Azores Bullfinch

The Azores Bullfinch, or Priolo, is endemic to the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. It was once quite widespread until a few decades ago when farmers started shooting them because of crop damage. This beautiful finch is now only found in the eastern part of the island, mainly on wooded hillsides around Pico de Vara. A chance meeting with one of the whale spotters (vigias) near Ponta Delgada, led us to explore a different site that was not as far to drive and we were amazed to find over a dozen Bullfinches feeding in a field. I was thrilled to see such a rare bird and was quite content to enjoy pleasant but, from a photographer's viewpoint, distant views. That was until one bird flew from the field and landed in a bush quite close to our car from which I was able to obtain an acceptable photograph.

Both sexes of the Azores Bullfinch resemble
the female Eurasian Bullfinch.

Madeiran Wall Lizards are common on the rocks around
the harbour in Ponta Delagda.

This Loggerhead Turtle was seen on a whale-watching trip.

 

Common Buzzard.

Azorean Yellow-legged Gull - because of the abundant fish scraps
in the harbour at Ponta Delagada these gulls flatly refused to come
to bread!

Azorean race of Chaffinch.

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Spotted Dolphins in the Azores

Wildlife of the Azores

Wildlife of the Azores

My week on the island of San Miguel in the Azores was mainly spent on the dolphin watching boats, but I tried to photograph some of the other wildlife when the chance arose. I was surprised that the Azorean Yellow-legged gulls (race atlantis) were not interested in the bread that I tried to tempt them with, they obviously have a better diet than my local gulls. So although this was the most numerous species around the harbour in Ponta Delgada, photographic opportunities for this species were limited. The dolphins were such a draw that I also didn't find time to visit the areas where the endemic Azores Bullfinch could be found; but that's a good excuse for a return trip.

Cory's Shearwaters were seen in good numbers from the

dolphin-watching boats.

Male Canary at Lagoa Furnas.

Clouded Yellow photographed at Lagoa Furnas.

Loggerhead Turtle photographed on a dolphin-watching trip.

It was about the size of a dinner plate, a lot smaller than my

last Loggerhead in Turkey, but fab nevertheless. Note the small

fish taking refuge underneath. This turtle kept its fore flippers on

the back of its shell while close to the boat, then paddled away

strongly once it was at a safe distance; probably a defensive

posture.

Red-veined Darter. This beautiful dragonfly was photographed

on the shore of Lagoa Verde, the "Green Lake" at Sete Cidades.

Madeiran Wall Lizard, naturalised after

involuntary introduction. Lots of these were

seen on volcanic rocks near Sao Roque.

Azorean Yellow-legged Gull moulting into third winter

plumage (I think!) in Ponta Delgada Marina.

Juvenile Azorean Yellow-legged Gulls.

European Robin at Caldeira Velha.

Male Chaffinch of the race moreletti, photographed at Caldeira

Velha.