After the rain stopped I was keen to get out on the patch. 100+ House Martin over the garden heading west was a good start. I was keen to get out to the top fields above Otter Head, as I hadn't been up there for a while. Good numbers of Skylark and Meadow Pipit were evident and as the sun briefly broke through an otherwise misty afternoon, a group of 450+ House Martins appeared in the sky with the odd Swallow. However, it was the head of a large Pipit in the long grass by the coast path that got the pulses racing - Richard's Pipit! I quickly took a couple of digiscoped shots and of course it disappeared! However, I did see the bird again in flight twice and it was calling a fair bit. Somewhat annoying I never managed to see the whole bird on the deck! What with White's Thrush and Paddyfield Warbler in Cornwall this afternoon, a Blyth's Pipit isn't out of the question, for the eternal optimist!
The bill in poor photos (below) doesn't look the stoutest or longest, (Blyth's is shorter and less stout) but photos do appear to show stronger head streaking on head side almost forming a dark lateral crown stripe - Pro Dix Pipit. Also strong super behind eye and long tailed in flight - Pro Dix and of course the call seemed fine for Richard's, as it gave nothing other than Richard's Pipit standard calls, though some Blyth's can be similar. Pretty happy, but just would have liked to have seen it better on the deck!
Working in Cornwall tomorrow, so see what that holds.
Also today:
1st winter male Redstart
250+ Linnet
1 Wheatear
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ReplyDeleteGreat find Jaffa!!
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