Ponta do Pargo lighthouse is at the extreme south west point of Madeira and
only about 7km from our accommodation at Faja do Ovelha. It's a good place to
find the Madeiran race of spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicilatta orbitalis
which is said to have a darker plumage than those found in mainland Europe.
I've seen spectacled warbler in several places previously, including once in
the UK, but I've not seen very many and it's always a nice bird to see. Three
in the same bush just next to the lighthouse car park were the first that I
have seen on the island.
Berthelot's pipit are common in the right habitat and often very approachable. This is a species endemic to the Canary Isles and Madeira, with the subspecies Anthus berthelotii maderensis present on Madeira Great little birds.
It's an attractive lighthouse set on some spectacular cliffs, but nice
though this photo is with the red Aloe arborescens in the
foreground, this is in fact a native of South Africa and an invasive species in
Madeira. Still, it does seem to attract a large selection on insects including
many bumblebees.
The lighthouse itself is at an elevation of 290m, but the surrounding cliffs
rise to over 300m.
Atlantic canaries are everywhere.....
.........as are the kestrels which are nearly as tame as the Berthelot's
pipits.
The main distinguishing features of the Madeiran subspecies are the longer middle toe and longer bill.
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