Pied Wagtail in Tavira

Okay, so it's not quite in the same league as Upland Sandpiper and Common Yellowthroat but a Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) isn't an everyday bird here by any means. This one has been hanging around for several days now on the outskirts of Tavira. This morning it was feeding in the company of a White Wagtail (M. a. alba), which from time to time it chased off.

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail is generally regarded as the British race of White Wagtail but it does in fact also breed in small numbers on the neighbouring European mainland in France, Germany and Holland.

Pied Wagtail

Most Pied Wagtails are fairly sedentary but many spend the winter in the south of France and in Iberia with some going at least as far south as Morocco. No doubt many are overlooked here in the Algarve where birds of the nominate race are numerous in winter.

White Wagtail