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Madeira 7 – 14 November 2012

Flora

The main focus of this trip for flora will be the laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its endemic trees, shrubs, ferns, mosses and lichens. This forest is so named due to the dominance of trees from the laurel family, such as bay laurel, fetid laurel, Madeira mahogany and the Canary laurel. A few native flowers should be flowering in November, though the majority will just be in leaf. Away from the laurel forest, the range of flowers from around the world is very striking, such as bird-of-paradise, agapanthus and king protea – these all from South Africa – among many exotic trees and shrubs.

Birds

Two birds occur only on Madeira, trocaz pigeon and Madeira firecrest, and we aim to find these. Local subspecies around at the time we are in Madeira include Berthelot's pipit Anthus bertelotti madeirensis, Madeira chaffinch Fringilla coelebs madeirensis, grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi and rock sparrow Petronia petronia madeirensis. Other birds include plain swift, canary, spectacled warbler, waxbills and migrants such as waders. Bird density is low in Madeira and local knowledge to find these specialities is essential.

Other wildlife

A sea trip offers the chance to see Cory's shearwaters close to Maderia Wind Birds' boat. There is also a chance of cetaceans, for which short-finned pilot whales are the most likely.

Butterflies are also interesting and easy to see with endemic species as Madeira grayling Hipparchia madeirensis and Madeiran speckled wood Pararge xiphia, plus sub-species like Madeira small copper Lycaena phlaeas phlaeoides. Indian red admiral, long-tailed blue and the beautiful monarch butterfly also breed on the island.

pilot whales
Pilot whales, February 2010 (Rob May)

Banana passion flower

Banana passion flower

Madeira small copper

Madeira small copper

Ruscus streptophyllus

Madeira butcher's broom Ruscus streptophyllus (Madeira Wind Birds)

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