Bird ID assistance please...

[Cutty Dyer]

Let me start by apologising for the vagueness of the following description:

The bird was starling size and approximate shape with dark brown feathers and an almost white bill (certain that it wasn’t a juvenile Starling). I spotted the bird “crawling” all over a stone wall on a river bank (Cattewater Plymouth) looking for food.

[The Woodman]

Dipper immediately comes to mind. A white bib, not a white bill though.

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Dipper immediately comes to mind. A white bib, not a white bill though.

Hi Woodman,

Thanks for responding. Definitely not a Dipper, I live on the Dart so very familiar with them. The bird has me stumped – trawled through my bird books but can’t ID it.

CD

[Guinnessman1974]

Is it a wader of some sort I wonder? Did it have a white underbelly, something like a Plover or Sandpiper?

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

Is it a wader of some sort I wonder? Did it have a white underbelly, something like a Plover or Sandpiper?

Don’t think so, short in leg & looking very assured on the vertical wall – moving a little like a tree creeper. I didn’t see what it was eating but it was low water so I’m guessing shell fish. At one point it disappeared in side of an old effluent pipe projecting from the wall.

[Guinnessman1974]

Mmmmm, I running out of ideas! Rock Pipit maybe? they like these rocky habitats.

[Goatboy]

Everything you say suggests dipper to me. Sure it wasn't a juvenile?

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

Mmmmm, I running out of ideas! Rock Pipit maybe? they like these rocky habitats.

Google image results show the juvenile Rock Pipit has a light coloured bill so it’s a possible, however:

Originally Posted by Goatboy

Everything you say suggests dipper to me. Sure it wasn't a juvenile?

Just googled juvenile Dipper, and guess what, I'm not so familiar with Dippers as I thought. One image clearly displayed a light white bill & plumage similar to a starling.

Thanks chaps.