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Paddyfield Pipit - Sennen, Cornwall - 03.11.19 (1 Viewer)

Paul Chapman

Well-known member
Fifteen pictures of the Paddyfield Pipit at Sennen, Cornwall from 3rd November 2019. The bird has been identified by sonogram from its apparently diagnostic call albeit DNA confirmation is also being sought. Before the significance of the sonogram had been realised, the identification as Richard's Pipit had already being disputed.

The species is largely sedentary. The previous nearest records are from the UAE. As a result, it seems pretty irrefutable that the bird will not be a genuine unassisted vagrant and the likely possibilities are either a deliberate import and subsequent escape or a bird that has received an inadvertent assisted passage.

The condition of the bird is poor with apparent arrested moult in the wings and tail with two ages of primaries and tail feathers in particular being very obvious. It has been suggested that this suggests trauma thereby supporting either the escape or assisted passage theories.

The hindclaw is significantly shorter than Richard's Pipit. One observer suggested to me that its hindclaws are of unequal length but from my pictures, I am unsure about that.

All the best

Paul
 

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A further set of pictures. The fourth shows the left hindclaw and the fifths shows the right hindclaw.

All the best

Paul
 

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Finally, a set of photos showing the different ages of the feathers.

All the best

Paul
 

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Nice pics (of a cracking bird ;) ).

You didn't happen to take them between around 3:00 - 3:30 this afternoon by any chance? (The two guys next to me were trying to confirm hind claw length at that time and just before it flew around the corner ... )
 
Nice pics (of a cracking bird ;) ).

You didn't happen to take them between around 3:00 - 3:30 this afternoon by any chance? (The two guys next to me were trying to confirm hind claw length at that time and just before it flew around the corner ... )

Many thanks. Indeed..... 3:)

No. Pics were from this morning. For me, it has excessive wear at the bill base giving it a snouty look. The hindclaws were mentioned to me this morning by an observer who got that impression yesterday.

All the best
 
Many thanks. Indeed..... 3:)

No. Pics were from this morning. For me, it has excessive wear at the bill base giving it a snouty look. The hindclaws were mentioned to me this morning by an observer who got that impression yesterday.

Some of them really are nice pics ;-)

It certainly is/has been going through something.
 
Ha, unless it was a really popular conversation on the day, almost met.

Claws, feet; nothing wrong there, no?

Just noticed this post. Yes. Nothing wrong there from a damage etc perspective. I am presuming the DNA does not confirm the sonogram analysis though from the prolonged silence.

All the best
 
Last edited:
Just noticed this post. Yes. Nothing wrong there from a damage etc perspective. I am presuming the DNA does not confirm the sonogram analysis though from the prolonged silence.

I was wondering if it hadn't worked - I recall something about it only has a c75% chance of containing the birds own dna in faecal samples in traceable amounts???
 
James Hanlon posted on Twitter yesterday that the sample had drawn a blank in terms of identifying any DNA material and that a second sample was now being progressed.
 
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