Buff-bellied Pipits at Lissagriffin 7th October 2007

Update on 12th October: above are two images of the initial, darker, bird, taken on 10th October. Note, compared to the bird in the grabs below, the more prominent 'flaring' supercilium behind the eye, slightly heavier malar stripe (though weaker than on most(?) japonicus, heavier flank streaking (again heavier on japonicus as a rule). Located first on 10th on call, the most distinctive vocalisation being a vaguely Grey Wagtail-like 'tsip-ip', obviously different to the typical vocalisations of Meadow, Rock or Water Pipits. Single calls, while perhaps higher-pitched and also maybe 'purer' than the equivalent in Meadow, were far less distinctive, and could be overlooked among a pipit flock...





One of two Buff-bellied Pipits at Lissagriffin on 7th October 2007. Forgive the poor quality, but these images are videograbs taken from 18 seconds worth of footage. In the second pic, note the pale lores, fine bill, weak malar stripe (that's weak in its old sense, not as used by 'da kidz' (c.f. 'lame') ), relatively plain mantle, buffish greater covert wingbar. This individual had more of a buffish wash underneath than the first one, thinner flank streaking, and seemed to be paler above, though, as I only saw the first one through bins in adequate, but dull, light, any comparison of colour tones would be foolhardy, at least until I see some better pics of both birds than are presently available.