The Macaronesian islands that lie off the west of Europe and Africa are home to an enticing smorgasbord of endemic plants, insects and birds, and are blessed with a clement and pleasant subtropical climate. Their infrastructure for visitors is excellent too, making them an extremely pleasant prospect for our guests. We already have a popular tour in the Canary Islands, and are delighted to add Madeira to our Macaronesian menu.
We will be staying in the heart of rural Madeira, in a smart and welcoming hotel perched inland in the north of the island, with commanding views over the laurasilva-clad mountain slopes. Laurasilva, the original forested habitat of the island, is where we will encounter a jewel box of endemic butterflies and birds, including one of Europe’s rarest butterflies, the intense, richly coloured Madeiran Brimstone.
The laurasilva is threaded by levadas, irrigation channels that are in some instances centuries old. They transfer water from deep in the mountains and forests to populated areas at much lower elevations. For the visiting naturalist they are a particular joy, allowing us to walk easily on inclines so gentle they appear horizontal deep into prime habitat. During our explorations of the levadas we will be accompanied by constant Madeiran Chaffinches and inquisitive Madeiran Firecrests, and will be surrounded at times by a host of flowering plants and interesting, lush bryophytes, and will find Europe’s most attractive iteration of its kind, Madeiran Speckled Wood. The island has been relatively recently colonised by regular Speckled Wood, a smaller, inferior version of the island’s endemic species. With a little practice the originals are readily discerned, and have a habit of posing obligingly for a photo.
In the open uplands we will search for a particularly attractive member of the grayling family – Madeiran Grayling is strikingly well-marked – and will expect to see Berthelot’s Pipit in this area too. Even the Small Coppers on the island are a distinct subspecies, phlaeoides – one for the copper completists!
Madeira is sometimes referred to as a floating garden, and certainly it boasts some magnificent botanic gardens – high above Funchal, we will visit one such where Monarchs are regularly encountered. And, given the richness of the waters that surround this gem of an island, we will set aside half a day for a boat trip in inshore waters that will provide excellent views of some of Madeira’s breeding seabirds and, with luck, some whales and dolphins too. Sightings of the latter are particularly regular here, so hopes will be running high.
Stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, easy walks, and a warm Madeiran welcome that includes some delicious local cuisine. What’s not to love about Madeira? We’re looking forward to our return there, and hope you might join us too.
[With particular thanks to Annie at www.naturewatchingineurope.com for her kind permission to reproduce her marvellous Madeiran Brimstone image here, and Chris van Swaay at www.vlinderstichting.nl for his kind permission to reproduce his excellent Madeiran Brimstone and Madeiran Grayling images.]
