Red-throated Pipit, Ludworth Moor, Chisworth, Derbyshire - Monday 4th May 2015

A cracker of a bird, with the added interest (to me) of being found around just a few miles from where I grew up.

Red-throated Pipit, Chisworth, Derbyshire - Monday 4th May, 2015

It was found by John Raines of nearby Hazel Grove on Sunday 3rd May. So, despite having low expectations it had stayed, I got over early on Monday morning to help in the search. Around 7:30am, while I was picking through Meadow Pipits and Skylarks a couple fields away from Gun Hill Road, I noticed birders running along the road. Someone had heard or seen it.

We all piled along the tarmac, stared into the sun and attempted to pick out the bird from the Meadow Pipits hiding among the tussocks. Finally the Red-throated Pipit gave itself up. Such a striking and beautiful bird.

Red-throated Pipit, Chisworth, Derbyshire - Monday 4th May, 2015

The bird had a plain rusty-red face, throat and upper breast, and a streaky crown. It had an unmarked off-white belly, whereas the flanks were gleaming white, with clear dark streaking. The mantle was also streaked, with two clear pale braces down the back (not unlike the Pechora Pipit I saw on Unst last year).

Red-throated Pipit, Chisworth, Derbyshire - Monday 4th May, 2015

I was a joy to see such a fine example of this species, and so well. And to get a lifer too, of course... ;-)