Couple of bird id's please

[GuyF]

Hi everyone,
I've been trying to learn my warblers and pipits better, and I think I've improved over the last year. However, I still get pretty stuck when it comes to Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, and Meadow Pipits and Tree Pipits.
I've got these photos of one of the warblers. My guess is Chiffchaff because it is fairly dull grey brown in colour.



Next I've got this pipit, which is probably a Meadow Pipit but it is migration time so I thought there was a chance it's a Tree Pipit.

Neither of the birds sang unfortunately, although I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference between a Meadow and Tree Pipit song anyway!
So if anyone can give a positive id I'll be very grateful,
Thanks
Guy

[agrumpycow]

I agree with you with the first pic being a chiffchaff. My untrained, amateur eye would guess the other bird is a tree pipit but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will come along with a more definite id

[andy68]

I think it's a Willow Warbler and a Meadow Pipit. Although the warbler's quite dull looking, it has a classic Willow Warbler head pattern, with a prominent supercilium, and it doesn't have that pale half circle below the eye that Chiffchaff always has. Plus it's got pale legs, although that on its own isn't diagnostic. A useful field character for telling the two apart is that Chiffchaffs almost always flick their wings and tail while moving about in the trees, while Willows hardly ever do. Obviously that's not much use in a photo though!

Meadow and Tree Pipits are difficult when not singing, but I think this is a Meadow, mainly based on the flank streaking, which looks too thick for Tree.

Andy

[GuyF]

Thanks very much for your help,
I don't remember it flicking it's wings or it's tail while it was in the bush, so that would agree with Willow Warbler.
I was hoping for Tree Pipit, I've never seen one before, but I will hopefully see some this summer.
Thanks again,
Guy

[Crested Newt]

Yes I believe there is a Meadow Pipit there