page 6

Above and just out of interest! Although the identification of Buff-bellied Pipit is outside the scope of this article, compare for yourself the underpart colouration and streaking of these non-breeding plumaged pipits, from left to right: Water Pipit (spinoletta), Rock Pipit (petrosus), Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit (japonicus) and American Buff-bellied Pipit (rubescens). (Ian McKerchar)

Summary

Whilst safely identifying Rock Pipits that occur in Greater Manchester to either petrosus or littoralis might be practically impossible in most cases, at least some spring birds are readily separable with confidence and any confusion between these birds and Water Pipit should be relatively easily cleared up with some careful study. Whilst both Scandinavian Rock Pipit and Water Pipit are currently county rarities and observers fortunate enough to encounter either in the county should endeavour to take full field notes and if possible some images of the bird, I would urge all observers of any Rock Pipits in the county (and outside for that matter) to take careful study, for in the future, details of such birds may aid any progress into the separation of non-breeding plumaged littoralis and petrosus.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Steve Atkins for providing me with Rock and Water Pipit records from the Greater Manchester county database for the period 1992-2006, Roy Travis for providing Audenshaw Rock Pipit records for the first half of  2007, Rob Adderley for his insightful discussions on the 2006 Audenshaw littoralis and along with Sonia Adderley for proof-reading this article, David Winnard and Simon Hitchen for their details of the Blackstone Edge littoralis, Pete Berry for his comments on the Mersey Valley Water Pipits and our usual 'ramblings' on the subject of county Rock Pipits (amongst many other things!) and to the many photographers the length and breadth of the UK and Europe who extremely generously allowed me to utilise their superb and hard won photographs here, without which this article would have been just another boring collection of words, they are: Stefan Johansson (www.avesphoto.se) Chris Buckland, Alan Gilbertson, David Sowter, Sean Gray (www.grayimages.co.uk), Alan Seaton, Adrian John Drummond-Hill, Jerry O'Brian (www.birdsofberkshire.co.uk), Roy Harvey, Steve Blain (www.steveblain.co.uk), Adrian Dancy, Chris Cook, Rob Adderley and Bill Aspin. I would also like to offer my thanks to Henry McGhie at the Manchester Museum for arranging access for me to study their extensive bird skins and for his assistance and comments whilst there.

References:

Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North Africa (2003): Alstrom, Mild and Zetterstrom

Identification Guide to European Passerines (4th edition, 1992): Lars Svensson

www.homepages.mcb.net/wormwell/Littoralis.pdf - excellent article on the identification of Scandinavian Rock Pipit by Chris Wormwell.

www.fyldebirdclub.org/warton_pipit_page.htm - great reference for Rock and Water Pipits with many photographs.

Ian McKerchar, July 2007

BACK TO PAGE 1- STATUS AND HABITAT

BACK TO PAGE 2- LITTORALIS, NON-BREEDING PLUMAGE

BACK TO PAGE 3- SPINOLETTA, NON-BREEDING PLUMAGE

BACK TO PAGE 4- LITTORALIS, BREEDING PLUMAGE

BACK TO PAGE 5- SPINOLETTA, BREEDING PLUMAGE

BACK TO ARTICLES AND IDENTIFICATION ISSUES HOME PAGE

BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING HOMEPAGE