Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition

Three days Pelagic Adventure on the North Atlantic Ocean, dedicated to Zino's Petrel, Fea's Petrel and Storm-petrels. The ultimate Western Paleartic birdwatching.

   

Detailed Description

This is 3 days of adventure on the North Atlantic Ocean, around Madeira Island with the only aim to observe closely the greatest number of tube-noses on the Western Palearctic and some sea mammals too.

Finally Madeira has real pelagic trips run by birdwatchers to birdwatchers! 3 days of ultimate sea watching for Petrels, Storm-petrels, Shearwaters and any other vagrant species that can be around.

On the first 2 days we will search for different species at different places, being one day for Zino's and Fea's Petrels (no Fea's in April) and another day for Madeira and White-faced Storm-petrels. The third day is kept for missing species or to increase the sightings list. Everyday we will look for cetaceans and if we spot them we will spend some time watching them.

Procellariidae: Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira, Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae, Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis, Scopoli's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

Hydrobatidae: European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus, Swinhoe's Storm Petrel Oceanodroma monorhis, Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus, Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro (winter & summer populations), Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa, White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina, Black-bellied Storm-petrel Fregetta tropica

Laridae: Sabine's Gull Xema sabini, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

Stercorariidae: Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus, Great Skua Stercorarius skua, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, Long-tailed skua Stercorarius longicaudus, South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki

Scolopacidae: Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

If you are interest on these Pelagics, please join the list.

Dates for 2012:
May 22, 23, 24 (Confirmed, only 1 place left)
June 4, 5, 6 (Confirmed, only 2 places left)
June 12, 13, 14 (Full)
June 28, 29, 30 (Confirmed)
July 23, 24, 25 (Confirmed)
August 1, 2, 3 (Full)
August 22, 23, 24 (Confirmed)

Trips that are full have been removed from this list.
Other dates on request.

Our Trip Reports:
Pelagic August 29, 30, 31 2011
Pelagic August 8, 9, 10 2011
Pelagic August 4, 5, 6 2011
Pelagic June 29, 30, July 1 2011
Pelagic June 6, 7, 8 2011
Pelagic May 30, 31, June 1 2011
Pelagic May 23, 24, 25 2011
Pelagic May 18, 19, 20 2011
Pelagic Aug 30, 31 & Sept 1, 3 2010
Pelagic August 5, 6, 7 2010
Pelagic June 7, 8, 9 2010
Pelagic June 2, 3, 4 2010
Pelagic May 24, 25, 27 2010
Pelagic May 14, 15, 16 2010
The Ultimate WP Pelagic Expedition by Hadoram Shirihai 2010
Expedition diary by Hadoram Shirihai 2009

Related Articles:
Wind Bird's Zino's Petrel Expedition by Kirk Zufelt
Zino's petrels in the flesh! by Brent Stephenson
Madeira Wind Birds by Roef Mulder
Madeira Pelagics by Kjetil Schjølberg
Pterodroma Heaven! by Chris Townend
Zinos's Petrel at Sea by Andy Paterson
Madeira 2010 (Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition) by Paco Chiclana
buscando el Petrel de Zino by Andy Paterson

Tour days: Refer to Description
Departure times: 2h15 pm
Typical duration: 7 hours for 3 days in a row

Space: maximum 8
Staff to Guest ratio^?: 1:4
Tour Languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese

Pick up location: On request, subject to crew times
Return details: On request, subject to crew times

Friendly advices: Take warm and impermeable clothes (trousers, jacket and shoes), hat, sunscreen and water. Sleep well on the nights before these trips and eat well before departing to the sea, these are fundamental conditions to spend a nice day out at sea. Try to stay 2 more days in Madeira after your pelagic expedition dates as we might need to postpone the trips due to bad weather. And remember rough sea is the best for Petrels!
Photography: Allowed and recommended. There is a possibility of getting salt water spray on your equipment during the trip to and from the spot, so bring waterproof bag for it.

Do you have any doubts or questions? Visit the FAQ Section or contact us.