Tit Lark

Due to other commitments I didn't get out birding this morning. I see from the KOS web site the the Bockhill boys had a good early sea watch this morning, that included a Pomarine Skua.

I had a walk round the farm this afternoon and by the Freedown watched this Meadow Pipit, I didn't stay too long because the way it was behaving made me think it was nesting near by. They always give a quiet short call in these circumstances, quite different from the normal contact call. I did take the opportunity to take a couple of portraits, that show it's character off nicely. Until the early 19th Century they were considered to be a sort of lark, commonly called the "Tit Lark". The name Pipit is imitative of the call as was the old name of Peet Lark.

The streaking on the flanks is in dashes as heavy as on the breast, whereas on Tree Pipits it is much finer. It is also possible to see the long curved hind claw, much shorter in the tree Pipit.

Often dismissed as a rather drab Little Brown Bird they are in fact an attractive species and can occur here in large numbers during migration. Tree Pipits do pass through in much smaller numbers, and are normally first recognised by the distinctive hoarse call. The bill on the Meadow Pipit is slimmer than the Tree Pipit giving it a more delicate jizz.