New pelagic trips of Madeira Wind Birds includes the Salvage Islands and Desertas, in Madeira archipelago!

Selvagens Expedition
A 5-day trip that will give you the chance to observe almost all the seabirds that breed in the Salvages archipelago, as well as provide you with free time to be in close contact with Nature on board a 47.7-foot (14.5-m) yacht.

Selvagens Islands are a bird sanctuary that shelters some of the most important seabird colonies in the world, including the largest colony of Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea borealis) in the world, and an even larger colony of White-faced Storm-petrels (Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca), dispersed across Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena. Also found here are Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli) and the Band-rumped Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro).

Islands Triangle
A 2-days programme that offers you the opportunity of observing the rich marine avifauna of the archipelago of Madeira, the Zino/Fea’s Petrel, in particular. On this tour, you will also get a close-up look at Desertas and Porto Santo Islands.

The colonies of seabirds sheltered by these islands have a world-wide importance and include the largest Atlantic colony of Bulwer’s petrel (Bulweria bulwerii), Band-rumped Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro), Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis) and Little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli). The population of Fea’s petrel (Pterodroma feae) deserves special mention, since this is the only European site where this species breeds.

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The Marica Naturalists Lodge receives its first Visitors.

In Southeast Brazil the Marica Naturalists Lodge (a purpose-built guesthouse owned by guided-birding’s registered guide Richard Raby) has, by popular demand, been forced to open it’s doors to the public 6 months prior to its planned inauguration. Although building work on the second floor at this Rio de Janeiro state lagoon-side Lodge continues and has still to be completed, a growing demand from visiting birders with bookings at other destinations in the region has “forced” Richard into accepting the occasional request for a one or two night visits by birders wishing to “get some coastal birding in”. Temporary accommodation has been organised in the self-contained ground floor of the Lodge for parties of 1-3 people max. and although simple (everyone sharing the single but ample bathroom, for example!) it is comfortable, completely weatherproof and possesses a fantastic garden and vista!
“ I realise that I have something special here in the Lakes district of Rio de Janeiro and that a stop-over here can really help boost ones South American trip-list,” says Richard. “ So I decided to accept the odd, persistent enquiry and they just continue to multiply!”

Along with a host of seabirds and waterside species to be found around the seashore, lagoons, coastal sandbar forest (or Restinga) and the surrounding low-level Forest patches, Marica offers some fantastic birding and the visitor stands good chances of seeing many speciality species such as Restinga Antwren and Cresent-chested Puffbird, Amazon Parrots (A. amazonica) and Laughing Falcon, Ash-throated and Rufous-sided Crake, Plumbeous and Blackish Rails, Pauraque and Spot-tailed Nightjars, Unicolored and White-flanked Antwrens, Sooretama and Chestnut-backed Antshrike etc.etc.and with luck, Giant Snipe and Grey Potoo, all of which can prove difficult to observe in other parts of South-Eastern Brazil.

In the meantime Richard Continues to offer guiding services for his “normal” multi-centre birding trips around Rio de Janeiro state, “ I expect in the near future to be offering 2-7 day packages in the Marica region whilst also offering the Marica lakes together with other state birding destinations that can be custom designed to suit the requirements of the individual”.

For more information visit Richard’s new website at www.brazilbirding.com

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Portugal's the place to go!

Seriously "under-birded", Portugal nevertheless has a wealth of avian specialities and there has never been a better time to visit than now or a better place to stay than Quinta do Barranco da Estrada.

The Quinta has a unique location with five different habitats within easy reach by car and with resident ornithologist Frank McClintock to either guide you personally or to point you in the right direction you're sure to make the most of any stay here, while if you're interested in photography, there is in-house advice from professional photographer Natalia Marreiros.

Groups are welcome and attract discounts.

Full information can be obtained through either of the two websites, www.paradise-in-portugal.com or www.birding-in-portugal.com.

We look forward to welcoming you!

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