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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Water Pipit - anthus spinoletta

 

The term 'pipit' was first coined by Pennant in 1768 when he drew attention to the previously unrecorded minor name 'pippit' (imitative of its call) used in the London area by bird catchers. Bechstein separated Pipits from Larks in 1795 to form the new genus 'anthus' and modern day names were first used in 1843 by Yarrell. Water Pipit is a very scarce to rare winter and spring visitor to the coastal regions of S. Gloucestershire with no more than three birds present at any one time.

 

There have been c.75 Water Pipit reported from S. Gloucestershire in modern times;

 

2012: (c.14) HIGHEST COUNT (6)

One was seen on Northwick Warth on January 1st with the same or another there on January 28th; One was showing well at the edge of the frozen reedbed on Pilning Wetlands Reserve on Northwick Warth on February 3rd; One was present on the salt marsh at New Passage on January 4th and on the Pill there on February 10th; Five were seen at New Passage on Chesil Pill on February 13th with up to four on the stone wall there on February 21st and three on February 25th; Four were seen at mid-day on the salt marsh on Northwick Warth by the second sentry box on February 26th with two present on February 29th; One was seen around Grebe Pond on Pilning Wetlands Reserve on February 28th; Two were present in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Grebe Pond area on March 2nd, 8th, 23rd & 28th with one there on the 3rd, 17th,  19th, 20th, 24th & 31st and a record six there on March 18th; Two were reported at Oldbury Power Station on March 28th;

 

2011: (c.11)

One was seen on the saltings south of Severn Beach on January 2nd & 6th; Three were seen north of Oldbury Power Station on January 17th & 25th up-river of the Windbound on the edge of the salt marsh. They were noted near the fence immediately up-river of the white house. (ST: 619 967). At least two were still present on January 18th, 23rd, 30th and 31st (an adult & 1st winter) and February 10th; Two were noted on the salt marsh below Severn Beach on January 26th with one on January 29th and February 12th - 13th; One was seen at Littleton-upon-Severn on January 30th; One present on Littleton Warth on March 2nd;  One probably this species was seen on October 1st at Littleton-on-Severn; One was seen on Northwick Warth on November 7th; Two were reported from Littleton-on-Severn on November 19th; One was seen on Northwick Warth on November 26th; At least was seen on Pilning Wetlands Reserve, Northwick Warth on December 23rd.

 

 

One of three Water Pipits seen at OPS. January 2011. Darryl Spittle.

 

2010: (5)

One was present on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on January 30th and February 6th with two on February 20th. One was still in the general area on March 7th and again on March 25th; One was seen near Littleton-on-Severn on Whale Warth on March 6th; One was noted at Severn Beach on October 30th; One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on December 7th.

 

 

Water Pipit on the Salt Marsh at Severn Beach. February 2010. Paul Bowerman.

 

Interesting and useful field observations from Paul; ...'Water Pipits are difficult to see in the salt marsh because they don’t tolerate a close approach, usually flush readily and then fly high, up and down the shoreline for several minutes before landing a 100 metres from where they took off, Rock Pipits are quite approachable in comparison and usually only fly a short distance before landing again'...

 

2009: (3)

Two were seen on the salt marsh below Severn Beach on January 1st with one present on January 10th, 31st and February 1st; One was noted on Severn Beach shore on March 3rd, 14th, 18th & 20th; One was present on the shore at Severn Beach on April 9th.

 

2008: (c.8)

One was seen on January 2nd at Severn Beach on the salt marsh; One was noted on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on February 11th; One was present on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on February 19th, 23rd, 27th and 29th; One was still present though elusive on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on March 1st; One was seen at New Passage on March 10th & 11th; Two were noted at Severn Beach on March 15th; One was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on November 1st - 3rd and on December 5th, 7th, 14th & 27th; One was present at New Passage on November 12th; One was present on Northwick Warth on December 18th.

 

 

Water Pipit at Severn Beach. February 2008. Paul Bowerman.

 

2007: (7)

One was noted at Severn Beach on January 25th; On March 21st one was seen at Severn Beach; One was seen at New Passage on October 20th; One was seen at Severn Beach on November 4th, 10th and 18th with two on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on November 24th with one still present on November 25th; One was noted at Severn Beach on the salt marsh on December 14th.

 

2006: (3)

One was seen at Severn Beach on January 2nd; One was present at Severn Beach on March 3rd; One was seen at Severn Beach on November 4th.

 

2005: (5)

One was noted at Severn Beach from January 22nd - 25th; One was reported at Severn Beach on February 5th; On March 5th at least three were seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach with at least one remaining until March 16th.

 

2004: (7)

One was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach from January 18th - 29th; One was reported on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on February 20th; One was noted on the sea wall at Severn Beach on February 22nd ; One was reported from Oldbury Power Station February 22nd at the outflow channel from Lagoon III; One was noted at Severn Beach on March 21st; One was seen on April 10th - 11th at Severn Beach; One was reported on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on November 13th.

 

 

Water Pipit at Severn Beach. November 2004. Paul Bowerman.

 

2003: (5)

One was reported at Severn Beach from January 14th - 19th; On January 21st - 22nd one was showing well at New Passage in the Pill; One was noted with Rock Pipits at Severn Beach on February 23rd; One was seen from March 2nd - 23rd at New Passage; A summer plumaged individual was seen at New Passage on March 23rd.

 

 

Water Pipit at New Passage. March 2003. Paul Bowerman.

 

2002: (1)

A single bird was reported at Oldbury Power Station on March 3rd.

 

2000: (1)

One was noted at Severn Beach on April 8th - 10th.

 

1996: (1)

One was noted on May 12th at Oldbury Power Station.

 

1995: (1)

One was seen on April 5th at Oldbury Power Station.

 

1993: (1)

An individual was reported at Severn Beach on February 12th.

 

1989: (1)

One was noted at Aust on December 19th - 20th.

 

1986: (2)

On or two were recorded in the second winter period from Aust Warth.

 

1976: (3)

Three were reported from Aust on March 3rd.

 

1960: (1)

On April 1st a single bird in summer plumage was reported from New Passage.

 

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