Pipits - Falmouth, Cornwall, UK (1 Viewer)

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GorgeousTony

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2008

• #1

I found these pipits on Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth on Boxing Day. The first two pictures are the same bird (I think) and am reasonably confident is a Rock Pipit, primarily due to lack of supercilium. The third picture is confusing me somewhat. From the leg colour & claw length I would go for Tree Pipit but I would have expected a supercilium. Can anyone help?

Tony

 

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A

AMC

Member

• Dec 29, 2008

• #2

1 & 2 = Rock Pipit
3 = Meadow Pipit

 

colonelboris

Right way up again

• Dec 29, 2008

• #3

Two Rocks and a Meadow - the streaking to the flanks is as strong as the breast, the eye-ring is prominent and the hind claw is long. Also, most Tree Pipits have scarpered by this time of year, whereas many Meadows are resident.

 

Neil Morris

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2008

• #4

Rock Pipit (x2) and Meadow Pipit.

On the latter, the legs do indeed look very pale, but orange as opposed to pink; and there are other clues (face pattern, nature of the flank streaking and background colour to the breast streaking, for example) pointing to it being a Meadow rather than Tree Pipit - not forgetting the time of year (Tree Pipit is exceptionally rare in the UK after October and before April). Hope this helps.

 

G

GorgeousTony

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2008

• #5

thanks guys. If I'd read my Collins carefully I would have seen that Tree Pipits have departed by now. My only quibble is that the hind claw on the Meadow doesn't look long enough to me but its difficult to tell from this picture and I don't have any other shots. thanks all