Monarch butterflies in Madeira

[sahikmet]

Hi ,
Just come back fro Madeira, lots of Monarch butterflies around. I presume they are resident population rather than migrating from North America. Will post pictures when I can sort them out. Cheers

[Padfield]

Yes, they are resident there. I look forward to your pictures.

Guy

[sahikmet]

Thanks Guy for confirming my belief. Here some of the pictures I took, taken by a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V Digital Camera with GPS. This is my latest travel camera, lightweight will fit in any small pocket. Cheers. PS One of the pictures appears to show egg being laid.

[David M]

Lovely to see them in the wild, Sahikmet.

Thanks for sharing.

[Padfield]

Beautiful pictures.

Did you see any Pararge xiphia while you were there?

Guy

[sahikmet]

No Guy unfortunately I did not see any Pararge xiphia while we were there. But there were some mauve/blue small butterflies, very active did not manage to get any pictures. Did not also manage to identify them. Lots of grey wagtails and siskin in the hotel garden, the hotel was set in a huge garden planted with lots of tropical plants. Cheers Sezar

[Padfield]

I'm no bird expert, but isn't that a canary, rather than a siskin?

Guy

[bugboy]

I'm no bird expert, but isn't that a canary, rather than a siskin?

Guy

I was thinking exactly the same thing. It could potentialy also be a Serin but it's definately not a Siskin . Looks like a youngster just beginning to get its adult feathers.

[sahikmet]

Thanks for your vbiews I am not as well an expert on birds.

[Catteraxe]

No Guy unfortunately I did not see any Pararge xiphia while we were there. But there were some mauve/blue small butterflies, very active did not manage to get any pictures. Did not also manage to identify them. Lots of grey wagtails and siskin in the hotel garden, the hotel was set in a huge garden planted with lots of tropical plants. Cheers Sezar

Hi Sezar,

I also saw plenty of small blue butterflies on my first visit to Madeira and, like yourself, was unable to get any pictures. I did see Speckled Woods and managed a photograph (in my personal album on this site). Equally there were plenty of Siskins/Canaries. I must admit I had it down as a female Eurasian Siskin but I'm no expert either!

Kevin.

[sahikmet]

Hi Kevin, thanks for interesting comments. Looking through Collins Bird Guide pictures our bird is missing the clear yellow wing markings of siskin. Therefore it possibly is serin, as the bird is a Madeira resident can we presume it to be a canary (Serinus pusillus)? I do know some keen birding friends, will ask them on our next meeting for their opinion. Sezar

[David Tipping]

I've just returned from Madeira, where there were still a few monarchs on the wing - not huge numbers, but if you hung around in the right areas you would eventually see one. I suspect the blue butterflies mentioned elsewhere in the thread were long-tailed blues. Their fast, erratic flight makes them very difficult to follow, but I did get close enough for a few photos. During the holiday we also saw Macronesia red admiral, red admiral, painted lady, clouded yellow and Madeira speckled wood (which is more orange than the UK variation). We also saw the small birds mentioned and I too am of the opinion that they are canaries.

[Paul Wetton]

With regard to our yellow feathered friend. The Serin is only a vagrant to Madeira whilst according to internet sources both Siskin and Atlantic Canary breed on Madeira. Given the large bill I think this is likely to be a Canary and is definitely not a Siskin.

[Mark Colvin]

Hi Kevin,

I'm with Paul on this.

Definitely not a Siskin and most probably an Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria). The only other possibility could be a Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella), but the bill looks too substantial - and I'm not sure if they occur on Madeira.

Kind regards. Mark

[Catteraxe]

Hi Mark,

I agree Atlantic Canary is the likeliest id. The territory of the Citril Finch, according to my Complete Birds of Britain and Europe, would definitely rule out Madeira, and, as you say, the bill isn't right.

Thanks,

Kevin.

[Paul Wetton]

Citril Finch is a high mountain bird and does have a slimmer bill than the photographed bird.