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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.

Records from January - March 2006 include the following. Single dark-morph Western Reef Herons Egretta gularis were reported from Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 11 March, Mindelo fish market, São Vicente, on 11-12 March, and Sal-Rei, Boavista, on 14 March. An immature male Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was at Rabil lagoon, Boavista, on 12-13 March. On Santiago, two Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were found near João Teves, Serra do Pico da Antonia, on 3 March, and a Cape Verde Peregrine Falco (peregrinus) madens near São Lourenço dos Orgãos on 5th. A Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta was at Pedra de Luma saltpans, Sal, on 15 March, and a Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus at Tarrafal, Santiago, on 4 March. A Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii was reported from Pedra Badeja lagoons, Santiago, on 5 March. A Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes was discovered at Santa Maria saltpans, Sal, on 15 January.

A Greater Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes was seen at Santa Maria saltpans, Sal, on 15 March; the species is not known as a breeder on Boavista and Maio only, as stated in previously, but also on Sal, where the first unequivocal evidence of breeding was found in 1998, when an adult feeding two young in the nest was observed on 27 October (Hazevoet 1999, Bull. zool. Mus. Univ. Amsterdam 17: 19–32), following sightings in the dunes of Santa Maria from 1995 onwards. A small population has now apparently become established on the island (Hazevoet 1999; Barone Tosco et al. 2000, Makaronesia 2: 43–55). Two to four Common Whitethroats Sylvia communis were observed on Boavista, during 2-10 March; these are apparently the first for the archipelago. In March, Iago Sparrows Passer iagoensis were found to be common on Sal.

Records from October-November 2005 include the following. The first Snowy Egret Egretta thula for the archipelago was at the sewage ponds near Mindelo, São Vicente, on 1-3 November. On 31 October, 46 Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei, including 26 juveniles, were counted at this species’ only nesting tree at Liberoa, Santiago. Also on Santiago, a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus was seen on 30 October. A first-winter Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus was found at Tarrafal, Santiago, on 30 October. Other vagrant waders at the sewage ponds of Mindelo, São Vicente, on 1-3 November, included a first-winter Semipalmated Plover, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica, three Semipalmated Sandpipers Calidris pusilla, three White-rumped Sandpipers C. fuscicollis, a Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius. At Praia, Santiago, a White-rumped Sandpiper and a Spotted Sandpiper were seen on 31 October, with another White-rumped Sandpiper at Santa Maria, Sal, on 5 November.

The captive Barn Owl Tyto alba taken as a chick on Maio in 2004 was not the first for the island, as erroneously stated in a previous Recent Reports: the first published record was indeed made in October 2000, but breeding had already been recorded in March that year by another observer and was eventually published. Two Greater Hoopoe-Larks Alaemon alaudipes were discovered on Sal on 5 November; the species is only known as a breeder on Boavista and Maio.

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In December 2004-January 2005 five species were added to the archipelago list. A male Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope and a pair of American Wigeon A. americana were at Casas Velhas, Maio, on 31 December. Male Green-winged Teal A. (crecca) carolinensis were observed at Mindelo sewage works, São Vicente, from 18 December to 13 January at least (one) and Pedro Badejo, Santiago, on 4 January (two). Also at Mindelo, São Vicente, a Spotted Crake Porzana porzana was sighted on 13 January. The first White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga for the islands was a first-winter at Fort Real near Cidade Velha, Santiago, on 16 January.

Other records from the same period include the following. A total of 278 Fea's Petrels Pterodroma feae was seen flying east past Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão, in two hours on 26 December. A male Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens was at Ilhéu de Curral Velho, Boavista, on 10 January, with a male and a female there on 12th. A dark-morph Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis was at Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, on 26 December, with a pale morph at Praia, Santiago, from 28th until 5 January at least. Two unringed first-winter Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were at Mindelo, São Vicente, on 17-18 December, whilst a colour-ringed first-winter was at Praia, Santiago, on 16 January. Interesting duck records included a Northern Pintail Anas acuta at Calheta, Maio, on 30 December (second record), a Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula at Pedro Badejo, Santiago, on 4 January (third record), and a Lesser Scaup A. affinis at Mindelo, São Vicente, on 13 January (second record). On Maio, an immature Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus at Morrinho on 30 December would be the second record if accepted; there are five records of unidentified C. pygargus / macrourus.

At Morrinho, Maio, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was seen on 18-21 December and five Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago on 18th. Other wader records included a Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus at Ribeira dom João, Maio, on 31 December, a Solitary Sandpiper T. solitaria at Mindelo sewage works, São Vicente, from 17 December until 13 January at least (and again on 15-16 April; second record), and a Green Sandpiper T. ochropus at Morrinho, Maio, on 17-28 December. A first-winter Slender-billed Gull Larus genei at Feijoal Lagoa, Sal, on 12 January, and a first-winter Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis at Mindelo, São Vicente, on 17-28 December, were both second records. Two Gull-billed Terns Sterna nilotica were seen at Calheta, Maio, on 30 December-2 January (second record), whilst a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia was observed at Casa Velhas, Maio, on 30-31 December. Also on Maio, a captive Barn Owl Tyto alba that was close to fledging on 1 January had been taken as a chick from a cave east of Morro and thus represented both the first record for the island and an addition to the breeding list.

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March 2005 produced the following records. A male Magnificent Frigatebird was at Curral Velho, Boavista, on 4 March and an adult female flew over Sal Rei harbour on 22nd. The only remaining colony of Cape Verde Purple Heron Ardea (purpurea) bournei, in a single tree at Liberão, Santiago, had eight juveniles on 1 March; three juveniles were reported to have died in February (two were killed by children and one fell from the tree). On Boavista, a Purple Heron A. purpurea, apparently not of the form bournei, was at Rabil Lagoon on 23rd and 25th, whilst an adult Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax was in a riverbed upstream from Rabil on 26th. A male Green-winged Teal and a female Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis were observed at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 13th. Resident raptors seen included Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (an immature, three subadults and 1-2 adults at Sal Rei on 22nd), Cape Verde Buzzard Buteo (buteo) bannermanni (one in Ribeira de Torres, near Vila de Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão, on 24th) and Cape Verde Peregrine Falco (peregrinus) madens  (two at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente on 16th). Single Gull-billed Terns (the same individual?) were seen on Boa Vista at Sal Rei harbour and Rabil lagoon on 22nd–26th, whilst a Little Tern Sterna albifrons was at Rabil lagoon on 26th. A single male Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis at São Pedro airport on 13th was the only record on São Vicente; the species was not seen on Santo Antão, but was quite common on São Nicolau, Santiago and Boa Vista.

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In August 2004, the endangered Cape Verde Warbler Acrocephalus brevipennis was discovered breeding on Fogo, where c30 territories were found in coffee plantation areas with scattered fruit trees. Previously, the species was known to breed on Santiago and São Nicolau only. The population on Santiago was estimated at 800-1,000 pairs, mostly in eucalyptus forest with dense undergrowth.

Records from December 2003 to March 2004 include the following. At least 800 Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis were counted at Mindelo sewage ponds roost, São Vicente on 30 March. A Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis was on Boa Vista on 22 March. At Liberão, Santiago, ten begging young Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei were counted on 27 February and one nest with begging young and several juveniles were still present on 10 March. On Santiago, up to three Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were regularly calling above São Jorge dos Orgãos in late February and early March and a pair was seen copulating at Serra de Malagueta on 25 February. At Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, a Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola stayed from December to 7 March at least, and an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was seen on 7 March; a claim of a Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago on 30 March needs to be substantiated. At Pedra de Lume, Sal, four Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes were seen in late December 2003, with two still there on 3 March and one on 7 April. A Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius was also there on 24 March.

In October 2003, the following sightings were made. A Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii was seen off Barril, São Nicolau on 23rd. A Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus off Ponta do Sal, Boavista on 25th suggests that a population may still exist off this island. Also on Boavista on the same day, two Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were at Ribeira Grande; this is now a regular site for this species. Single Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides near Chao Bom, Santiago on 19 and 20th and at Pedra Badeja Lagoon, Santiago on 20 October were apparently the fourth and fifth records for Cape Verde (see Hazevoet, C. J. 2003) Fifth report on birds from the Cape Verde Islands, including records of 15 taxa new to the archipelago. Arquivos do Museu Bocage Nova Série III (19): 503—528). At least three dark-morph Western Reef Herons Egretta gularis were seen near Tarrafal, Santiago on 19 and 20th; there are only two Cape Verde records before 1980 but more than 25 since then. The last remaining colony of Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei at Banana, Ribeira Montanha, Santiago, was very active on 18th, with c25 birds in attendance, including 8+ fully-feathered juveniles. A Common Teal Anas crecca at Pedra de Lume Salinas, Sal on 24th represents the first record for this island and the 8th for the archipelago. Three sightings of adult Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus were made on Boavista on 25 October. A single Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was seen on Raso on 21st; there are no Cape Verde records before 1980, but more than 20 since then. Three or four Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were observed near Pico da Antónia, Santiago on 19th; this inland population seems stable with up to five reported between 1999 and 2002. A Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris was seen on Boavista on 25th. Two Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos near Tarrafal, Santiago on 19 and 20th, and a Greater Yellowlegs T. melanoleuca also there on 19th, both constitute 2nd records for Santiago and for the Cape Verde Islands. Single Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes recorded near Tarrafal, Santiago on 19th, at Pedro da Lume Salinas, Sal, and near Santa Maria, Sal on 24th were the 5th to 7th for Cape Verde. Two Great Skuas Catharacta skua were swimming between Branco and São Nicolau on 22nd, and possibly the same two were seen off Barril, São Nicolau, the next day; these represent the 10th and 11th records for Cape Verde. A White Wagtail Motacilla alba at São Nicolau airport on 24th, and a Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe on Raso on 21st were both second records for the respective islands. At least four Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla were singing along Ribeira Norte, Boavista on 25th; this species was first reported to breed on the island in 1996.

A dark morph Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis was photographed at Praia, Santiago, on 12 April 2003; although this species was only rarely recorded in the past, it appears to be a scarce but rather regular visitor to the archipelago, with c25 records since 1980. On the same day, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was also photographed at Praia; only one of the seven previous records is from Santiago.

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Records from March 2002 include the following. At least 13-15 Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei were counted at Banana, Santiago, on 2nd. A Purple Heron Ardea purpurea was at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 20th. A dark morph Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis was found at Praia, Santiago, on 3rd and 4th, an Intermediate Egret E. intermedia at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 15th and an immature Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 17th. A female Common Teal Anas crecca was seen at Mindelo sewage ponds on 11th and 15th. A female Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was at Curral Velho, Boavista, on 18th and two females at Sal Rei island, Boavista, the next day. Two Cape Verde Buzzards Buteo (buteo) bannermani were videoed at Boa Entrada, Santiago, on 1st, and several on Santo Antão. Vagrant waders included three Red Knots Calidris canutus at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 17th, a Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata at Curral Velho, Boavista, on 18th, a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes at Pedra de Lume saltpans, Sal, on 20th, and a Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia at Mindelo ponds, São Vicente, on 15th.

Records from a trip from 1 November to 5 December 2001 include the following. Eight Cape Verde Purple Herons Ardea (purpurea) bournei were counted at Banana, Santiago, on 9 November; about five of the 15 nests appeared occupied. A juvenile / female Common Teal Anas crecca was at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 3 November. A juvenile Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus was found near Tarrafal de Santiago on 2 December and a Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus at Tarrafal de Santo Antão on 16 and 18 November. An American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica and a Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago were at Mindelo ponds, São Vicente, on 14 November, and another Common Snipe G. gallinago at Tarrafal de Santiago on 2 December. A Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus flew alongside the ferry, c15 km north-west off Santiago on 5 November.

A Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus was photographed at Sal Rei Bay, Boavista, where it stayed for 2 to 3 days in July or August 2000, while another pelican Pelecanus sp. was found dead around the same time. An immature Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius was also photographed on Boavista, at an as yet unknown date. Both records are the first for the Cape Verde Islands. Four Cape Verde Red Kites Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda were reportedly present on Boavista in July and August 2001; one was photographed. During the same period two more were said to be present on Maio, in the company of six Black Kites Milvus migrans and two possible hybrids.

Records from April 2001 included the following. On 16th, 185 Fea's Petrels Pterodroma feae were counted off Ponto do Sol, Santo Antão. A Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus was seen between Raso and São Nicolau on 12th. At least 10 pairs of Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus, found breeding at Tarafal, Santo Antão, on 17th, apparently constitutes a new colony. A dark morph Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis and two Intermediate Egrets E. intermedia were at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 22nd. A drake Garganey Anas querquedula at Mindelo sewage ponds, São Vicente, on 14th to 18th, constitutes the first for the archipelago. Also there was an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica on 18th. A Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus observed at Tarrafal, São Nicolau, on 11th, was another addition to the Cape Verde list. A Caspian Tern Sterna caspia and three Royal Terns S. maxima were at Rabil Lagoon, Boavista, on 22nd. Two more possible firsts were a Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti seen at Espargos, Sal, on 19th, and a Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla at Barril, São Nicolau, on 11th to 13th. Two Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica were on Branco, on 11th. A Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus was recorded at Barril, São Nicolau, on 13th. Eight Cape Verde Warblers Acrocephalus brevipennis were found singing at Ribeira da Prata, São Nicolau, on 13th.

Last page update 13th November 2007

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