We are pleased to offer another new, very affordable itinerary, which will appeal to all seabird and cetacean buffs, to an area where some highly desired West Palearctic tubenoses can be seen, some of which are in the process of ongoing species ‘splitting’ at this time. By the time it actually happen additional texts will be available to aid ID. This voyage potentially saves a lot of money compared to the series of multi-island visits currently required to see these species. These seas are generally calm and therefore the chances of a high cetacean list also seem strong. A WildWings evening log will be held nightly onboard followed by ID discussions and the day’s photo analysis after dinner for those interested.  We will encourage the use of onboard walkie-talkie radios to try and maximise everyone’s personal sightings. Daylight hours will be from 0600 to 1900 increasing by an hour by the end of the voyage.

 

Our voyage will start in Praia, Cape Verdes and sail north, hugging the coast of West Africa and finally via the Canary Islands to Madeira (see itinerary below). There are no landings. Potential seabirds include Scopoli’s, Cape Verde , Cory’s, Boyd’s (Audubon’s), Barolo’s (Little) and Manx Shearwaters, Fea’s and Zino’s Petrels, White-faced, Band-rumped (Madeiran), Monteiro’s and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, Bulwer’s Petrel, Magnificent Frigatebird, Red-billed Tropicbird and Brown Booby. Other species should include skuas plus various terns and gulls and of course with being out on the ocean the odd surprise or two! We will chum at certain points during the voyage to try and bring closer seabirds to us. We will also offer optional land birding on Cape Verde and Madeira subject to group demand.

 

The cetacean list could include Sperm, Fin and Short-finned Pilot Whales plus Common, Bottlenose, Atlantic Spotted and Rough-toothed Dolphins but many more species of whale and dolphin are likely too including various beaked whales. A few Mediterranean Monk Seals still exist around the Deserta Islands. Other marine life such as Loggerhead Turtles, Ocean Sunfish plus flying fish and flying squid should also be encountered.

 

This voyage will be in effect a second extension of the 2011 Atlantic Odyssey but you may join the ship just for this 8 night sector. Our ship will be the newly converted Plancuis, a comfortable expedition cruise ship that is currently in Antarctica for it’s first passenger season. She carries a maximum of 110 passengers in quadruple, twin and superior twin cabins, all with shower and wc and a window or port hole. More importantly she boasts lots of open deck space, allowing excellent viewing in all directions, perfect for a pelagic. She has a restaurant and a spacious observation lounge and bar with panoramic windows on deck 5.

 

Before sailing we will arrange a WildWings Birding Excursion by bus to seek the endemic Cape Verde Warbler and Iago Sparrow plus we expect to see Alexander’s Swifts too. After disembarkation you may wish to join our two night Madeira extension with the top local bird guides. We shall seek both Trocaz Pigeon and Madeiran Firecrest plus a number of other Macronesian specialities such as Berthelot’s Pipit, Canary, Rock Sparrow etc. We plan a long RIB trip out on the ocean for Zino’s Petrel and other seabirds plus good chances of more cetaceans. We will also visit the Zino’s colony after dark (subject to them returning to breed after the fire of summer 2010).

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Itinerary

Day 1: Embark* by 1300 and sail mid-afternoon from Praia, Cape Verde.

Day 2: At sea in the waters of the Cape Verdes, circumnavigations of both Branco and Raso are planned.

Day 3:  At sea heading north east towards the coast of Africa.

Day 4: Sailing north along the shelf-edge, off Mauritania (18 degrees north)

Days 5 & 6: Continue sailing north along the shelf-edge off the coast of the Western Sahara (22 and 26 degrees north)

Day 7: Morning sailing through the Canaries, evening circumnavigation of the Salvage Islands.

Day 8: Early morning circumnavigation of the Desertas. Arrive Funchal Madeira at approx 1100, disembark.

 

NB: As applies to all expedition cruises, the exact sea itinerary will be subject to weather, local conditions and government permissions.

 

* You may embark from Midnight, 2^nd May.

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Holiday Information

 2011

Leaders:	Simon Cook and John Brodie-Good plus the ship’s staff.
Dates:	3rd – 10th May 2011
Vessel: Plancius,all cabins with private facilities.
Quad berths	£899
Twin share	£1199
Twin share superior	£1299
Single cabins x 1.7 of twin share price

2012

Leaders:	Simon Cook and the ship’s staff
Dates:	6th – 13th May 2010
Vessel: Plancius,all cabins with private facilities.
Quad berths	£899
Twin share – porthole	£1135
Twin share – window	£1175
Twin share deluxe	£1225
Twin share superior	£1319
Single cabins x 1.7 of twin share price

All prices per person.

Deposit 10%

 

 

NB Continuing Atlantic Odyssey passengers qualify for a 10% discount for this voyage.

 

Price includes: Voyage with accommodation as booked, including all meals, infinite tea and coffee, Zodiac cruises if applicable, port taxes, services of ship’s team, daily sea watching sessions and evening log (at sea), services of WildWings leader/s, pre-voyage information pack and day by day bird and mammal checklist.

 

Price excludes: Flights (UK – Praia, Funchal – UK from £699 including taxes), visa for Cape Verdes (approx Euros 50 per person) vessel fuel surcharges if applicable, onboard crew gratuities (suggested Euros10 a day on board ship), travel insurance, pre and/or post voyage hotels, other drinks and items of a personal nature.

 

Cape Verdes – Pre-voyage morning birding excursion for endemics £20

 

Madeira – 2 night/3 day WildWings Birding extension , 10^th – 12^th May 2011, led by top local bird guides, ground transport including transfers from port to hotel and from hotel to the airport, accommodation in a 5* hotel in Funchal, rooms with private facilities, half board, three land birding excursions and one ocean excursion (full waterproofs required), one lunch, services of WildWings guides. £399 per person sharing a twin room. single room supplement £75.

 

NB Participants may want to get hold of a copy of Birding World Issue 282 (July 2010) with a major article and photos on the ID of the ‘Fea’s Petrel’ complex.