Canaries and Madeira

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomdea

Sunday 28 April 

Just back from a twelve-day cruise to the Canaries and Madeira from Southampton.  Not a bird-watching expedition but I did expect to see at least ten species during the voyage!  First up Aricife on Lanzarote on Saturday 12th where a handful of Yellow-legged Gulls put in an appearance as we docked.  then, walking from the cruise landing to the town alongside the shore of the inner harbour a lone Little Ringed Plover followed by up to a dozen foraging Turnstone.  A couple of Barn Swallows flew over the water (we actually had a couple fly over the ship approaching the islands) and then at least  dozen Feral Pigeons hanging around the water's edge.  And little did we realise at the time that this was to be our best birding day in terms of recorded species!

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomdea

The next day saw us landing in Las Palmas, Grand Canaria. A walk to the cathedral produced a Blackbird along with more Feral Pigeons and then, high above the cathedral, a small number of Common Swifts.  Tenerife was no better the following morning.  A few Yellow-legged Gulls in the Santa Cruz cruise port then we took a local bus ride across to Puerto de la Cruz where, once again, more Feral Pigeons and a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls.  However, on this occasion we actually also saw a Collared Dove!

A few of the many Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomdea

Finally, on the last of the four consecutive stops in Funchal on Madeira, following advice form fiend Derek Etherton back in mainland Spain, I was first off the ship and straight along the quayside to take a three-hour dolphin and whale spotting tour on one of the "Magic Dolphin" catamarans. And well worth the €35 it was as after cruising for about an hour westwards along the southern coast of the island towards Ribeira Brava we came across a large raft of resting Cory's Shearwaters.  No sooner seen than I spotted the distant spout of a whale with the binoculars and was able to pass on the message.  Ere long we were amongst no less that twenty resting Sperm Whales.

One of the few gathered pods of Sperm Whales Physeter macrocephalus

Once the boat crew were on the job the animals were quickly identified as female Sperm Whales accompanied by a number of calves.  Quickly informed that male of the species lived a more solitary life and only met up with females for mating.  After maturing, all male calves would be sent on their way to live their own more solitary life.  However, whilst on three tails were seen during the whole time we were present as adults dived and managed to create a spectacular splash, I am sure that I saw some rather large dorsal fins among the animals so, possibly, was there an Orca or two (Killer Whales) also in the area looking for an isolate and/or sick or injured calf on which to prey?  Nevertheless, it was a thrilling experience for all aboard the catamaran with telephone cameras clicking away like there was no tomorrow.

Sperm Whale - splash or blow!

I did notice the occasional shearwater around the area so would that suggest that food might be in the offing if, indeed, Orcas were present amongst the resting pod?  And then, making our way back to port, a further short stop to watch a pair of Pilot Whales making their way way westwards.

Sperm Whale on the turn

Birds seen:

Cory's Shearwater, Little Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Blackbird

More of the Sperm Whales Physeter macrocephalus  - including one very close to the catamaran

Now that's a close encounter with a Sperm Whale

Mother and calf?

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