Water or Rock Pipit

[William McBay]

Was at Barns Ness, Lothian today and saw a definite Water Pipit. There was another bird present, which was not so clean on the breast, but showed a "super" and a very noticable grey cast to the mantle. Outer tail feathers appeared white. Two birds have been reported from the site. Any thoughts on the attached image.

[marklhawkes]

Rock Pipit for me

[CAU]

Rock Pipit for me, too. The greyish mantle is actually a feature of Rock Pipit, as on a Water Pipit the mantle would typically be more brownish, contrasting against a greyer neck:
http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=25195

The streaking on the underside is also very smudgy.

[birdertrev]

Defo Rock Pipit, The streaking on the whole bird is far too heavy for Water, Water pipits are very smart very clean looking birds and very striking.

Trev:beer:

[Odonate]

A few other comments to add to those above: the streaking on the breast and flanks is very broad and on Water Pipit would be much finer and cleaner. The white on the tail looks like a sun (or flash?) flare. The supercillium is not as defined as on Water Pipit (and mostly in front of the eye) and also looks like a bit of an artefact. I looked through lots of Rockit this weeked trying to refind a Water and many showed a super like this but it is weak in comparison to Water (but careful of Scandinavian littoralis). The apparently white MC and GC fringes are slightly confusing but considering the strong lighting, not perhaps a true representation of the bird?

O

[BirdNEast]

Willie,
Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club have recently added a helpful paper on seperation of Rock & Water Pipit during winter you can find it here (http://http://www.ntbc.org.uk/water%20and%20rock%20pipits.html)

Alan Tilmouth

[MichaelF]

Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club have recently added a helpful paper on seperation of Rock & Water Pipit during winter you can find it here (http://http//www.ntbc.org.uk/water%20and%20rock%20pipits.html)
Link correction: http://www.ntbc.org.uk/water%20and%20rock%20pipits.html

[William McBay]

Thanks Alan and Michael for pointing me to the article on wintering pipits in Northumberland, it was a very interesting read. I originally posted the photo of the pipit in question having seen the Water Pipit and other Rock Pipits present at Barns Ness. It struck me that the bird did not appear as "classic" as the other British Rock Pipits present. It was strikingly greyer on the mantle and rump. The head pattern was also different. Intruigingly it was not dissimilar to a "littoralis" described in the article. This may well be a "grey" British Rock Pipit, but an instructive bird nonetheless. I have attached another picture of it, along with the Water Pipit that was present.