| Leading Tours since 1987
Itinerary: Day 1: We have a flight to Lisbon in Portugal and on to the main island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. On arrival, we can check Ponta Delgada for Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern and perhaps a lingering Roseate Tern. In 2005, Ponta Delgada attracted vagrant Laughing, Franklin’s, and Ring-billed Gulls. Transfer to our hotel in Ponta Delgada for three-night stay.
Day
4: A morning flight to the most westerly island of
the Azores – Flores. Santa Cruz is the main town on Flores
and a check of the harbour and adjacent cliffs may reveal a
vagrant Peregrine Falcon. Rarities around the airport in recent
years have included Days 5-6: On one day (weather permitting) we make a day-trip to Corvo, an isolated island of the Azores with a reputation for North American vagrants. Our main interest is in the wooded valleys on the eastern side of Corvo where birds take shelter from the prevailing westerly winds. In recent years Corvo has hosted White-eyed, Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos, Tennessee, Black-throated Blue and Hooded Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole and Bobolink. We hope to connect with one of these or another North American passerine. On another day we visit Faja Grande on Flores searching for the scarce island race of Eurasian Woodcock. Faja Grande is wooded with small lagoons, thus enhancing our chances of migrants. Seawatching off Flores may produce rare seabirds in westerly winds, including the possibility of Fea’s and Bulwer’s Petrels and, in recent years, Trinidade and Bermuda Petrels. Day 7: Transfer to the airport and take an inter-island flight to Terceira. The island is probably the hotspot for Nearctic waders with recent records of Semipalmated Plover, Pectoral, Semipalmated and Spotted Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs. A check of the harbour and beach area may have passage Whimbrel, Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone. Overnight stay on Terceira. Day 8: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Portugal and onto the UK where the tour concludes. * * * * *
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TThe
Azores are situated in the Atlantic Ocean and form an
archipelago of nine inhabited islands. Although the islands
hold very few land birds, our tour is timed to coincide
with the peak period of North American vagrants. With
increased coverage in recent years, the Azores has produced
notable Western Palearctic vagrants and regularly occurring
shorebirds including White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers.
We visit four islands - Sao Miguel, Flores, Corvo and
Terceira. Species of interest include the endemic Azores
Bullfinch and several island sub-species of Common Buzzard,
Blackbird, Grey Wagtail, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Atlantic
Canary, Robin and Woodpigeon. It is, however, the lure
of rare seabirds and vagrants from North America that
interests visiting birders. 
Day
2: Today we head towards Mosteiros located in the extreme
north-west of the island. Seabirds may be numerous here including
Cory’s, Great, Manx and Macronesian Sheawaters, gulls
and terns. A thorough check of the beaches may reveal Little
Egret, Whimbrel and Ruddy Turnstone whilst rarer species have
included Snowy Egret and Spotted Sandpiper in the past few years.
On our return to Ponto Delgada, we make a visit to the twin
lakes of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. Depending on water levels,
shorebirds may be present with small numbers of Common Moorhens.
Sectors of woodland are worth checking for warblers including
Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and possibly a vagrant
wood warbler from North America. Return to Ponta Delgada harbour
to check the evening roost of gulls and terns.
Day
3: Our main destination is Serra de Tronqueira reached
by passing through the delightful countryside of peaks, fields
and attractive villages. On arrival we search for Azores Bullfinch,
a scarce endemic numbering a few hundred individuals. We should
also encounter the endemic sub-species of Common Buzzard, Woodpigeon,
Blackcap, Robin, Chaffinch and Goldcrest. Lagoa de Furnas often
holds a few wildfowl and herons with the latter including the
North American race of Great Egret in recent years. Return to
Ponta Delgada via Vila Franco de Campo for gulls and shorebirds
which may reveal Ring-billed Gull, White-rumped Sandpiper or
a flock of migrant Sanderlings.
Killdeer
and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Chimney Swifts and Tree Swallows.
In the afternoon we make an exploration of the higher lakes
for resident American Black Ducks (and hybrids). Recent years
have seen vagrant Great Blue Heron and American Bittern. Ponta
Delgada is the most northerly point of the island where seabirds
can be found. It is also a noted hotspot for migrants in autumn. |
