Western Isles of Scotland (1 Viewer)

[Dot Potter]

Hi all

Just back from the Islands and we saw a couple of birds we are unsure of a definate ID on - could you help with following.

Photo 1 - Manx Shearwater? this was one of 2 bird in the harbour at Cambletown.

Photo 2 - Whinchat? this one was taken on Isle of Islay by the beach

Photo 3/4 -Rock or MeadowPippits? We saw many of these on the beaches - but several seemed a definate "olive green" underneath which I thought could mean Meadow Pippits - are both bird the same and infact Rock Pippits?

thanks in advance for confirming / denying my ID's.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Guillemot
Wheatear
Both Rock Pipits

 

[ian hamilton]

agree with marcus.

 

[Dot Potter]

Thanks Marcus - one out of 4 isnt too bad!!

Appreciate your help with confirming the ID's.

ty

 

[happylimpet]

from a very amateur birder, rock pipits are basically much darker than meadow pipits, as these are. thats the main id feature i use! makes it clear from any distance.

for most of the year when you see pipits on coastal rocks, they're going to be rock. or more generally, when you see a passerine hopping about on coastal rocks, its generally a rock pipit. anywhere else, meadow (expect this generalisation will be torn to pieces but its how it seems to me).

 

[baphomet]

from a very amateur birder, rock pipits are basically much darker than meadow pipits, as these are. thats the main id feature i use! makes it clear from any distance.

for most of the year when you see pipits on coastal rocks, they're going to be rock. or more generally, when you see a passerine hopping about on coastal rocks, its generally a rock pipit. anywhere else, meadow (expect this generalisation will be torn to pieces but its how it seems to me).

I always think that Rock Pipits look colder in colour to Meadow Pipits.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Meadow Pipits have clean spots, Rock Pipits have dirty spots