Buff-bellied Pipit (1 Viewer)

[Edward woodwood]

mmm....it's on heck of an odd bird - your first pix were very interesting indeed Darrell

the amount of seemingly bold and defined streaking underneath is still very strange to my eyes

 

[Bluetail]

I thought the Rock Pipitish jizz came over OK in the photos, but the plumage doesn't fit at all. I'm still completely stumped.
Jason

 

[Jane Turner]

I'd still think this was a Scandi Rockit with a slightly lightweight bill and unsually sharp breast streaking if I saw it on the beach here... I think I'm sold on coming to see it...mind you I just drank way too much wine and am feeling reckless! I can't see Mipit in it!

 

[CJW]

I'm still with littoralis but as Jane says, with an unusually fine bill. I don't think the breast streaking is too fine.
I don't subscribe to the hybrid theory.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I'm out of my depth with this bird but I think the Meadow Pipit impression comes to a great extent from the tail, which Darrell mentions is short.

Dick Newell has posted some interesting comments on the surfbirds newsgroup.

Stephen.

 

[Jane Turner]

Are there any pics showing the exact extent of white in the tail yet? What is Dick saying by the way?

I guess you've all seen this pic.
http://www.martinreid.com/Image files/PIPIT1C.jpg

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Hi Jane,
This is what Dick Newell says - I hope he doesn't mind being quoted on here

"I cannot reconcile its features with any candidate European pipit:
Meadow Pipit: nature and extent of breast and flank streaking.
Rock Pipit: Overal tone, white outer tail feather, pink legs, small bill, excessive pink in bill.
japonicus: just doesn’t look right when compared with other photos, neck patch not black enough, lack of orange on rear flanks, wrong shape.
rubescens: see Julian’s arguments below
Water Pipit: braces on back and too heavy streaking on back, wrong shape.

I can only guess that the pictures are some distortion of the truth, or it is an extremely aberrant version of some common form or it is a hybrid (I always dislike reaching for hybrid).
Dick Newell, Cambridge, UK"

As for the tail - your wish is my command!!

 

[Jane Turner]

Thanks... can I be greedy and ask for the second outermost please! Has anyone suggested catching this yet?

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Hi Jane,

Spent all day yesterday trying to catch it. It went over the net, walked under the net, and even flew towards the net before seeing it and doubling back on itself. We'll try again when the New Year holiday is over and the site is a bit quieter (and there is less wind to stop the net flapping about!)

Darrell

 

[Jane Turner]

Good luck.... I don't suppose there is anything you could bait a spring trap with....? Considered a clap net? This pic above shows the strange pattern on the upper two tertials.... narrow buffy widening to a whitish tip...

Its been so foul here I haven't been able to get out after Rock and Mipits to see if its as unusual as I remember!

 

[Jane Turner]

and this may be obvious...but if you do catch it look for growth bars on the tail feathers... it might be replacing them all at once, hence the short-tailed appearance.

 

[Jane Turner]

This is the bird I was referring to earlier...taken by Major Wildlife... I've lightened the pic. Does it look at all familiar?

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Hi Jane,
Superficially your pic looks like our bird, however the Looe Pipit has a bigger eyering, which is unbroken, and a very noticable supercillium, which extends beyond the eye. The streaks on the breast are also longer and sharper, less 'splodgy' The lores are paler than on your photo, and the hindclaw is blackish.

Darrell

 

[Jane Turner]

Sorry Darrell I should have been more explicit.. I mean't the structure.. short-tailed looking and very weedy-billed

 

[jpoyner]

Hi Jane,

Spent all day yesterday trying to catch it. It went over the net, walked under the net, and even flew towards the net before seeing it and doubling back on itself. We'll try again when the New Year holiday is over and the site is a bit quieter (and there is less wind to stop the net flapping about!)

Darrell

Not really wishing to start a ringing debate BUT didn't the BTO put a stop to random trapping in order just to ID a bird?????

 

[Jane Turner]

I think they did...but if you ask me its a bit silly. Catching it measuring it an releasing it is a whole lot better than shooting it...as identification pioneers from an earlier age were prone to doing!

 

[CJW]

Perhaps the guys were hoping to catch a good number of Meadow and Rock Pipits with the offchance that the mystery bird was also caught by accident

 

[jpoyner]

I think they did...but if you ask me its a bit silly. QUOTE]

Not really,as the aims of ringing are not identification. If the bird cannot still be ID'd 100% in the hand ( which I guess this bird cannot) then no ring can be put on it!
Must admit, looking at the photos I still can't see why it just isn't an "odd" Meadow Pipit.

JP

 

[Jane Turner]

I didn't say the bird should be ringed! The wing formula and extent of white (precise) in its tail are going to be hard to get in the field..

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Ken Tucker has pointed out on Surfbirds that there are more pictures of japonicus at:

http://www.surfbirds.com/ID Articles/Pipits3.html

Stephen.