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Now the ‘rare’s’ are coming thick and fast as expected for October. This morning, I found out that an American Buff bellied Pipit had been found at Farmoor Reservoir and seeing I hadn’t too much on this morning, I had to go and see the bird for another ‘lifer’.
The forecast was awful with consistent rain expected all day and so the two hour drive up to Farmoor via the A34, was horrendous. I kept a steady 80mph most of the way up like you do when you’re twitching and got up there in good time, around 11am. Parking up by the entrance, I joined another two more birders and shared one of the cars to drive around the perimeter of the reservoir to join the thirty or so birders present. One of the chaps was from Nottingham I was with but the driver was also from somewhere distant and both were unhappy with the driving conditions to get here. The last time I went to Farmoor Reservoir was to twitch my first ever Surf Scoter here many years ago.
We excitedly joined the throng that was present and put up with the rain which was getting steadily worse. Things didn’t go to plan at first as some numpty told me that the Buff bellied Pipit was on the footpath close to the wall. With careful scrutiny, the bird looked more and more like a Rock Pipit and sure enough, I was looking at the wrong bird! There were at least four Rock Pipits present though and it was finding the bird amongst these. The chap from Nottingham, Tony, tapped me on the shoulder and told me that the bird was showing well just a few feet away but on the water side of the wall. I looked through some kind chaps scope and sure enough, there was the American Buff bellied Pipit. One could clearly see the thick eyestripe, malar stripe and bold ring around the eye. The pale throat was clearly seen and the bird certainly had a buffish tinge to the breast and flanks. All in all, a much paler bird than the Rock Pipits present. I was now happy with my 407th species under my belt.
The bird soon took off with a Rock Pipit and landed behind the causeway in which we all followed the bird to get another good look. By now, the weather was really closing in and taking photographs of the bird was very difficult without getting the viewing screen all wet. But once we relocated the bird, it kindly flew right in front of me and settled comfortably by the waters edge picking off small bits of food. Here I took some splendid photographs of which I will send to Tony and Steve the driver via email.
By now, the guys had enjoyed the bird and so we headed back to the car to reminisce over a fantastic little bird. These American Buff bellied Pipits are now being found almost anyway with two on the Scillies, one of Fair Isle and another two in Southern Ireland. Could Portland turn one up? A Blackpoll Warbler was found this morning on St. Marys, Scillies this morning. Will that hang around?
Left & right, the American Buff bellied Pipit on Farmoor Reservoir this morning.
