Rock pippet? (1 Viewer)

S

Snowdune

Member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #1

In the fading light, I managed to get a snap of this flighty fellow. I was above the treeline at an altitude of around 2000m at Col de la Creueta in the Cadi Moixero Natural Park in the Spanish Pyrennees.

From a vague description in my Catalan bird book this could be a Rock Pippet (Anthus spinoletta) but I am guessing and I am still learning Catalan!

Anybody able to confirm or correct this id?

PS: Apologies for the poor photo, but this is a crop of a much larger photo and I was struggling with the light level as a storm was coming in. :eek!:

 

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S

Stuart

Well-known member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #2

looks more like some form of wheatear to me, bad light, but rocks are darker and more mottled.

Stuart

 

L

level seven

Registered user

• Oct 17, 2004

• #3

Stuart said:

looks more like some form of wheatear to me, bad light, but rocks are darker and more mottled.

Stuart

Click to expand...

That's what I was going to say but, as I'm so inexperienced, didn't have the bottle!

 

H

HH75

Well-known member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #4

Hello,
This bird is a Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). Rock Pipit would look very different to this, see:
http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/birds/rock_pipit_l.jpg
In flight, a real giveaway for any species of wheatear likely to be seen in Spain is the all-white rump.
Harry

 

S

Snowdune

Member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #5

Thanks all!

Harry - the photo in your link looks nothing like the drawing in my Catalan book! I think they've got the names rather hopelessly matched with the drawings.

Take a look at the summer form on this link: http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Anthus_spinoletta.htm

What do you think? The Catalan book clearly got the English name wrong by the way....should have stuck to the Latin name....

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2004

S

Snowdune

Member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #6

I've gone back to my photos from the day and found one with his head sideon. I've also applied a little Photoshop auto-levelling to bring up the light levels... hope this helps..

 

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B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Oct 17, 2004

• #7

As Harry says, your bird's a Northern Wheatear.

As far as the pipts are concerned, Water Pipit used to be regarded merely as subspecies of Rock Pipit, Anthus spinoletta, but some years ago (in Britain at any rate) it was given full species status (and so was the American form known as American Pipit or Buff-bellied Pipit). I think that explains the discrepancy between Harry's link and your field guide. You show a picture of what we call Water Pipit, whereas Harry's picture was of a 'real' Rock Pipit.

I don't know how these are treated in Spain, but the British usage is now:

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Buff-belied Pipit Anthus rubescens

 

Last edited: Oct 17, 2004

S

Snowdune

Member

• Oct 17, 2004

• #8

Many thanks for clearing all that up - very helpful!

Regards,
Paul