PRC, plastic and pilchards

It was the Portuguese Rarities Committee AGM this weekend in Lisbon. I haven't attended in person for a few years so I thought it would be a good idea to see everyone for a proper catch up. We had a marathon 10 hour work session on Saturday, covered some fascinating issues and got everything done so on Sunday I met up wtih Pedro Nicolau and we did a bit of birding in Lisbon.

One of the agenda items was assessing the status of Blue-crowned Parakeet in Portugal which we decided should be elevated to Category C following over 250 pairs currently breeding in Lisbon, following a rapid colonisation, a category elevation from E to C resulting in a new species added to the Western Palearctic list.

So on Sunday I wasted no time and went to see them with Pedro at their stronghold at Parque da Quinta das Conchas and we also popped in to Forte de Sao Juliao da Berra, a well known site for Crested Myna which is also naturalised in Portugal. Both species were world lifers. I'm now on 3363 for the World, 745 for the WP (78th on Netfugl ranking) and 957 for the False WP (41st in Nefugl ranking). 

As I was in Lisbon an obligatory visit to a tinned Sardine shop also occurred and I had lunch at Sol e Pesca which is a restuarant that bizarelly specialises in tinned fish. Aparrantely there is no species called a Sardine and the term refers to several small species in the Herring family, most commonly the Common Pilchard. 

I more or less had to get off the plane from Iceland and then onto another to Lisbon (a bit confusing for my phenology) but back home now for a few weeks to watch early Spring unfold. While I was away the first Brents and other wildfowl had started moving east off Selsey Bill. It has begun and after what I saw in Lisbon this weekend too, the sub-Saharan migrants have already reached Southern Europe and heading our way too. 

Blue-crowned Parakeet- a South American species thriving in the Eucalyptus trees in Lisbon. These are outcompeting Rose-ringed Parakeets in Lisbon. A bizzare novel-ecosystem. 

Short-toed Treecreeper- did actually see some 'real' birds in the park too. There were plenty of Chiffchaffs, some singing too and what with a few hirnundines around Lisbon too it certainly felt like the first Spring day 

Crested Myna (above and below)- more plastic. These originate from China. 

View from the hotel window over Lisbon. The first summer migrants had arrived with House Martins and Barn Swallows flying around and there were singing Serins and Black Redstarts too. 

Tinned fish including Tuna from the Azores. Has to be done when in Lisbon.