Pipit Bahrain

[Howard King]

I saw this individual sadly at a fair distance managed just these two quick photos before it was buzzed by some Tawny pipits and chased off - it's the shape of the centers to the coverts that has me puzzled - distinct heart shapes. Upright pipits when seen here normally turn out to be Tawny or Richards which are common migrants but this one doesn't seem to fit either.

[Colin Key]

Hello Howard,

I have been looking at some 'lingering' (and incoming) pipits at Cabo de São Vicente recently and I would have no problem in calling this as a 1st winter Tawny. The shape of the dark centres to wing coverts varies quite a bit but if you do a "Google" you will find images not too disparate from yours. Also, the Alström, Mild & Zetterström "Pipits & Wagtails" shows birds not too dissimilar either.

Colin

[Howard King]

Hi Colin - you are probably right - however I myself have never seen one quite like this before we are used to seeing them look like this one as attached here pic also from yesterday