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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.

São Nicolau

A Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus and an Oceanodroma storm-petrel were photographed at sea between Raso and São Nicolau on 24 March 2009; the latter was subsequently confirmed to be a Leach’s Storm-petrel O leucorhoa.

A third-winter Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii, observed on 5 January 2008 past Juncalinho, may be the first for the islands.

The sixth Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides for the Cape Verdes was found at Ribeira Brava on 27 September 2006. On 18th October 2006, a Cape Verde Peregrine Falco peregrinus madens was seen on the flanks of the Monte Gordo, the highest mountain of São Nicolau.

Sal

A Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola seen at Santa Maria on 7–10 January 2008 was presumed to be the bird first seen in late October 2007 and the second for the archipelago; a male was found at the same locality on 1 March 2008, with a female reported there a week previously.

Red-throated Pipits Anthus cervinus were reported from Santa Maria on 7–10 January 2008 (two) and 1 March 2008 (two). A Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula observed at the Fontana Oasis on 8 January 2008 was apparently the first for the islands.

A Song Thrush Turdus philomelos was discovered at Espargos on 24 February 2008. The first Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii for the Cape Verdes was found at Santa Maria on 20–22 October 2007.

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Boavista

On 26 March 2009, a male and two female Magnificent Frigatebirds Fregata magnificens were at Curral Velho and an adult male Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus flew over the same location. Two male Magnificent Frigatebirds were present there on 2 March 2008. A Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii was seen at Rabil lagoon on 2–3 March 2008.

In 2007, two Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus were photographed on 28 March. A Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax was at Rabil Lagoon and Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides were at Manuel da Luz dam on 5 April. Dark-morph Western Reef Egrets E. gularis were at Rabil Lagoon on 10 March. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus successfully raised young in March–April. Photographs of the second Slender-billed Gull Larus genei for the Cape Verdes were taken at Boca de Salina on 15 February whilst a Namaqua Dove Oena capensis was photographed at Farol de Varandinha on 2 December. The first Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola for the Cape Verdes was photographed on 11 April.

Santiago

Rare herons at Barragem de Poilão, Santiago, from 21 March into May 2011 included two Black Herons Egretta ardesiaca, up to three Intermediate Egrets E. intermedia and a Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala; the latter has probably been present since March 2009.

A White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus photographed off Santiago on 3 May 2011 was the second for the Cape Verdes; the first was in February 1999. A Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis was photographed on a beach near Porto
Formosa, Santiago, on 1 May.

A male and eight first-winter / female Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris were at Barragem de Poilao, Santiago, from 25 February 2010 until at least 5 March.

In 2009, two Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides were at Barragem de Poilão on 21 March. On the same day, the first Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala for the islands, an immature, was photographed at Barragem de Poilão and was seen again in April. At Praia, a male Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe was observed on 21 March. An immature American Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica claimed from Liberão on 26 February was still present on 18 March; this would be the first for the archipelago, if accepted.

In 2008, a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus was seen at Barragem de Poilão on 25–26 February. Two adult Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius were at Barragem de Poilão, Santiago, on 26 February.

In 2007, records from Barragem da Seca on 15–17 December include seven Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, seven Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia, five Common Anas crecca or Green-winged Teals A. (crecca) carolinensis (fewer than ten records of either species), a Blue-winged Teal A. discors (second record), and a femaleNorthern Shoveler A. clypeata (apparently the first for the islands). A Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus at Barragem da Seca on 15–17 December, with a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes also there on 16–17 December.

A Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus was at Barragem de Poilão, near Banana from 3 March into April are among the very few reports of any cormorant in the Cape Verdes. 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. Six Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, including two ringed in the Netherlands, were at Barragem de Poilão in March.

Up to five Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were at São Jorge dos Orgãos 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 on 21 March. A Spotted Crake Porzana porzana was at Barragem de Poilão on 21 - 22 March.

A Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago (gallinago) delicata was identified at Barragem de Poilão on 26 - 30 March; from 3 March, two Common Snipe G. gallinago were also here. Two Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus were reported on 3 - 4 March. The first European Robin Erithacus rubecula for the islands was at Jardim Botánico, São Jorge dos Orgãos, on 4 February.

In 2006, as well as the Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus previously reported, a European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria was at Tarrafal on 4 March; both records might represent firsts for the islands. 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 October. 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. A Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus, photographed south of Tarrafal on 17th October, constitutes the fifth record for the Cape Verdes. A single Common Swift Apus apus was hunting over the arid plains east of Praia on 14th October.

A Cape Verde Warbler Acrocephalus brevipennis was singing in an irrigated agricultural area south of Tarrafal on 17th October; this is the first record in the north of the island.

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Brava

In September 2008, a presumed intermediate morph Herald (Trindade) Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana was videotaped off Brava.

Raso

In 2007, a Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca was on Raso on 6 March (the second for the archipelago) and ‘ringtail’ Montagu's Harrier C. pygargus on 24 March. An estimated 100 - 130 Raso Larks Alauda razae were present on 20 - 23 March 2007.

In 2006, a Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was observed on 28 December. Relatively high number of Madeiran Storm-petrels Oceanodroma castro was present where many dozens could be seen and heard every night; the species is considered scarce on the islet nowadays. The once flourishing Brown Booby Sula leucogaster colony (c.125 pairs in 1986–92) has decreased dramatically: no more than 40 were counted around the main colony. A Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis was hunting insects each morning and afternoon close to the landing spot; the species is rare on Raso. The 11th American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica for the islands stayed briefly on 21st October. During a survey of more than half of the suitable habitat, 60 Raso Larks Alauda razae were counted on 20th–23rd October. 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.

São Vicente

The third Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca for the Cape Verdes was photographed at Ribeira da Vinha, São Vicente, in February 2010.

In 2007, six Northern Shovelers Anas clypeata were found at Mindelo sewage farm with two Ring-necked Ducks Aythya collaris on 18–20 December. Interesting waders included a Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius at Mindelo sewage farm on 18 December. A White-rumped Sandpiper C. fuscicollis and Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus were seen at Mindelo sewage farm in December.

A Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus was reported from Mindelo sewage farm from 18 December until 2 January 2008. Also there were two Red- rumped Swallows Cecropis daurica on 19 December, a Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris on 31 December, a single Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia on 26 March, a male Common Teal Anas crecca on 1 - 2 January, two American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica on 1 - 2 January and three on 1 - 25 February at least, two Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius on 16 February, a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes on 1 - 2 January and 1 February and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius and a White Wagtail M. alba on the same date.

A European Bee-eater Merops apiaster was at Mindelo sewage ponds 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.

Fogo

Several Red-footed Boobies Sula sula were reported in Cape Verdean waters: two immatures south of the archipelago on 27 April 2010, two immatures while at anchor off Fogo on 28 April and another immature at sea off the same island on the same day.

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Last page update 4th May 2012

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