Siberian Pipit, Akrotiri Marsh. A first for me.

Three days ago a Siberian pipit was reported at Akrotiri Marsh. I don't have a scope with me so I didn't hold out much hope of seeing it, but since I was visiting anyway today in the hope of seeing a white-throated kingfisher, I obviously kept my eyes open for it. Fortunately there were a lot of pipits close to the road and I found the bird within a few minutes. A combination of research beforehand and studying the original finders photographs paid off. 

Siberian pipit has a pale eye stripe behind the eye and pale lores with a distinct eye ring. It's also more heavily marked on the breast and flanks than water pipit and that's particularly noticeable in Cyprus where all water pipits are of the Caucasian race which are less heavily streaked than those we see in the UK.

Siberian pipit, Akrotiri marsh December 2025
Photo © John East

It also has reddish legs and a large dark patch at the side of the throat. The Caucasian race of water pipit usually has black legs.

Siberian pipit, Akrotiri marsh December 2025
Photo © John East

It's actually quite painful to go back to my photos after seeing John's 😄. Oh well, I was just pleased to see the bird and get a few photos that were identifiable as Siberian pipit!

Siberian pipit is also known as Asian buff-breasted pipit or Japanese pipit. I've seen it's close cousin American buff-breasted pipit in the UK, at Burton Marsh on the Dee estuary, but this is the first time that I have seen Siberian pipit. This is a rare visitor to Cyprus and requires a description in order to get accepted.