Just returned from a non-birding holiday on the Algarve but lets face it us birders never switch off, so when the wife decided on a late afternoon siesta off I went into an area of mixed scrub & pine trees armed with my bridge camera.

It wasn't long before my life time list was growing quickly, so as you do I strayed further past orange & lime plantations & what appeared to be an abandoned caravan for further additions to my list - I was obviously buzzing by now & couldn't wait for the next.

Then suddenly the caravan door opened & a 100 and odd year old man with a cig hanging out of his mouth appeared followed by 2 large mad dogs who hurtled towards me barking & snarling cornering me against a 6 foot spikey wired fence. One of them was jumping up at me while the other was snapping at my legs - I tried negotiating but they didn't understand a word of my broad Leigh accent & all I could think of was resembling a patchwork quilt with tetanus & rabies thrown in for good measure!

Then as if it couldn't get any worse reinforcements arrived in the form of 2 more mad dogs - I feared the worse but just as I was about to turn my light blue shorts a dark brown colour, the 2 new mad dogs jumped on the other 2 & not me!

I spied my chance & cleared the 6 foot spikey fence in seconds & left them to it.

As I sped away trembling with my once nicely tanned face an ashen colour, I turned to look at the old man who had a 'serve you right' look on his face - In my excitement I think I must have accidently strayed onto his land.

As expected I didn't get an ounce of sympathy from the wife & was quarantined to a sunlounger for the rest of the holiday - followed by a further 14 days on return home - happy days !!!   -   Best of pics from sightings on 'Out of Country' Portugal forum