Pipit ID (1 Viewer)

[eagle golden]

That's a very unhelpful attitude to have - your advice is not the end of the discussion.

For me there is a lot going for water pipit on the images - the greyish head, the rather stout dark bill, the pale super, what seems to be dark lores (though beware shadow) the rosy tint to the breast and those nice double wingbars. Having said that, I don't like the amount of streaking on the breast - I would expect a bird in May to have a lot less than this.

I'm going to say I'm not convinced either way of this bird, throw littoralis rock pipit into the mix and then retire for a little nap as I've just got back from having the dentist tear my mouth apart.

Because they dont have water pipit on mull ?? ok

 

[alfmullins]

Reply

Many thanks for all your comments. Our original ID was that it was a littoralis Rock Pipit coming into summer plumage, but I am now tending more towards Water Pipit. We also consider Buff-bellied, but the lores do look dark.

A couple of points in reply to questions - these were the only photos which I managed to get, unfortunately I was busy trying to snap away and didn't get to see the upperparts well (or outer tail feather colour). We didn't here it call, but it did a parachute song , but I've not previously heard Water singing and listening to various online recording I wouldn't like to say which it most resembled.

I'm still trawling various websites for comparable pictures, but of course you're always relying on the ID being correct on the sites.

 

[Brian Stretch]

It's tempting to over analyse the images provided, but I can't see anything on this bird to suggest it's anything other than a Meadow Pipit. They can be extremely variable in spring and some birds can appear better marked than this bird. The apparent supercilium is probably due more to the angle of the head.

Brian
__________________________________________
Birding Today - Midlands Birding Review May 2011

 

[Phil Andrews]

Because they dont have water pipit on mull ?? ok

In the same way you dont get White-throated Robins in Hartlepool? Birds turn up in the strangest locations at the strangest times of year (PS I am probably in the Mipit camp).

 

[eagle golden]

In the same way you dont get White-throated Robins in Hartlepool? Birds turn up in the strangest locations at the strangest times of year (PS I am probably in the Mipit camp).

I appreciate what you say but having spent a conciderable time on the island and that a water pipit has never been recorded, even to date, but the particular poster already had it in his head what he wanted it to be, that was my point, and yes I agree with what you say, which is normaly my moto, (never say never) I was not trying to be rude, MC

 

[SteveClifton]

Pics attached of a similar bird to that in post 1, that I took in April 2009. It was even running around on streamside rocks in the Yorks Dales, not unlike the habitat you might expect to find Water Pipit in on the continent.

Still just a MPipit though...

 

[birding maniac]

I get a meadow pipit feel too.
Just a bright individual IMHO

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

look on BirdGuides at WP and scroll down to Stephen Dunstan's article and look at the photo

unfortunately it won't click bigger as I'm not signed up

or Andy Pullen's pic here (taken in July) :

http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pict...p=118038&rty=0&r=1&off=258848&loff=291503&v=0

I was a bit surprised to be referred to in this discussion, but if that article was helpful to you then this page may be even more useful:

http://www.fyldebirdclub.org/warton_pipit_page.htm

Regards,

Stephen

 

[ShaunThorpe]

meadow pipit, i have seen tons of these little buggers and lots with all different shades of bills, but all meadows, hope this helps

 

[nickderry]

I appreciate what you say but having spent a conciderable time on the island and that a water pipit has never been recorded, even to date, but the particular poster already had it in his head what he wanted it to be, that was my point, and yes I agree with what you say, which is normaly my moto, (never say never) I was not trying to be rude, MC

Not true I'm afraid - water pipit has been recorded on Mull. Assuming this blog is correct - this is the only record I can find though.

http://begbits.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-snaps-part-2.html

For me the photos are just a little too much lacking in detail to be certain either way - meadow pipit is, I agree, much more likely than water just by being the commoner option, and I don't disagree that it looks like one in the photo, but at the same time, it also looks like other possibilities. Erring on the side of caution, I would leave it unidentified.

 

[Jane Turner]

Erring on the side of caution, I would leave it unidentified.

Me too - though I believe it is a Meadow Pipit

 

[eagle golden]

Not true I'm afraid - water pipit has been recorded on Mull. Assuming this blog is correct - this is the only record I can find though.

http://begbits.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-snaps-part-2.html

For me the photos are just a little too much lacking in detail to be certain either way - meadow pipit is, I agree, much more likely than water just by being the commoner option, and I don't disagree that it looks like one in the photo, but at the same time, it also looks like other possibilities. Erring on the side of caution, I would leave it unidentified.

If you look on mull birds alan spelman, there are NO sightings of water pipit on mull, the one you saw is in dispute hope that helps. MC

 

[_pauls]

Not true I'm afraid - water pipit has been recorded on Mull. Assuming this blog is correct - this is the only record I can find though.

http://begbits.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-snaps-part-2.html

For me the photos are just a little too much lacking in detail to be certain either way - meadow pipit is, I agree, much more likely than water just by being the commoner option, and I don't disagree that it looks like one in the photo, but at the same time, it also looks like other possibilities. Erring on the side of caution, I would leave it unidentified.

Hmm... you might want to re-read that blog entry.

That appears to be an account of a holiday down to Northumberland by a birder from Mull not a claim of a bird on Mull.

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Me too - though I believe it is a Meadow Pipit

Me three... I can't tell either way based on those photos, though those wingbars are very prominent for a Meadow Pipit.

Darrell

 

[alfmullins]

I sent the pictures to a local birder who forwarded them to past and present Fair Isle wardens and assistants.

I have just received their reply:

The general consensus is that it is very likely a Water Pipit. Attached is a photo with the main points for this opinion. The absolute clincher of course would be if Alf saw the rump (warm brown in Water) and the outer tail feathers (pure white in Water) better than we can see in the photos.

Again thanks to all who took the time to contribute - finding a bird which I couldn't immediately be sure of, and having to do some research, has certainly extended the pleasure of a brilliant week on Mull.

 

[nickderry]

Hmm... you might want to re-read that blog entry.

That appears to be an account of a holiday down to Northumberland by a birder from Mull not a claim of a bird on Mull.

dammit - I checked all over just in case! B Oh well. Not sure now why Eagle Golden says this bird is in dispute as a Mull record.

 

[eagle golden]

dammit - I checked all over just in case! B Oh well. Not sure now why Eagle Golden says this bird is in dispute as a Mull record.

Hi because aparantly this picture along with another was submited to the local recorder, who is an aquantance of mine, they were turned down. hope that helps. MC

 

[eagle golden]

I sent the pictures to a local birder who forwarded them to past and present Fair Isle wardens and assistants.

I have just received their reply:

The general consensus is that it is very likely a Water Pipit. Attached is a photo with the main points for this opinion. The absolute clincher of course would be if Alf saw the rump (warm brown in Water) and the outer tail feathers (pure white in Water) better than we can see in the photos.

Again thanks to all who took the time to contribute - finding a bird which I couldn't immediately be sure of, and having to do some research, has certainly extended the pleasure of a brilliant week on Mull.

Hi glad you enjoyed mull I have been studying the eagles there for over forty years, and I am amazed at the place.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Hmm... you might want to re-read that blog entry.

That appears to be an account of a holiday down to Northumberland by a birder from Mull not a claim of a bird on Mull.

Indeed. Brian was back on a trip to his old home stomping ground at St Mary's, Whitley Bay.

 

[Big Yin]

Not true I'm afraid - water pipit has been recorded on Mull. Assuming this blog is correct - this is the only record I can find though.

http://begbits.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-snaps-part-2.html

For me the photos are just a little too much lacking in detail to be certain either way - meadow pipit is, I agree, much more likely than water just by being the commoner option, and I don't disagree that it looks like one in the photo, but at the same time, it also looks like other possibilities. Erring on the side of caution, I would leave it unidentified.

Just to clear this one up I was in Northumberland taking the Water Pipit photo. If you read my profile it tells you I live on Mull so the blog title of 'Holiday snaps' gives it away. I appreciate that you may not be a regular reader of the blog but I thought it better to nip this in the bud. I've not seen Water Pipit on Mull at all - maybe one day!

The bird in question look like a regular Meadow Pipit to me.

Cheers