Two weeks staying in the Leme Bedje apartments, Santa Maria, Sal, Cape verde 19/03/19 - 02/04/19.
35 species in all. The endemic species and sub-species count are more limited on Sal but I managed to get a number. I used the Helm guide to the Atlantic Islands. Interesting endemic (E) and sub-species (ssp) are highlighted. I can recommend the tour company called Explore Cape Verde who I joined on 2 bird tours. They have expert guides and work along with the NGO Biodiversity Cape Verde to protect the flora and Fauna of the island. The list is by date and place with any subsequent sightings in brackets:

20/03/19 Santa Maria
Whimbrel (many seen throughout the 2 weeks)
Iago Sparrow E (seen throughout the island)
Feral Pigeon
Greater Hoopoe Lark (a number seen across the island with good numbers in the salt pans North of Santa Maria)
Cream Coloured Courser (3 pairs seen on North East edge of Santa Maria and 2 more pairs seen at Water treatment Works near Botanical Gardens)
Bar Tailed Lark (seen in a number of areas North of Santa Maria)
Brown Necked Raven (also seen throughout the island in small numbers)
Cattle Egret (also in large numbers at water treatment works)
Eurasian Collared Dove
21/03/19 Water treatment Works east of Botanical Gardens, pools south of gardens and salt pans north of Santa Maria
Grey Heron (2 seen)
Black Winged Stilt (20+ seen)
Grey Plover (5+ seen)
Ringed Plover (10+ seen)
Kentish Plover (many seen throughout island)
Ruddy Turnstone (many)
Sanderling (many)
Little Stint 20+
Common Sandpiper (1 seen)
Wood Sandpiper (3 seen)
Greenshank (1 seen)
Barn Swallow
Spanish Sparrow (large flock at water treatment works)

22/03/19 Palmeira
Little Egret (also seen at water treatment works)

23/03/19
Western Osprey (3 seen on mountain North of Kite Surfing area on east coast)
Red Billed Tropic Bird (10+ seen on mountain North of Kite Surfing area on east coast also 100+ seen in main breeding ground at Monte Grande lava fields in North of island)
Black Crowned Sparrow Lark (1 female seen at water treatment works)
Common Kestrel (ssp alexandri seen in small numbers throughout the island)
Dunlin (1 In salt pans North of Santa Maria)
Curlew Sandpiper (5+ salt pans North of Santa Maria)
Ruff (1 in salt pans North of Santa Maria)

25/03/19
Cape Verde Shearwater E ( 50-100+ per hour passing South of Santa Maria out to sea early morning)
27/03/19
Woodpigeon (1 seen flying in and landing. This is the first record for Sal found in the Botanical Gardens. I made this first report on Birdguides and posted photos on my return to UK)

28/03/19 water treatment works
Common Quail (2 seen)
Spectacled Warbler (1 seen)
Hudsonian Whimbrel SSP (this bird had been reported previously but still a great spot)

31/03/19
Boyd's Shearwater E (1 chick seen at Monte Grande. This was shown to me by the bird ringing team from Biodiversity Cape Verde when I joined them on an escorted tour of the seabird breeding grounds.)
1 dead Cape Verde Storm Petrel found in breeding grounds

Only four butterfly species seen but they occur in large numbers: Plain Tiger, African Grass Blue, Desert Bath White, Painted lady. A really great holiday with 3 endemics seen and a self found first for the island.


-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Saturday 27th of April 2019 02:54:47 PM

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Saturday 27th of April 2019 09:35:15 PM

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Saturday 27th of April 2019 09:35:53 PM

-- Edited by Lawrence Hindley on Saturday 27th of April 2019 09:36:45 PM