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Graciosa has a length
of 12.5 km and a maximum width of 8.5 km and a total area of 62 square
kilometres, making it except for Corvo the smallest of the nine major
Azores islands. For being in the Azores this is a rather low and flat
island, and the population at around five thousand are scattered over
large areas. The main municipalities, both lying on the north shore, are
Santa Cruz da Graciosa near the airport, and Praia (also named São
Mateus) with the ferry terminal. Most of Graciosa is farmland with grazing
cows, and a still important wine production. There are a lot of roads
making all parts of the island very accessibly.
It is not much cover for birds with a few small woods,
and no real lakes. Just a couple of ponds and a few often dry marches.
So when a Bufflehead turned up in November 2000 the one and only place
to stay in was the small concrete pond in central Santa Cruz.
Maps
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A
general map with birding localities could be viewed here»
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or open a detailed and resizeable map here.
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Coordinates for birdwatching sites.
Birding localities
It is very few birdwatchers
that have visited Graciosa, almost all of them research workers investigation
the seabird colonies. The open country and some sandy beaches do however
seem to have potentials for finding vagrants, a pioneer challenge for
anyone tempted. There is much low lying farmland on the island, and some
sheltered wooded areas like in the Caldeira and west of Praia, places
with potential for migrating passerines.
Seabirds are best viewed towards Ilhéu da Praia,
and on the rocky south-eastern coast towards Ilhéu de Baxio. Except
for more common breeding species, a lot of rare seabirds like Fea´s
Petrel and Red-billed Tropicbird have turned up here.
The harbours in Santa Cruz and Praia (São Mateus)
are also worth checking for resting waders and seabirds, and there is
a small population of Red-legged Partridges, with birds mostly seen along
the western road between Luz and Ponta da Barca.
Ilhéu da Praia
Of the outlying
islets this is the most interesting. You can watch the island from the
shore in the northern part of Praia or from the pier in the harbour. You
will need a scope since there is just over a kilometre out to this low
sandy rock. Here you will find Roseate Terns among the Common ones, and
there have been several sightings of Sooty Terns.
There are both the summer and the winter breeding forms
of Madeiran Storm-petrels in Graciosa, but you will probably not see these
birds as they arrive on the breeding ground until after dark. But you
might here them, as well as a number of Cory's Shearwaters in calm nights.
Monteiro's Storm Petrel
The summer breeding form of Madeiran Storm Petrel
is now by most authorities accepted as a genuine species (Monteiro´s Storm
Petrel Oceanodroma monteiroi). Seeing this bird daytime is possible
in the summer months May to late July (when there are no Maderian Storm
Petrels around), both from land or from boat. Best known places are so
far at Ponta da Barca in the north west (from land in late evenings) or
from boat in the waters south east of Ilhéu de Baixo. About pelagic
tours see the seawatching
page.
Where to stay and getting around
There are just a few residencias on Graciosa, all in Santa Cruz on the
northern coast, with only a few rooms. During some periods of the year
it may therefore be difficult to get a room. An alternative could be a
private accommodation.
It can also some times be difficult to rent a car on
Graciosa, especially during the summer, and public buses don't go so often.
The areas around Santa Cruz and Praia are within walking distances, and
if you get tired you can always call for a taxi. |
