Siberian Chiffchaff 1+ Denhall Lane
Water Pipit 1 (probable) Denhall Lane
Great white egret 1 Parkgate
Hen harrier 3 ringtails Parkgate
Merlin 2 Parkgate
The return of the Buff-bellied Pipit. This was the fourth time I have seen this bird and it showed really well on the tidal wrack at the bottom of Station Road. A warning to the unwary though, there were also at least two Water Pipits seen today in the same area. Water pipits are very similar to the Buff-bellied Pipit, except that they have dark lores and a larger bill. We saw a bird which I think was most probably a Water Pipit, but it was slightly against the light and difficult to see all of the features, especially since we had dumped the scopes in the car at that point.
We saw three harriers in the air at the same time at Parkgate.
Pale lores + short bill = Buff-bellied Pipit! Also other differences, including a more prominent eye ring, darker malar patch and less heavy streaking on the underparts.
Hi Colin
ReplyDeleteI was also at Parkgate on the 11th. Had a Great white egret, 2 hen Harriers, 2 Merlin,(one of which pursued a water pipit) 9 little egrets, kestrel and huge flocks of Lapwing.