My early visit began quietly, apart from three Nightingales singing unseen in thick bushes. I was there a good hour and a half before birds started to appear. A sleepy Little Owl sat unperturbed in a tree next to the access track. A pair of Swallows brought two recently fledged young into the open. Still quite downy feathers and a very juvenile bill. Around the car park, four Woodchats were now sitting out on bushes which hadn't been visible earlier. Perhaps a few new birds have dropped in after all, I thought. Close to the marsh, two Yellow Wagtails had arrived and were feeding in the grass. Looking almost like a grey wagtail, this bird did have a brown coloured back, but doesn't show well in this light. I was checking Corn Buntings sitting in the fig trees when I noticed a slimmer bird with a fine bill, preening busily. This was an extremely pale pipit and as I continued to watch, it let out an almost inaudible high pitched 'psee' of only a seconds duration. Noticing an orangey hue on the face, I was convinced I had found a Red-throated Pipit.
This was my first 'sighting' record of this species, having only heard one other bird calling in flight. I was delighted with this find, the face and throat is described as a 'terracotta' colour which appeared quite accurate. The back view showed the heavy black streaks interspersed with white. I only had a minute or so viewing the Pipit when a Corn Bunting began chasing it. The Pipit flew high and into the sun where I lost it. Comments are closed.
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