It's got to be a meadow pipit. Legs to light and back to motley brown to be a rock or water pipit.Late november when it was taken so it shouldn't be a tree pipit they should have all migrated by now.Could be song thrush but they have plain brown back and heads so they're a no, no.Going by your previous mystery birds it could be all the above mixed in with a little waxwing thrown in for good measure.
This is where ID expertise really kicks in! It's obviously a shy species, as it's turned its head away. This, coupled with double wing bar, a hint of a crown stripe, some pale feather edges, pale legs, streaky back etc. is diagnostic--it's a Dupont's Lark, A FIRST FOR WALES! The desert surroundings are also a give away. Hang on though, there's a bit too much flank streaking so it may be crossed with a meadow pipit or it could be a Song Sparrow crossed with a Slender-billed Curlew. Anyway, it's all very exciting!
It's got to be a meadow pipit. Legs to light and back to motley brown to be a rock or water pipit.Late november when it was taken so it shouldn't be a tree pipit they should have all migrated by now.Could be song thrush but they have plain brown back and heads so they're a no, no.Going by your previous mystery birds it could be all the above mixed in with a little waxwing thrown in for good measure.
ReplyDeleteThis is where ID expertise really kicks in! It's obviously a shy species, as it's turned its head away. This, coupled with double wing bar, a hint of a crown stripe, some pale feather edges, pale legs, streaky back etc. is diagnostic--it's a Dupont's Lark, A FIRST FOR WALES! The desert surroundings are also a give away. Hang on though, there's a bit too much flank streaking so it may be crossed with a meadow pipit or it could be a Song Sparrow crossed with a Slender-billed Curlew. Anyway, it's all very exciting!
ReplyDeleteI love the analytical responses - more please!
ReplyDelete