Pipit on Great Orme

[marcbuzzard]

This Pipit was found on the Great orme yestarday. as far as I'm aware it hasn't called.
It's a very distinctive bird which the finder is convinced it was a Red throated. Can a bright 'Whistleri' bird be ruled out? I remember seeing a similar plumaged bird in March a few year's ago here on the North wales coast which was called a bright Whistleri individual after much discussion.

[marklhawkes]

That's a Meadow Pipit. Breast colour being variable in this species - as noted by many over the years, including Richard Porter in an old BB article (I think)

See here for a similar bird (taken recently in Cambs)
http://cambsbirdclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/meadow-pipit.html

[marcbuzzard]

Cheers Mark,
You and others have confirmed our thoughts. We just have to convince the finder now - he's sticking to his guns!

[Colin Key]

Are you sure that these two images are of the same bird? The prominent pale mantle stripes in the second photo could suggest R-t Pipit - they certainly seem more obvious than in most Meadow Pipits I am seeing at the moment.

Colin

[Steve Fletcher]

It looks like the same form as one i had here the other day, photo below. Plenty of Meadow Pipits here now with very white braces too.

[Colin Key]

Having seen the additional images on Birdforum I would agree that this is a Meadow Pipit. Dreadful photos for anyone trying to claim a rarity!!

Colin :err:

[forktail]

Having seen the additional images on Birdforum I would agree that this is a Meadow Pipit. Dreadful photos for anyone trying to claim a rarity!!

Colin :err:

Before claiming it, you'd like to think that a few other features were checked that would help to eliminate a bright/flushed Meadow Pipit.

[firstrees]

I agree with 'forktail'.

I would find it most unusual if it didn't call, for instance.