An area of coastal scrub to the West of Sagres was the search area today, following the remarkable find of what will probably be Portugal's third record of Rustic Bunting. I was delighted when the finders - Joanne Grierson and her husband contacted me with information as to its whereabouts and, having seen the image of what looks every bit a Rustic Bunting, it was down the road to Sagres. We met with their friends - Peter and Jane in the said area, and commenced a thorough look around. There was much activity, mainly from thrush species and a good number of Blackcaps and Sardinian Warblers flitted between the bushes. The attraction here seemed to be the puddles left from recent rain, which were providing a source of fresh water for all the wintering birds. There was no sign of the Rustic Bunting for us unfortunately. Georg who had joined the search found a Wryneck which showed briefly and I saw it in bounding flight. Birds were arriving all the time around the pools of water, the Blackbirds first were quickly joined by Ring Ouzels. I took some photos from the car which was parked a good way off, as I didn't want to risk the birds not showing at all - particularly a Rustic Bunting! Any little puddle was providing valuable drinks and each pool had its own story. What I saw next came as a complete and unexpected surprise. As a Blackbird hopped away into the bushes, a FIELDFARE emerged and began drinking. A Fieldfare becomes the latest addition to my Algarve list of 258 species, being a winter rarity and in some winters, none at all. To my knowledge, this is only the second record this winter - a bird was around the Cabranosa watchpoint in December for a few days. It showed twice on the ground in a short space of time, but not again. Some more images from around Sagres this afternoon.
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