Scandinavian Rock pipit - Anthus petrosus littoralis (1 Viewer)

[Tystie24]

I am lucky enough to live on a remote northern Scottish Island on the Orkney archipelago. Rock pipits, A. petrosus, breed around the rocky coastline in small numbers, I usually will see a pair of Rock pipits in the bay outside my house, this year, 2023, one was feeding young on my garden wall.. In autumn, I witness an increase in the Rock pipits which fluctuates through October, November and December in particular. I photograph as many as I can. Among the typical representatives of A. petrosus, some individuals stand out as being noticeably different. These birds have a paler mantle, a pale background to the belly with well defined dark streaks, an eye-catchingly pale throat, strong submoustachial and malar stripe, a supercilium is more or less present and the outer tail feathers are white, not muddy white or creamy white. These individuals do not linger into the next day, and often disappear the same day, suggesting that they are on migration. They vary, and some do not show differences strongly enough to be conclusive, but I believe some do show enough to be A.p.littoralis. I'd be interested to hear what others think and am attaching images.