Portuguese bird rarities

A number of exciting and noteworthy records have been made in the course of over 15 years of bird observation and ringing from A Rocha's field studies centre, Cruzinha. Here is a parade of some of the highlights.

	Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa One found dead by Mark Bolton and JB in the Alvor Estuary on 9 January 1996 during a period of severe storms - this bird was the first indication of a large wreck. One had been seen previously flying in the estuary on 24 December 1995.
	Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma monorhis Ringed 27 June 1998 at 04:30 by Mark Bolton at Ponta da Almadena, Luz, whilst ringing for European Storm Petrels.
	Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Ringed 18 October 1989 at 05:20 by Peter Harris and Colin Jackson in the salinas at Alvor Estuary.
	Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Ringed 7 September 1990 at 14:00 by Peter Harris at freshwater pools near the Alvor Estuary, caught again on 11 September 1990 at 08:00.
	Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Ringed 16 November 1994 at 08:00 at Cruzinha. Bird breeds in Siberia, usually wintering in south-east Asia.
	White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga Spotted on 25 March 2001 in the garden of Cruzinha by Victoria Beale and Bébé Soares. Species never seen before in Portugal, and there are only three previous records confirmed for the whole of Western Europe. This species is a desert bird of North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula .
	Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis Ringed 10 October 1994 at 08:00 by Paul Wallis at Cruzinha.
	Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Ringed 11 September 1997 at 07:30 by Colin Beale at Cruzinha; another bird ringed 2 October 1997 at 10:00 at Cruzinha.
	Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus There have been 8 birds ringed at Cruzinha, the first bird on 22 October 1990 at 14:00 by Colin Jackson
	Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Ringed 1 November 1994 at 10:00 by Peter Harris at Cruzinha. Second record for Portugal. Same bird caught again the next day. Another bird was ringed 23 October 1995 at 09:00 by Mark Bolton at Cruzinha.
	Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis Awaiting confirmation by the Portuguese Rarities Committee.
	Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Ringed 9 November 1995 at 10:00 by Paul Wallis at Cruzinha. If confirmed by Portuguese Rarities Committee, it is expected to be the first record for Portugal.
	Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Ringed 12 November 1990 at 22:00 by Peter Harris in a reedbed adjoining the Alvor Estuary