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Madeira 17 – 24 February 2010

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. Other native plants flowering in February include the pride-of- Madeira, Madeira mountain stock, Madeira storksbill and Mando's chrysanthemum.

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, rock sparrow Petronia petronia madeirensis and little shearwater Puffinus assimilis baroli. Other birds include quail, plain swift, 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 to the Desertas Islands offers the chance to see bottle-nosed and spotted dolphins, with a possibility of seeing sperm and fin whales. The trip takes us to the breeding habitat of the endangered monk seal.

Butterflies are also interesting and easy to see with endemic species as Madeira brimstone Gonepteryx madeirensis, Madeira grayling Hipparchia madeirensis and Madeiran speckled wood Pararge xiphia, plus sub-species like Madeira small copper Lycaena phlaeas phlaeoides. Indian red admiral 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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