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The following largely unconfirmed records have been published for information only in the Bulletins of the African Bird Club. Some records were first published in Dutch Birding and Birding World.
A Red-footed Booby Sula sula was photographed 190 nautical miles north of the archipelago on 21 October 2007. The first Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii for the Cape Verdes was found at Santa Maria, Sal, on 20–22 October.
The following records are from December 2006 - April 2007. Two Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus photographed on Boavista on 28 March and one at Barragem de Poilão, near Banana, Santiago, from 3 March into April are among the very few reports of any cormorant in the Cape Verdes. Also on Santiago, an Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia was at Praia harbour on 28 and 30 March. Other rare herons for the Cape Verdes included an immature male Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus at Barragem de Poilão on 22 March, a Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides at Manuel da Luz dam on Boavista on 5 April and at Barragem de Poilão on 4–30 March, a Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca on Raso on 6 March (the second for the archipelago), and dark-morph Western Reef Egrets E. gularis at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 10 March and on Santiago on 27 March. A single Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia was at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 1 - 2 January and 26 March, whilst six, including two ringed in the Netherlands, were at Barragem de Poilão in March. Mindelo sewage ponds also held a male Common Teal Anas crecca on 1 - 2 January.
On Raso, a Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was observed on 28 December and a ‘ringtail’ Montagu's Harrier C. pygargus on 24 March. Up to five Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were at São Jorge dos Orgãos, Santiago, on 27 March and one was there together with an adult Cape Verde Peregrine Falco peregrinus madens on 29 March. An adult pale-morph Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus was watched in display-flight at Boa Entrada, Santiago, on 21 March. A Spotted Crake Porzana porzana was at Barragem de Poilão, Santiago, on 21 - 22 March and Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus successfully raised young both here and on Boavista in March–April.
Two American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica were present at Mindelo, São Vicente, on 1 - 2 January, with three there on 1 - 25 February at least; at the same site, two Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius were seen on 16 February, a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes on 1 - 2 January and 1 February, and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius also on 1 - 2 January. A Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago (gallinago) delicata was identified at Barragem de Poilão on 26 - 30 March; from 3 March, two Common Snipes G. gallinago were also here. Two Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus were reported from Santiago on 3 - 4 March.
Photographs of the second Slender-billed Gull Larus genei for the Cape Verdes were taken at Boca de Salina, Boavista, on 15 February, whilst a Namaqua Dove Oena capensis was photographed at Farol de Varandinha, Boavista, on 2 December. A European Bee-eater Merops apiaster was at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 2 January; this is apparently only the third recent report for the archipelago and the first for São Vicente, the previous being on Sal in May 1997 and Boavista in May 1999. An estimated 100 - 130 Raso Larks Alauda razae were present on Raso on 20 - 23 March. The first Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola for the Cape Verdes was photographed on Boavista on 11 April. On 1 - 2 January, a White Wagtail M. alba stayed at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente. The first European Robin Erithacus rubecula for the islands was at Jardim Botánico, São Jorge dos Orgãos, on 4 February.
Besides the Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, previously reported, a European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria was at Tarrafal, Santiago, on 4 March 2006; both records might represent firsts for the islands.
The following records are from October 2006. A relatively high number of Madeiran Storm-petrels Oceanodroma castro was present on Raso, where many dozens could be seen and heard every night on 20th–23rd; the species is considered scarce on the islet nowadays. The once flourishing Brown Booby Sula leucogaster colony on Raso (c.125 pairs in 1986–92) has decreased dramatically: no more than 40 were counted around the main colony on 20th–23rd. On the same dates, a Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis was hunting insects each morning and afternoon close to the landing spot; the species is rare on Raso. The sixth Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides for the Cape Verdes was found at Ribeira Brava, São Nicolau, on 27 September.
At least 21 Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei, including eight adults, three subadults and ten juveniles, were present in the large mahogany tree at Banana, Ribeira da Montanha, the world’s only colony of this taxon, on 15th. There were at least seven active nests, with two still occupied by incubating adults. A Cape Verde Buzzard Buteo (buteo) bannermani was soaring with three Brown-necked Ravens Corvus ruficollis in the Serra do Pico da Antónia, just south of Assomada, Santiago, on 18th. On the same date, a Cape Verde Peregrine Falco peregrinus madens was seen on the flanks of the Monte Gordo, the highest mountain of São Nicolau.
A Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus, photographed south of Tarrafal, Santiago, on 17th, constitutes the fifth record for the Cape Verdes. The 11th American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica for the islands stayed briefly on Raso on 21st. A single Common Swift Apus apus was hunting over the arid plains east of Praia, Santiago, on 14th.
During a survey of more than half of the suitable habitat, 60 Raso Larks Alauda razae were counted on 20th–23rd. Three nests were found of which one contained an egg; no fledglings or juveniles were seen. Three Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica were present each day on the south-east side of the islet. A Cape Verde Cane Warbler Acrocephalus brevipennis was singing in an irrigated agricultural area south of Tarrafal, Santiago, on 17th; this is the first record in the north of the island.
Last page update 3rd July 2008
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