecies: Buzzard Buteo buteo rothschildi, Quail Coturnix coturnix conturbans, Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica, Blackbird Turdus merula azorensis, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla gularis, Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea patriciae, ChaffinchFringilla coelebs moreletti and 3 subspecies of Goldcrest Regulus regulus sanctaemariae (only in Santa Maria Island), Regulus regulus azoricus (only found in São Miguel) and Regulus regulus inermis. To add to these species there is also some Macaronesian endemic species and subspecies as well as important sea birds colonies, such as Cory’s and Macaronesian Shearwaters and Madeiran Storm-petrels.

Though these endemisms are just a very small part of what can make a birdwatcher visiting Azores. Birdwatching in Azores is much more than just the native species, birdwatching in Azores, specially in the Western part of the archipelago, is always a surprise as one gets many American vagrants. Birdwatching in Azores is important not only due to its endemic and threaten Bullfinch but mainly due to the wide diversity of birds from the Neartic and Western Paleartic that can be found on these islands, specially during migration seasons.

Azores Islands have 15 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) most of them coastal areas which hold important colonies of Roseate and Common Terns as well as the seabirds already mentioned. These Azorean IBAs are: Cintrão, coast and islet of Graciosa, coasts of Corvo, Faial, Flores and Pico, East part of São Miguel, North and East Coast of Santa Maria, Rosais, South and East Coast of Terceira, Topo, Vila Franca islet, Vila Islet and the West coasts of São Miguel and Terceira.

Here is the list of breeding birds in Azores archipelago:
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Atlantic Canary Serinus canaria
Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula murina
Blackbird Turdus merula azorensis
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla gularis
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Buzzard Buteo buteo rotschildi
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs moreletti
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea borealis
Goldcrest Regulus regulus 
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis parva
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea patriciae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Macaroneasian Shearwater Puffinus baroli
Madeiran Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Quail Coturnix coturnix conturbans
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Rock Dove Columba livia atlantis
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
Starling Sturnus vulgaris granti
Teal Anas crecca
Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis

Birdlife Portugal 2008 Bird of the Year

This year Birdlife Portugal chose Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina as Bird of the Year. Effort will be done this year to protect the habitat in São Miguel, Azores and some funds will be raised via the charity. A census will be done this June. If you are interested in being a volunteer for the census, please contact Birdlife Portugal.

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental conservation organisations with a focus on birds that works together on shared priorities - exchanging skills, achievements and information. BirdLife International is present in 103 countries and territories worldwide. 
Charity Registration No 1042125

Azores Flora

The archipelago of Azores belongs to the geographical region of Macaronesia due to its natural characteristics that are common to the other archipelagos of Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The fertility of the soil is what makes Azores islands so abundant in green pastures bordered by protective colourful flowers. The thick natural vegetation is composed of 56 indigenous species, some belonging to the Laurel Forest which was once present here. Nowadays this rare forest is fighting against alien species that were introduced for lumber production, like the Japanese Cryptomeria or Mimosas, other were brought here to serve as ornamental property dividers, like Hydrangea, Azaleas and Camellias. This exotic flora species were brought to the archipelago long ago by its colonisers and are still sometimes used by farmers for hedging.

The Azores flora has some endemic species that need to be protected from the invasion of the exotics, like Marsilia azorica, Prunus azorica, Lotus azorica, Euphrasia azorica and Myosotis azorica. Though other indigenous species are more spread through the islands, they must also be conserved from some introduced plagues.

Some of the dominant indigenous species are Juniperus brevifolia, Ilex perado ssp.azorica, Laurus azorica, Frangula azorica, Viburnum tinus subcordatum, Daboecia azorica, Erica scoparia azorica, Vaccinium cylindraceum, Euphorbia stygiana, Picconia azorica, Prunus lusitanica azorica.

Birdwatching in Azores

Azores are at the most westerly limit of the Western Palearctic and relating to birds there are a few specialities like the Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) and the Canary (Serinus canaria) for land birdwatching and some more for seawatching like Cory’s Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea borealis), Macaronesian Shearwaters (Puffinus assimilis), Madeira Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro), Bulwer’s Petrels (Bulweria bulwerii), Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus cachinans atlantis) and Roseate Terns (Sterna dougalli). Though the main attraction of Azores avifauna is the North American vagrants, whose observations are growing annually, especially passerines and waterbirds.

The Azores Bullfinch is the only endemic species of this archipelago and due to its endangered habitat . the Laurel Forest - it is also a threatened species. The seeds, flower buds and fleshy fruits of the laurel forest provide food for the 200 to 300 individuals of the critically endangered and rare Azores bullfinch.

Azores Archipelago

The autonomous region of Azores has 9 inhabited islands and some islets which all together totalize 2337 square km with around 237 thousand habitants, in the North Atlantic, west of Portugal.

Azores islands are volcanic origin and there is still some volcanic activity. Due to the geographical situation and also to some physical and cultural differences, the islands of Azores form 3 groups: the Western (Santa Maria and São Miguel Islands), the Central (Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Faial and Pico islands) and the Eastern group (Flores e Corvo).

Known mostly by its Nature and Whales, the Azores archipelago was rediscovered since 1427 and ended in 1452 when the islands of Flores and Corvo were populated.