Need help with this bird - is it a pipit? (Japan)

[David in Miyazaki]

Saw this bird yesterday (28 Feb 08), and am having troubling identifying it. I think it could be a pipit, but am not sure.

the link to two photos
http://surfbirds.com/albums/showphoto.php?photo=5882

[Harry Hussey]

Hi David,
I would say that it's a japonicus Buff-bellied Pipit: the pale lores, relatively plain upperparts, hint of a greater covert wingbar, white ground colour to the underparts etc would seem to point towards this species. 1st-w Red-throated Pipit would presumably look more streaked on the mantle and have a darker loral area even on a slightly out of focus shot such as this one.
Regards,
Harry