AZORES PELAGIC 2022

We are all good to go with this year's Azores pelagic trip and there are still some spaces remaining. This trip is aimed at World and Western Palearctic birders targeting  Azores specialities including the endemic Monteiro's Storm Petrel and other seabirds such as 'Grant's Strom Petrel' (the cool season breeding Band-rumped Petrels), Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Barolo's Shearwater,  Bulwer's Petrel, Desertas Petrel, Sooty Tern and Wilson's Storm Petrel with a chance of vagrant seabirds (South Polar Skua, Zino's Petrel and Brown Booby have been recorded on these trips previously and both Black-capped and Trindade Petrel have been recorded in the same area). Abundant Cory's Shearwaters, Azores Gulls and Roseate Terns form the back drop to this unique sea birding experience.  An extension is available to see the endemic Azores Bullfinch and also other Azores bird sub-species which could be future splits (See Here) . In addition to the bird specialities 12 species of cetaceans have also been recorded on these trips (see log of sightings in links below) including Sowerby's and Cuvier's Beaked Whales. 

This year's guide will be photographer and Azores veteran Vincent Legrand. The dates this year are 20th to 27th August . Full trip (with extension to see the Azores Bullfinch) is £1980 pp and pelagic only is £1310pp (not including international flights). 

More general information on the trip HERE

Log of sightings from all previous trips HERE

Previous trip report from Josh Jones HERE

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AZORES CHOICE TRAVEL AGENCY

Monteiro's Storm Petrel- the Azores Pelagic's primary focus is in observing the Azores endemic Monteiro's Storm Petrel at sea (Rafa Armada). We time the trip in early autumn to coincide with the overlap period of both Monteiro's (hot season breeders) and Grant's Storm Petrel (cool season breeders) to provide side by side comparisons of this cryptic species pair. For more information in the Birdwatch article 'Fortune Hunters',  see here  

The WP mega Swinhoe's Storm Petrel has been recorded on over 90% of the autumn trips, the most reliable place in the WP to encounter this species at sea. 

Barolo's Shearwater is occasionally recorded. 

Several surprise discoveries have occurred on these trips including this Zino's Petrel, one of the few at sea sightings outside of Madeira. 

We often record Sooty Tern on these trips as there is a breeding pair on Praia Islet. This bird is one of the recently fledged juveniles (Richard Bonser)

Azores Bullfinch (David Monticelli) 

'Azores Chaffinch' one of several endemic island bird sub-species that occur on the Azores which could possibly be elevated to full species in the future. Recent published research suggests Azores Chaffinch should be a split. For other island forms see here

12 species of cetaceans have also been recorded on these trips with occasional Sowerby's Beaked Dolphins (Photo by Richard Bonser above) 

AZORES WILDLIFE WEBSITE

For more information and booking details please email littleoakgroup@btinternet.com