Moorland bird for ID please!

SilverW0lf · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 11:55 AM

Can anyone confirm the ID of the following bird please...

Both pictures were taken on the 27th September at Worlds End amidst heather on moorland.

I've tentatively ID'd the bird as a skylark but not sure behaviour matches. As we walked along they would suddenly appear and fly off in an undulating flight close over the top of the plants then disappear into them...

Sorry about the quality of the photo's (especially the second) I just considered myself lucky to get a photo at all!

Chris Hawes · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 12:03 PM

It looks like a meadow pipit to me.

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 12:09 PM

meadow pipit is right - they often allow you to get close, then flit along in front of you, for quite a way, whereas a skylark would take flight and disappear on high (if there were no chicks about, which there arent now).
cheers
Ken

Tracey.A · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 12:10 PM

It seems to be behaving like a Tree pipit, but I'm not certain about id.

Tracey

Morph · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 12:32 PM

I'll go with Meadow Pipit, In my experience Skylark has a more rusty brown tinge as opposed to Meadow Pipits olive brown when seen in full sun as in 2nd pic. Also the chest streaks come right up to the beak whereas there is break at the collar of Skylark.

SilverW0lf · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 12:35 PM

Well I think that's pretty much unanimous! Meadow Pippet it is... Cheers everyone!

big bill · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 02:31 PM

Hello Dave its a Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis nice pics too well done

Hedge Witch · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 04:06 PM

Pipit - agreed.

Tree/Meadow - not sure.

Surely wouldn't you need either a really clear close-up and/or a shot of the feet to be certain.

In my mind it could well be a Tree Pipit.