Thursday 5 November 2020

Large Pipit sp x 3


Twice on this same date (2019 and 2017) I've recorded Richard's Pipit on Orcombe Point. With just an hour of daylight to spare I headed up there after work, this afternoon, figuring that statistically it was highly unlikely I'd ever see this species again on this date. It was therefore a bit of a shock, within minutes of getting out of the car, to hear the House Sparrow-like 'Bzeeip' of a Richard's Pipit! I picked the source of the call up very quickly and was astonished to see not one but three birds flying around. I photographed them in the few seconds they were on view before they flew off towards Maer Valley, and I couldn't relocate them before dark.
On reviewing the photos I'm pretty confident they are just Richard's Pipits but I don't think I can 100% rule out the much rarer Blyth's Pipit (however unlikely that may be), especially as in some of the photos the birds don't appear terribly long-tailed. The call was very House Sparrow-like and described in my notebook as a fairly hard, clipped 'bzeeip', but it concerns me that it didn't instantly register as Richard's (like previous birds have) so I think I have to be cautious. I would of course welcome any opinions if anything at all can be gleaned from my rubbish photos.





The three birds together.


 It looks quite long-tailed in this photo, perhaps more suggestive of Richard's Pipit?




The last three mornings have seen big numbers of Woodpigeon on the move. I haven't counted them but have enjoyed the spectacle, from the back garden with a cuppa, before work.





Rook, Lapwing, Mistle Thrushes and Siskins have all been noted whilst watching the Woodpigeons.

4 comments:

  1. That's a pretty amazing turn-up Matt! Hope you get to see them again, and fully resolve the ID. 😎👍

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  2. Ha! Thanks Gav - will have to get recording gear one day but don't think I'd have captured this particular trio anyway. Feedback on photos is they're a good fit for Richard's (pot belly, strong bill etc) and the hard House Sparrow-like call is certainly better for Richard's. No sign of them on brief search y'day so may have to wait 'til next Nov 5th for another! All the best. Matt

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    Replies
    1. My one and only Richard's Pipit down here flew over Beer Head on November 4th, 2005. Presumably ready for someone to find at Orcombe the next day! :0)

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