Our foreshore pipits have always been a bit of a headache and in February things get even trickier.  I will try and keep this as simple as possible!

We have two species of large dark pipit at Rainham Marshes (as well as the humble little Meadow Pipit) and they both spend the winter feeding largely along the riverside but more frequently now on the freshmarsh on the inland side. Rock Pipits outnumber Water Pipits by about 5:1 and for most of the winter they are quite straight forward to separate with the dark olivey grey brown Rocks with dusky buff smudgely streaked underparts, buffy wing bars, no real supercillium above the eye and grey tail sides being usually easily seperable from the neater, paler grey toned Water Pipits with their silky white, sparsely streaked underparts, flared white supercillium and white wing bars and tail edges.

Still following me?

Well that would all be well and good if our Rock Pipits were of British origins but oh no, we like to be different and our ones are of a different race that comes from Scandinavia and at this time of year they start to change colour and just as the Water Pipits begin to aquire their slate blue grey upperparts and pink breast flush so do some of the Rocks!

Pat Hart and I watched 13 birds in front of the Purfleet Hide on Friday as they came down to work the muddy edges and have a wash and brush up. At least one was a smart Water Pipit with its summer finery starting to really show but several of the Rocks were also already sporting some grey on the head and the makings of a pink flush coming through the dusky breast!

These pipits stay until late March or even early April and thankfully the Water Pipits will only get 'bluer' and pinker and easier to pick out! Most books do not show just how variable Scandinavian Rock Pipits can be so you have been warned! Good luck and enjoy them while they are still here!

On this Scandinavian Rock Pipit you can can make out some pale coming through on the throat and a little above the eye as well as some grey in the upperparts but the underparts still have a very dark base colour and are heavily streaked with just a few pinky feathers showing through. (Dave McGough)

This winter plumaged Water Pipit is just starting to get a little blue-grey on the ear coverts and nape but shows clean white underparts with thin sparse streaking, white wing bars and a a good flared supercillium. The mantle is also plainer than the Rock Pipits. (Les Harrison)

  • Thanks for the tips on IDing the rainham Pipets.

    I have 3 pics on:-

    www.flickr.com/.../72157628761470019

    if someone has time to take a look to see if hey are Rock Pipets of one of the others I would be greatful.

  • Thanks Mr S. Glad you approve! Was slightly worried about delving into this one! Rainham's Pipits have always been 'interesting' to say the least. The books still say that Scand Rock is practically impossible in winter but 'we' (The Rainham regulars!) reckon that our birds are fairly consistant in showing some hint of a superc, more prominent but still buff wingbars, paler grey/off white tail edges, more contrasting but still dark ground colour underneath (the streaking shows up better), seem more lightly built and show a finer and more Water Pipit bill like than British petrosus.... They are showing well at the moment so perhaps worth a visit. H ;o)

  • Hi-  nice informative photos of one of my favourite spp groups.  I'm still working on a reliable method of separating Rock and Scandi Rock in winter plumage.

    Looking at Coutelli this week as well.

    :)

    S